By COLLive reporter
Norman Rosenbaum, an attorney in Melbourne, Australia who became a known figure in the US for his fight for justice for his brother’s murder during the Crown Heights riots, passed away on Shabbos, 4 Av, 5780.
He was 63.
In 1991, Yankel Rosenbaum, a visiting Yeshiva student from Australia, was stabbed to death by a bloodthirsty mob of 30 black men in the infamous Crown Heights riots.
16-year-old Lemrick Nelson was charged with the murder of Yankel Rosenbaum but was acquitted after a racially charged trial the following year.
In the following months, Norman Rosenbaum, a lawyer in Melbourne, Australia, made frequent visits to New York to campaign for justice for his brother.
Norman spent many months in New York, working feverishly to make sure his brother’s murder remained in the forefront of the public consciousness. Norman was a vocal leader and participant at many protests for justice for the Crown Heights community and his brother, calling Mayor David Dinkins, who was said to have told the NYPD to stand down and allow the angry mob to “vent,” responsible for the murder.
In 1994, The federal government charged Nelson with violating Yankel Rosenbaum’s civil rights. In the meantime, a state report criticized Mayor Dinkins and the police for their lack of action during the riots—a claim that helped Rudolph Giuliani defeat Dinkins in the next mayoral election.
In 2016, at the 25th anniversary of the riots and the murder of his brother which was commemorated with a memorial at the site of the stabbing, Norman Rosenbaum told Hamodia newspaper, “Obviously, I miss my brother. There is not a day that goes by when I, my mother, and our whole family do not think about him. I’m a zeidy now, and as time goes on and there are more simchos in the family, he is missed even more. It is not just the feeling that we are celebrating and he is not here, but a feeling of the loss of how much he would have added to the simchah.”
“I will forever remember Norman as a man of strength and courage. He was fearless. He gave his life fighting for justice for his brother and our community. It is not surprising that we will soon be remembering the anniversary of the riots and Yankel’s murder. He and his brother were one,” Devorah Halberstam, a fellow advocate for justice after her son Ari Halberstam’s murder, said about Norman Rosenbaum.
He is survived by his children Ari, Yoel, Yoni and Michal, and grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother, Fay Rosenbaum.
He was predeceased by his wife Ettie in 2014.
The levaya is taking place in Melbourne.
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Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
bde what a giant we lost
Norman was a great man who gave much of his time so generously to help the community. He will be sorely missed.
That’s how I called him. He gave of his time to help anyone in need. He wouldn’t stop always being proactive never taking no for an answer. If he believed in something he went all out. U always wanted him in your side. He was a brilliant lawyer using his brilliant mind to help others
He will be missed by so many. So very sad for his children with both parents no longer alive.
Sadly she was wheelchair bound at the levaya
.norman was a tower of strength.A wonderful person and forthright human being .We are richer for having known him but poorer for having lost him.Money was not an impediment to norm helping . often he said to me that getting paid only cheapend our relationship ,.A tireless fighter for truth and justice.The world will miss him. Im sure he is in Gan Eden
In Melbourne when anyone was in need or advice needed the saying went: what does Norman say what does he advise . .
What he said and advised was always said with care and understanding and was always right and worked. A dear soul. will be sorely missed. ת.נ.צ.ב.ה
He fought for TRUTH. If all Jews were like him, Mashiach would Have been here LONG TIME AGO.
😟
WAITING for all Jews in Jerusalem תתבב”א
BDE: May his holy neshama rest in the highest rungs of Gan Eden. He will be meilitz yosher for his family and Klal Yisroel. Nechama to all who mourn.
A champion of a person. We had many chats walking together slowly from Shul on Shabbos. Anytime someone had an issue, whatever it may have been communal or personal he gave his time and involvement in trying to help that person. He loved Yiddishkeit and would encourage younger students going into law or any skill to be proud of their Yiddishkeit and not use the study or work as an excuse to stop davening with a minyan or slacking in their daily Shiurim.
He had a sense of humour and sharp.
He was an asset to our community.
Yisrael
Melbourne
Never met him, but know his son. Sounds like we lost a great man!
I remember when Norman z’l rushed to get a patient of mine out of jail , and succeeded
What a mensch he was
I didn’t realize he was such a young young man when he would leave his family so frequently,& come in from Australia to ny almost 30 years ago to fight 4 justice for yankel, what dedication!
BDE
Great Yid
https://www.vicbar.com.au/profile/6503
close friend of my family. will be sorely missed bde
BDE
What a brother!!
Met him during Federal case in 2003. He was an awesome person.
He was one of the most caring and capable men I ever met and I feel a deep wound today on learning of his passing. He always had the best advice and at the same time a twinkle in his eye. He was one of the better humans to spend time with and I console myself with great memories of him. RIP Norman!
Viv Lees Melbourne
Tragic BDE
May Hashem comfort you
from a Shliach in YG 5744-5746
Moshiach Now!
We met when we were kids at a school when we were 9 years old. He was always friendly and complained when Hawthorn Football Club wasn’t traveling well!!!!
That was a passion outside his simchas & law!!!
I didn’t see much of him as we got older as he was more of a Yiddishkeit than I am.
RIP a brave man who fought for rights.