Surprise reunion helps Israeli family get father’s body home

An Israeli family’s efforts to bring their father home for burial took an unexpected turn when a Namibian pathologist recognised a ZAKA volunteer he had met nearly two decades earlier. The encounter helped secure the release of the deceased without an autopsy, following intervention by Chabad of Windhoek and ZAKA’s international unit. 

Rabbi Yosef Rahimi, Chabad emissary to Namibia, told the SA Jewish Report that the man, who was about 70, had died after suffering cardiac arrest while travelling with his wife during the Jewish festival of Sukkot. Emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate him, but their efforts were unsuccessful. 

Police subsequently took the body to Walvis Bay, a coastal city in Namibia. Authorities indicated that an autopsy would be required, creating a challenge for the family, who wanted his body returned to Israel for burial in accordance with Jewish law. 

In Jewish tradition, the body is treated with profound respect after death. Orthodox Jewish practice generally prohibits unnecessary post-mortem examinations because the body must remain intact. However, local legal requirements governing deaths and investigations must also be considered. 

Rahimi said he had contacted the family, spoken with the deceased’s wife, and begun coordinating with Israeli authorities. He’d also contacted ZAKA, the Israeli organisation that specialises in responding to traumatic deaths, identifying victims, and ensuring that the deceased are treated in accordance with Jewish law. 

The efforts involved several parties, including the Israeli government, ZAKA’s international unit, and Namibian authorities. Rahimi said the team supplied medical documentation showing that the deceased had a history of heart problems. They also arranged for the Israeli doctor familiar with his medical history to be contacted. 

The aim was to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and address the concerns that had led authorities to consider an autopsy. 

The case then took an unexpected turn. During a video call arranged by Rahimi, ZAKA volunteer Yossi Landau spoke with the Namibian pathologist about the religious significance of avoiding an autopsy. 

The doctor recognised Landau from an encounter 19 years before following a plane crash in Namibia that had killed five Israelis. ZAKA volunteers had travelled to Namibia after that disaster, helping at the crash site, identifying victims, and arranging for their return to Israel for burial. 

According to ZAKA’s account, the pathologist remembered the organisation’s work and its efforts to preserve the dignity of the dead. Landau explained the Jewish religious considerations surrounding the proposed autopsy. Following their conversation, the pathologist agreed to release the deceased without performing one. 

The earlier encounter had therefore become relevant to a new family’s efforts to secure a dignified burial for their loved one. 

For Rahimi, the case was about supporting a family experiencing an unexpected loss far from home. The deceased’s wife was travelling with him, while their sons remained in Israel. 

Rahimi said the family was shocked by the death. He’d spoken to the sons several times a day while working to resolve the arrangements. The widow also spent time with the Chabad community in Windhoek. “She was very upset,” Rahimi said, describing how the woman cried throughout the day. He said she appreciated the support she’d received from the community. 

Rahimi explained that Chabad helped provide practical assistance and emotional support while the family navigated the arrangements. 

The family had shared an additional detail about the man’s religious journey. According to Rahimi, the deceased was born in Belarus during the Soviet communist era, when Jewish religious life was restricted. After moving to Israel, the man and his family developed a stronger connection to Jewish life. Rahimi said the man’s son later decided to have his own son circumcised. Two weeks afterwards, the father, then 65, decided to undergo the ritual himself. 

Rahimi contacted the mohel in Israel who’d performed the procedure to verify the details. The records showed that the circumcision had taken place on 18 Tishrei, during the intermediate days of Sukkot. 

The man died three years later, on 19 Tishrei, according to Rahimi. He regarded the timing as particularly meaningful because the death occurred close to the anniversary of the man’s renewed religious commitment. 

The rabbi said the experience reinforced his understanding of the importance of respecting the deceased and supporting their families. “The body is holy,” he said. 

The successful resolution also demonstrated the cooperation between Jewish organisations, diplomatic representatives, and local authorities. Rahimi said the paperwork required coordination across borders because Israel doesn’t have an embassy in Namibia. He worked with consular representatives to secure the necessary documentation. The arrangements included assistance from the South African side, which helped with the paperwork needed to transfer the body. 

By the time Rahimi spoke to the SA Jewish Report, the coffin was scheduled to leave Namibia on a flight that afternoon. He said the process had moved faster than he’d initially expected, given the administrative requirements involved. 

The case also reflects the role Chabad plays in supporting Jewish travellers and residents in countries where Jewish communities are small. Rahimi said that when he had arrived in Namibia about five years ago, the community believed there were approximately 30 to 40 Jews living across the country. He now estimates that there are close to 150. The community has developed religious activities, including services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and provides kosher food for residents and visitors. 

Rahimi said Chabad aims to assist every Jewish person who comes to Namibia, regardless of their level of religious observance. “Every Jew is important for us,” 

For the Israeli family, the immediate priority was to bring their father home. The intervention of Rahimi, ZAKA, and their contacts in Namibia helped them do that.