MID-HUDSON – Three area residents – two from Rockland County and one from Orange County – are reported among the 45 people killed when a stampede followed a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Mount Meron, Israel on Friday.
At least 45 people were confirmed killed when thousands of people were jammed in a narrow pathway at the conclusion of the event.
Those local residents killed include Shragi Gestetner, 33, of Monsey. He is survived by his wife and six children; Eliezer Tzvi Joseph, 26, of Kiryas Joel, a father of four; and Yosef Amram Tauber of Monsey, 18, a yeshiva student.
The holiday is held annually near the gravesite of second century sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
