15 Dec TRAGEDY STRUCK KLAL YISRAEL THIS PAST MOTZEI SHABBOS

TRAGEDY STRUCK KLAL YISRAEL THIS PAST MOTZEI SHABBOS

1 TEENAGER KILLED; NORTH WOODMERE MOTHER OF 3 IN CRITICAL CONDITION

Tragedy struck Klal Yisrael this past Motzei Shabbos when a drunk driver struck the car of Miriam Meltser of North Woodmere, who was driving her daughter Aliza and three friends home from their Camp Sternberg reunion.

Police say that a Dodge Ram crashed into the Audi SUV on Edward Avenue and Peninsula Boulevard a little before 11 p.m. on Motzei Shabbos. The Dodge had two passengers who were treated for minor injuries. Arlin Javier Aguilera, the driver of the Dodge, was placed into custody and was arraigned. Aguilera was charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. He came to the United States in 2016 from Nicaragua on a visitor’s visa, which generally allows the visa holder to stay in the US for just several months. But, despite the visa having expired, Aguilera remained in the United States, in what is referred to as an “overstay.”

The Audi held 5 passengers, including Liel Dina Namdar, a’h, who was niftar shortly after the collision.

Liel Namdar was a fifteen year old girl from Long Island that personified the ideal Bais Yaakov girl. She was always the first to volunteer and to help a friend in need. Liel had incredible Yiras Hashem, remarkable midos, and was a role model to everyone who knew her. Her friends from Camp Sternberg recall that Krias Shma al HaMittah was very important to her. She knew that for some reason this important Mitzvah has fallen by the wayside. She wanted to remind girls to recite it, but she did not want them to feel bad. So she went around to every bunkhouse to ask the counselors to remind their campers to say it. She did it in an unassuming manner. She performed her avodas Hashem always with a smile.

The mother Miriam Meltser remains in grave condition, with an outpouring of tefillos and zchusim needed for her refuah sheleima.

A second accident victim remains in the ICU at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, but is Baruch Hashem rapidly improving. She is expecting to make a full recovery, though the process will be long and arduous.

The two other girls in the accident suffered more moderate injuries and one has already been discharged from the hospital.

As a community, we are reaching out for support on behalf of the Meltser family. Miriam is the entire world to her children. She is their breadwinner, but is now in critical condition and facing a long road of recovery.

She and her children need our help now more than ever.

A FUND HAS BEEN SET UP BY RABBONIM AND ASKONIM FOR THE FAMILY. Please go to the link below & donate generously

https://thechesedfund.com/kbh

Endorsed by TAG, Rabbi Friedman of Rambam, the Rabbonim of the North Woodmere Jewish Community, as well as by Achiezer.

Chai Lifeline is available to offer its resources and assistance to all those impacted by this devastating event. During these challenging times, they encourage parents, rebbeim, teachers, schools, shuls, and anyone in need of assistance to contact their Project Chai Crisis Intervention Team. The 24-hour crisis hotline can be reached at 855 3-CRISIS or by email at: crisis@chailifeline.org

Please continue to be mispalel for

Miriam bas Ina Pesya Yocheved,

Rochel Esther bas Tamar,

Chana Elyana bas Naomi,

and Aliza bas Miriam.

Boruch Dayan HaEmmes…

May we hear Yeshuos and Refuos.