BOWIE, Maryland โ ZAKA North America, in partnership with Misaskim of Central Jersey and Misaskim of Baltimore, assisted local authorities and emergency agencies following a fatal plane crash in Maryland that claimed the lives of three Israeli citizens, according to officials from the organizations.
The victims were identified as Yoav Bomrind of Zichron Yaakov, David Rabinovitz of Haifa, and Elad Neidik of Toronto. The three men were aboard a single-engine Piper PA-28 aircraft that crashed Sunday in a wooded area near Bowie, Maryland.
According to authorities, the aircraft had departed from Ocean City, New Jersey, and was en route to Montgomery County Airpark when it went down near a residential neighborhood and playground.
The crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Following notification of the incident, ZAKA Search and Rescue headquarters in Israel dispatched ZAKA North America Commander Yanky Landau and activated organizational resources in coordination with Misaskim volunteers in New Jersey and Baltimore.
Volunteers worked alongside local emergency responders, law enforcement officials, and medical examiners for several hours, assisting in recovery operations, collecting personal effects, and ensuring that the deceased were treated in accordance with Jewish law and tradition.
The concept of Kavod HaMeit, or honoring the deceased, is a central principle in Jewish tradition and guides ZAKA’s emergency response activities worldwide.
Officials said the response required extensive coordination among local, state, and federal authorities, aviation investigators, international representatives, and the victims’ families.
Jewish communal leader Rabbi Mattis Melnicke, who serves as a liaison to various local, state, and federal agencies, helped coordinate communications and logistical arrangements among the numerous organizations involved in the response.
“From the moment we received notification of this tragedy, our volunteers mobilized to provide assistance and support,” said ZAKA North America Commander Yanky Landau.
“Together with our partners at Misaskim, our volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that the victims were treated with the utmost dignity and that their families received the support they needed during an unimaginable moment of loss.”
Landau added that the organization’s mission extends beyond the technical aspects of recovery operations.
“These situations are never easy, but the responsibility we carry is clear: to honor the deceased and stand beside families when they need us most,” he said.
ZAKA North Executive Director Moshe Rozenberg emphasized the importance of longstanding relationships between emergency organizations and government agencies.
“Incidents like this demonstrate the importance of strong relationships between emergency organizations, community partners, and government agencies,” Rozenberg said.
“The ability to mobilize and respond quickly, coordinate effectively, and provide culturally sensitive support requires trust and preparation built long before tragedy strikes.”
Rozenberg expressed appreciation to Misaskim volunteers and the various agencies involved in the response.
“We are grateful to Misaskim of Central Jersey, Misaskim of Baltimore, and the many agencies that worked together to ensure that Kavod HaMeit remained at the center of this response,” he said. “Our goal is always to bring dignity, compassion, and support to families during their most difficult moments.”
According to ZAKA officials, the organization is currently working with Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Consulate in Washington to facilitate the repatriation of Bomrind and Rabinovitz to Israel for burial.
ZAKA is also coordinating with Jewish communal organizations in Canada to arrange for the transfer of Neidik’s remains to Toronto, where he will be laid to rest.
ZAKA Search and Rescue Chief Executive Officer Dubi Weissenstern said the response underscores the global nature of the organization’s work.
“This tragedy is a reminder that ZAKA’s work extends wherever Jewish families and communities are facing crisis,” Weissenstern said.
“Our volunteers around the world stand ready to assist in moments of devastation, whether responding to disasters, accidents, or mass casualty events, with one mission: to preserve dignity, provide support, and ensure that no family faces these moments alone.”
Founded in Israel, ZAKA has evolved into an international emergency response organization with thousands of trained volunteers operating around the clock in Israel and throughout the Jewish diaspora.
The organization is widely known for its response to terror attacks, natural disasters, accidents, and other emergencies, with volunteers often assisting both in rescue operations and in ensuring the respectful treatment of victims in accordance with Jewish law.
Meanwhile, federal investigators continue examining flight records, radar information, and evidence recovered from the crash site as they work to determine the cause of the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet released preliminary findings regarding the circumstances that led to the crash.
