MONSEY, NY – New York State Attorney General Letitia James visited Rockland County on Wednesday to pay condolences to the family of Shragee Gestetner, one of two local men killed in the tragic stampede in Israel.

Attorney General James was joined by Congress Mondaire Jones, Rockland County Legislator Aron Wieder, and Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht. We are told that Assemblyman Lawler and State Senator Reichlin-Melnick also attended the shiva later in the day.

“It’s almost impossible to fathom the impact of this horrible, horrible loss,” Legislator Wieder said. “Eventually, we will get on with the daily activities of life, but Shragee Gestetner’s family will have to live with his loss forever.”

Also killed was Yosef Amram Tauber from Monsey, a 19-year-old yeshiva student making his first visit to Israel.

“Yossi Tauber was a devoted son and scholar, and his loss is also a difficult blow,” said Legislator Wieder, who knew both men. “I ask everyone to please keep the families of all who perished in your prayers.”

Shragee Gestetner, 33, left behind his wife and six children. Originally from Montreal, he moved to Rockland County after marrying. He lived in Airmont and was a Skverer Hasidic rabbinical scholar and singer who used to perform at large events; his music is included in the Apple iTunes, Amazon Music and Spotify catalogs.

Yosef Amram Tauber, 19, was from Monsey and was making his first visit to Israel to study at the Brisk yeshiva. He had graduated from a local boys’ yeshiva, Meor Yitzchok, and was known as “Yossi.” His uncle said that during the pandemic, Yossi brought food to people and made calls to others who were isolated, according to published reports.

The men were among 45 people killed when a narrow, downhill pathway backed up and a stampede resulted. They were in Israel for Lag BaOmer, an annual holiday that commemorates a 2nd-century Jewish uprising against Roman rule, and were visiting the graveside of a revered rabbi.