Jerusalem – At the time of the horrific collision that claimed the lives of seven in Kiryat Gat, relatives of both the Bernstein and Gottstein families were attending a family wedding in Meah Shearim. Among the wedding guests were Dovid Gottstein’s brothers who were convinced that he, too, was among the dead when the minivan the family was riding in was hit by a train.
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“There was much confusion. No one knew who died and who was alive,” the Gottstein brothers told Ynet News. “They told us that the worst possible thing had happened. After two hours, we finally learned that Dovid was in Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. We accepted the news with both great happiness and tremendous sadness. During those two hours, our hearts stopped completely. We were filled with joy when we heard that Dovid was still alive, but devastated to hear that his wife Malka and his son, Mordechai Aaron, were killed. Meanwhile, Dovid still doesn’t know that his wife and his son are dead.”
The seven dead are listed as Malka Gottstein, pregnant with her second child and age 21, Mordechai Aaron Gottstein, one and a half years old, Aryeh Bernstein, age 43, his wife Rivka, age 41 and three Bernstein children: Yochanan, age 16, Chana age 14 and Mordechai Aaron Bernstein, age 9. Dovid Gottstein, two people with moderate injuries and six more victims with mild injuries were transported to hospitals in Beer Sheva and Ashkelon. Others who had less serious injuries were treated at the crash site. The minibus, which burst into flames on impact, was completely destroyed and the driver was taken to Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva, with a police guard stationed at his door.
Dovid Gottstein’s spoke with his brother from the hospital, telling him that he has almost no recollection of the accident, except that he remembers sitting next to the driver. “This is difficult news,” said the Gottstein brothers. We can’t describe how it feels. It is good news, but mixed with great sadness.”
Another relative told Ynet News, “When the news came in, the wedding continued normally, but as news of the tragedy spread, they took the immediate family members in the middle of the wedding and informed them of the bitter news. It is something that is impossible to comprehend. But everything is in the hands of Hashem.”
Dovid Gottstein’s mother fainted when she heard the news, thinking her son was among the dead.
“It is such a difficult time for both families,” said the relative. “It is an experience that is incomparable to anything else. It is as if my whole world has been destroyed. An entire family, wiped out in just one minute. At least one son was spared, which is some small consolation, amidst such terrible sadness.”
Gottstein’s aunt added, “We are all completely in a state of shock. The news that Dovid is still alive is such a relief, but the idea that all the others were killed is difficult to bear and a monumental tragedy.”
Gottstein, who is in Barzilai Hospital, will likely need surgery to correct his injuries. His friends told Ynet News that he told them he saw that the train was coming and got up quickly from his seat to warn the driver of the oncoming train, a move that probably saved his life.
Meanwhile Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that Itzhak Harel, Chief Executive of Israel Railways, told reporters that the train was traveling at approximately 81 miles per hour at the time of the collision. The train engineer, Giora Weiss told Haaretz, “the driver of the minibus was talking to the passenger and wasn’t paying attention to the lookout point.” Weiss said he tried to stop the train when he saw the minivan but was unable to stop in time. According to Isreali news reports, the driver admitted that he didn’t notice the checkpoint and was unable to stop his vehicle in time to avoid a collision.
Back in Beitar Ilit, the entire city is in mourning and Mayor Meir Rubenstein cut his vacation short to return home. Funds are already being established to care for the families of the victims. Israeli News Service Kikar HaShabat reports that the accident is being called the biggest tragedy in the history of Beitar Ilit. In the words of one resident, “there are simply no words to describe the loss that occurred here.”
The funeral for the seven victims will take place tomorrow morning at 10:30 AM from the Karlin Stolin shul on Rechov Avinoam Yellin in Meah Shearim.
Very Sad, Time for us to wake up and do Teshuva. Chosesh Elul is around the corner.
What a terrible tragedy. May the families who lost their loved once be comforted. Moshiach now!
So many tragedies nebach!!! we really need to do teshuva Now!!!
This is a wake up call that frum drivers need to pay attention to, and actually care about, driving laws.
Anyone who is in the Chinuch field will have heard of the Bernstein Institute for Reading Difficulties based in Jerusalem, located on Rechov Yechezkel in the Geualh neighborhood. The founder of the institute is the father of R’ Aryeh Bernstein.
Besuros tovos!
Triple the price of penalties and fines for all driving violations such as passing a red light, going around a train barrier, speeding, reckless driving etc. and you’ll see an end to this grotesque way of driving.
It’s so crazy How can this happen ?
I should really be davening for all of Klal Yisrael before tragedy strikes, not wait for it to leave me helpless in confusion and grief.
gmail.com where I will iy”h send one “Mi K’amcha Yisrael” story every day to members. The idea is that we should be inspired to love, care, and therefore daven for our brothers wherever they may be, and before their names are on tehillim lists.
Hearing the levaya cars go around here in Yerushalayim, I decided that I’m starting an e-mail group, mikiamchayisrael
E-mail me if you want to subscribe (“subscribe” in subject line), or send a story (“story” in subject line) that you can personally verify or has a source. The story can be l’iluy nishmas or l’refuah sheleima someone.
I will not pass any addresses to third parties; make solicitations, or advertise.
This is a tremendous
Tragedy for klal yisroel Reb Aryeh was a very talented teacher students traveled from all over the world to study with him.The students loved and respected him He always had an encouraging and positive word to say Always full of simcha life and eidelkeit .There are
no words to describe this terrible loss of a whole nobel chsuvah family There
Was not a part of klal yisroel whether litvish sefardish american bnei akiva chasidiush that were not nehna from him All were able to come to his door and go home with the right help Was really an amazing person
Klal yisroel must mourn this terrible tragedy this is definitely a korban hazibur
#4 , who told you the driver was frum? He was aparently a hired driver who could have been anyone.
Can anyone explain why some readers see frum guilt in any story whether it is evident or not?
To numbers 10 and 11, I bet the writer wrote frum drivers because if you have ever been to Boro Park and Flatbush you will see that many frum drivers (men AS WELL AS women) are horrible, unsafe drivers.
“Funds are already being established to care for the families of the victims”
For whom is a fund needed now ?? Sadly (in this tragedy) there aren’t any Yesoimim or Almune. Can someone explain
You can see unsafe drivers anywhere. Boro Park and Flatbush have no monopoly on unsafe drivers.