Robbed and murdered: the missing rabbi was found lifeless in Colombia

Rabbi Nachum Israel Abar, 51 years old, from Belez Hasidot in New York, who was considered missing for several days after losing contact with him, was found today (Monday) in Colombia after several days of searches in an isolated area, lifeless with signs of violence on his body.

According to reports in Colombia, the rabbi fell victim to a local robber gang who murdered him during the attempted robbery and fled the scene immediately afterward.

The family members contacted the international center of ZAKA with a request for assistance in releasing the body of the deceased for burial in Israel. Upon receiving the request, the volunteers of the international unit of ZAKA, together with members of the local Jewish community, began to work with the authorities in Colombia to arrange the release of his body and bringing it to the grave of Israel.

At the same time, the members of the legal department for the honor of the dead at ZAKA are working to prevent an autopsy on the deceased’s body and speed up the legal procedures required to release his body.

“This is a difficult and unfortunate incident of a Jew who was murdered far from his home. We thank the members of the Jewish community in Colombia and all the parties who are working to bring the deceased to the grave of Israel as soon as possible. The volunteers of the international unit of ZAKA accompany the family of the deceased and share in their heavy grief,” said Yossi Landau, ZAKA Lachish Kambach and a volunteer in ZAKA’s international unit handling the event.