Florida Woman Killed on Way to Yom Kippur Sevices

57 year-old Esther Benzohar Ohayon, a member of Chabad of Jacksonville, FL, was tragically killed by a car while crossing the street on her way to Shul the eve of Yom Kippur.

From Jacksonville.com:

A woman is dead and her daughter is at University of Florida Health hospital in Jacksonville after both were hit by a car Friday night while crossing the street on San Jose Boulevard to attend a Yom Kippur service at a synagogue in Mandarin.

Esther Benzohar Ohayon, 57, of Jacksonville was pronounced dead on the scene.

Ohayon and her daughter Orly, 16, were crossing the street at Haley Road when a Toyota Camry traveling southbound hit them, according to authorities.

Michael Fortunato, of Jacksonville, was listed as the driver of the Camry, according to Florida Highway Patrol documents.

Fortunato was detained at the scene. FHP officials are still investigating to determine whether he ran a red light or was under the influence of alcohol, Highway Patrol spokesman Dylan Bryan said.

Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov, director of Chabad of Jacksonville, told CrownHeights.info: “Esther and her family were members of Chabad for 20 years until the last moment of her life. Her late husband, who died from cancer 13 years ago, was the gabbai of our shul for several years until his untimely death.”

“This is a time for Jews to unite and reflect upon self betterment, as well as community improvement,” he said.

Esther was crossing the street to go to a Sephardic minyan which she liked to attend on the High Holidays.

Rabbi Yaakov Fisch, of the Etz Chaim Synagogue, where Ohayon and her daughter were headed at the time of the accident, said “She was a very refined and kind-hearted woman.”

Her family plans to fly her body to Israel to be buried next to her husband.

Fisch said Orly Ohayon is expected to recover after undergoing surgery.

Fisch also noted the danger of the San Jose and Haley intersection, particularly for the Orthodox Jewish faithful who on the Sabbath can not push the button to activate the pedestrian signal for crossing the street.

There have been “very harrowing and near misses over the years,” Fisch said.

He said he reached out to Rep. Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville, about three months ago asking if the intersection can be set to provide longer times to cross the street during the Sabbath.

“I hate to say that I never even got a reply from Mr. McBurney,” Fisch said. “Not even a ‘I’m working on it’ or anything.”

Fisch said a longer time period to cross San Jose on the Sabbath could help to make it safer for those attending services.

Esther Ohayon, taught preschool at the Jacksonville Jewish Center. Jon Mitzmacher, head of the Jacksonville Jewish Center’s Galinsky Academy, said “Miss Esther,” as she was known at the preschool, was beloved.

“Never was a teacher more kind and loving than Esther Ohayon,” Mitzmacher said. “Our hearts break for her family and friends in our schools, in our synagogue, the Jacksonville Jewish Center, and for her family and friends at Etz Chaim.”

Mitzmacher said he taught Orly Ohayan and she is “as sweet and sincere as the day is long.”

“All we can do now,” Mitzmacher said, “is pray for Orly’s recovery and pledge our part to see Esther be a memory everlasting.”

A community memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, October 6, at Chabad of Jacksonville.