Robert Dov HaEzrachi (Wieckowski), Poland, Israel, diving accident, Dec. 13
Robert Dov HaEzrachi (Wieckowski), 44, a Polish-born Israeli and scuba diving guide and instructor, died in a diving accident at Dahab, Sinai, Egypt, Dec. 13, 2007.
HaEzrachi’s death was first announced on the website of Pardes Institute, a Jewish studies center in Jerusalem, where he had been a student from 2003-2005.
(In My Heart Editor’s Update on Jan. 1, 2008: This post offers details on Dov HaEzrachi’s funeral and how the Pardes community rallied around him and his family.)
Pardes Dean David Bernstein told the Jerusalem Post HaEzrachi was a terrific student.
“He was serious about his desire to join the Jewish people and a real mensch,” Bernstein said. “He fell in love with Judaism in Poland and came here.”
The Post reported that HaEzrachi took an active role at Pardes, and was construction manager of the institute’s first rooftop succah in 2004. HaEzrachi remained an integral part of the Pardes community even after his graduation and conversion to Judaism.
He helped out in the institute’s kitchen when he was at Pardes, a former Pardes student told In My Heart.
HaEzrachi helped to translate the Torah into modern Polish, the Post reported in 2005.
HaEzrachi, who lived in Jerusalem, was a scuba diving instructor and ran scuba guiding trips in Sinai. According to his website: “Safety is the most important priority on all my trips and courses. It has been achieved by long Sinai guiding and diving experience and working only with known and trusted co-operators providing transport and accommodation.”
According to the Post, HaEzrachi suffered his fatal accident Saturday in the Blue Hole, a dangerous and deep (more than 75 meters) diving site in Sinai, where he had worked as a diving instructor for the last four years.
The accident was not the first in the famous and notorious spot. A video from an Israeli documentary (Hebrew) on the fatal accident of diver Yuri Lipski in 2000 at more than 90 meters’ depth can be seen here. (Note: disturbing video from a camera in Lipski’s helmet). According to some reports, more than 70 divers have died in the Blue Hole.
Pardes officials worked with Egyptian officials to bring HaEzrachi’s body back to Jerusalem for burial. According to the Post:
“Rabbi Zvi Wolff, one of the teachers with whom HaEzrachi was closest, has been ‘constantly on the phone’ with the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, in efforts to bring HaEzrachi back to Israel, as his body is currently at an Egyptian hospital.
‘They have been wonderful, as efficient as they are helpful,’ Wolff said of the Egyptian officials and Israeli Consul Eyal Siso.
“Siso will pick up the body and drive it to the Israeli border, where he will be met by an ambulance driver from ZAKA, as arranged by Rabbi Shaul Farber of Itim.
‘The ambulance driver has said he will sleep in the car and wait all night if necessary,’ said Wolff, as they are unsure when the border crossing will be.
A funeral is tentatively planned for Wednesday, Dec. 19.
In My Heart sends its condolences to the extended Pardes community, and invites its members to send us their reminiscences and stories, so that we can pay tribute to Robert Dov HaEzrachi (Wieckowski).
(Note: Date of death corrected in response to note from Pardes. Dov HaEzrachi did not dive on Shabbat. Thanks for the correction. IMH Editor)
Filed under: Businesspeople, Europeans, Israelis, Young | Tagged: blue hole, death, diving, jerusalem, Jewish, obituary, pardes, scuba, sinai
Dov was an amazing individual. I was fortunate enough to know him from Machon Meir & was always impressed with his smile & soft spoken happiness & eagerness to learn. I first met Dov more than 3 years ago & was fortunate enough to spend the Pesach/Passover Sedar with him & one of the grea Rabbis houses from Machon Meir. It was a joy sitting next to him, singing Pesach songs, going through the Haggadah, pouring his wine & all & all enjoying a very very nice Pesach. We both live across the city from where we had the Sedar & walked an hour before heading different directions. We spoke about how great the Sedar was, how enjoyable it is to be lucky enough to live here in Israel & in Jerusalem & about the joys of Scuba Diving.
Dov will truly be missed by so many. I most of all will miss his smile in the Beit Midrash/hallways & classrooms of Machon Meir. Baruch Ha’Shem his memory lives on every time I see a smile or hear a positive soft spoken response.
Sincerely,
Simcha Margolis
I still can’t believe it. I knew Dov when he first came to Israel and Pardes in 2003. He was such warm and giving man. I had him over for many shabbats and simchas over the 4 years I lived in Israel. I remember all the tiyulim that we shared in our years of study at Pardes and the times we helped to build the Sukka together. Dov was always a giver, a kind and quiet man with a real joy and passion for life. I am truly a better person for having met and been Dov’s friend.
Sincerely, Damian Zoppo
[...] at Pardes realize that we would be coming together to mourn the loss of a former Pardes student, Robert Dov HaEzrachi, who died in a scuba diving accident in [...]
Robert, was my one best friend, what I had. He was very kind…. I am very sad, what can I say? Pls don’t forget to Robert. On Christmas day we can light candle for him and remember.
Jan