By COLlive reporter
Florida Senator Rick Scott has visited the family members of the victims of the horrific building collapse in Surfside, Florida, where they are gathered as they still await word on their loved ones on Friday.
The Senator was accompanied by Bal Harbour Shliach Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar, Rabbi Schneur Oirechman, Head Shliach of the Florida Panhandle, Mark Rosenberg, Director of Chesed Shel Emes of Florida, and Dovie Katz, Chesed Shel Emes Coordinator.
Senator Scott offered words of comfort to the victims of the devastating tragedy and promised help and support to the families who are waiting for word on their loved ones.
During the visit, the group heard firsthand stories of both devastation and courage from the residents who escaped, as well as from those waiting for any word on their family members who are as yet unaccounted for.
The group spoke to one family who managed to escape the collapse, hearing the noise, they fled to the lobby, which was blocked by debris. They fled to the garage, which was also blocked. They were later rescued by firefighters.
Another woman told them she had returned late that evening from a Yud Beis Tammuz event in North Miami Beach, so she was able to wake her two children and escape to safety. She related how she tried to alert other residents of the building, to try and get as many people as she could to safety.
“One woman told us that her husband and children are still missing, and she is awaiting any word from authorities,” Rabbi Oirechman told COLlive. “Another man told us his children had arrived as visitors only the day before the collapse, and he has still not heard from them.”
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who has been updating the public about the search efforts, told Rabbi Lipskar that his words in a CNN interview has given her strength.
Rabbi Lipskar, the spiritual leader of Chabad of Bal Harbour, said that a number of his Shul’s congregants are still missing.
The Shul has rallied to help the victims and their families, collecting necessities and supplies for family members and arranging for Shabbos food for those at the center.
Senator Scott related that Israel’s Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai is arriving next week, and they will both be working to assist the victims’ families in any way they can.
Mark Rosenberg, Director of Chesed Shel Emes, is working round the clock on getting help for the families, working with State and local law enforcement to assist with whatever he can for them. With his help, DNA testing is being done for relatives, to assist with identifying the victims.
“Seeing Mark Rosenberg and Rabbi Lipskar and the incredible work they are doing is very inspiring,” Rabbi Oirechman said. “It’s amazing to see people come together in times of tragedy to bring hope and comfort to those who are suffering,” he said.
We stand with our Jewish community and continue to pray for the missing and every family affected by the #SurfsideBuildingCollapse pic.twitter.com/zQgWWPWPhm
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) June 25, 2021
An emergency fund has been set up by Chabad of Bal Harbour to assist the victims and their families.
Please say Tehillim for the following who are are missing:
Please pray for:
Moshe ben Toba
Moshe ben Shoshana
Ariel Leib ben Ita
Ilan ben Kalman
Leib ben Shoshana
Chaim ben Sara
Malka bas Sara Rochel
Yisroel Tzvi Yosef ben Toba
Ita bas Miriam
Tzvi Daniel ben Yehudis
Sara bat Ida
Nancy bas Sofia
Franky ben Nancy
Jay ben Nancy
Deborah bat Haia
Yehuda Arye Ben Feiga Rivka
Rut bat Sara
Nicole bat Andrea
Mikael ben Hans
Gabriela bat Sara
Linda bas Clara
Ilan ben Ronit
Deborah bat Clara
Yaakov Reuvein HaCohen ben Devorah
Tzvi hakohen ben Devorah
Estella bas Linda Leah
Lein ben Ilana
Debora bat Sara
Yehudis bas Dvora
He is a mentch.
Heard as of 3:30pm today that a team of Israelis are coming. Wish they were allowed in earlier to join the efforts