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Jewish Family Saved from Roof of Flooded Home; Experiences Crown Heights’ Hospitality

Last night at about 2:00am, the Nachman family awoke to discover rising flood waters engulfing their home – located in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Mill Basin. To make matters worse, the flooding caused a gas malfunction which released large amounts of carbon monoxide – a lethal poison.

The poisonous gas knocked the mother of five children unconscious – just at the point where she was needed most. Her husband was stranded elsewhere due to the storm, and was unreachable. Luckily, her 17-year-old son was home and was able to revive his mother and help evacuate the family.

The gushing waters continued to flood the house, rising as high as the upper bookshelves. Miraculously, they got through to Hatzalah just before their only cell phone was ruined by the water.

Hatzalah and the Fire Department arrived to find the mother and children clinging to the roof of their home. They were rescued by the Fire Department, and transported by Hatzalah to Kings County Hospital in Crown Heights.

Rabbi Avrohom Leider, director of Ahavas Chesed, received a call from Hatzalah at about 3:30am that the family was to arrive at the hospital shortly.

Rabbi Lieder immediately rushed over with food and amenities; when they were discharged in the morning he arranged for them to stay at a Crown Heights hotel.

Rabbi Mendel Cohen, an Ahavas Chesed volunteer, coordinated the search for the family’s father. After many nerve-wrecking hours his efforts came to fruition, and with Hatzalah’s help the father was reunited with his wife and children late this morning.

The children’s grandfather, who also resides in Mill Basin, is still unaccounted for; every effort is being made to find him.

The family is in good health b”h but still lacking basic needs, such as clothing (the kids are still in their pajamas), baby supplies (size 5 diapers, wipes, bottle, toys etc.) and food. Monetary donations will also be gladly accepted to help pay for their hotel stay – until their home becomes habitable once more.

If you are able to donate any of these items please contact Mrs. Gotlieb at 718-756-9459, or Rabbi Lieder at 646-805-8405.

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13 Comments

  • Ronald

    Rabbi Leider, a yasher koyach. You are amazing. Thanks to your quick help, a family has been saved. Hope they find the grandfather.

  • Yoss

    Mr. Lieder — you are to be commended greatly for your lightning speed in this great mitzvah of saving lives. Best regards to you and your family and mazal tov on the recent birth of your grandchild to the Janowskis. Taking care.

  • shmuel

    do we really need a photo of every good deed?
    the family seems as though they would’ve been grateful even more had they been spared this candid moment.

  • crownheightspeople

    Please, respect the privacy of people receiving assistance and the dignity of those in need.
    We love R’ Leider anyway even without the pictures and names

  • ahavas chessed fan thank you

    wow ahavas chessed u guys are amazing continue the great work bringing Moshiach Now!!!!! go Rabbi Lieder wowowwowowow

  • FactsRule

    Nothing wrong with good stories & giving others a chance to help out, particularly those who will see who the people are, recognize them, & want to help. Why do some people always find things to criticize. Since your mother never taught you, or you failed to listen to her teach you, if you have nothing good to say, shut up, please. Not recognizing or elevating our mitzvos out of a false sense of humility causes many people to prefer other activities instead. Keep up the great, nice work, Rabbi, and all others who do good things for others, y’shar koiach.

  • Thank you for writing their name.

    We actually know who they are, and since the name was written we are able to help them out.

  • MR. RIGHTEOUS SHMUEL

    SHMUEL GO TO SLEEP AND WAKE UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BECAUSE OF THIS PICTURE I FOR ONE NOW HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT SIZE CLOTHING THE CHILDREN AS WELL AS THE MOTHER WOULD NEED AND CAN BETTER TRY TO HELP THEM. STAM TO CRITISIZE IS NOT A MITZVAH NOR A GOOD CHARACTERISTIC.

  • CH VOLUNTEERS MUST RESPECT PRIVACY

    CLEARLY THIS FAMILY AGREED TO THE PICTURES. BUT IN OTHER CASES THERE IS A SHOCKING LACK OF DISCRETION EVEN IN THE MOST WELL KNOWN OF THE CROWN HEIGHTS VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS. NO MATTER WHO OR WHAT IT IS, IT IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE, IN FACT IT IS CONTEMPTIBLE, TO DISCUSS OR LAUGH ABOUT ANYONE YOU HAVE ‘HELPED’.

  • EMT

    i must say this i am a EMT i transport patients to coney island hospital the man in the pic standing next to rabbi leider is a security officer there and whenever i walk in to the hospital i see him standing at his desk saying tehillim he is a very special person he and his family should be blessed

  • Irv kaminsky

    For your infomation it was flatlands vac not hazbola who transported the family