A 12-year-old boy from Modiin Illit drowned on Sunday in the Jordan River during what was meant to be a family vacation, Israeli authorities confirmed after lifting a publication ban.
The victim has been identified as Elchanan Karni, a student at the Breslov Talmud Torah in the Berachfeld neighborhood of Modiin Illit, an ultra-Orthodox city in central Israel. He was set to begin eighth grade in the coming school year.
According to reports, Elchanan fell from a watercraft while boating on the river. When contact with him was lost, police and rescue teams were called to the scene and launched extensive search operations. He was eventually located and pulled from the water, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
Teachers and classmates described Elchanan as a beloved student known for his good character, kindness, and dedication to his studies. The news has devastated the school community and his peers.
The tragedy strikes the family during what should have been a time of celebration. Elchanan's sister became engaged approximately two weeks ago, and her wedding had been scheduled to take place next month, during the Hebrew month of Cheshvan.
The incident marks the second fatal tragedy to hit the Breslov community in Berachfeld within a matter of weeks. On July 24, another student from the same Talmud Torah, Moshe Glinsky, was killed in a traffic accident. The fathers of both boys study together at the same kollel, a yeshiva for married men.
Officials from Zaka, the Israeli volunteer emergency response organization, are assisting the family and coordinating with relevant authorities to expedite arrangements for the funeral.
