Rabbi Bauman’s body recovered: Made ultimate sacrifice to save drowning student

A Jewish volunteer rescue team found the body of Rabbi Reuven Bauman on Sunday.

By World Israel News Staff

The body of Rabbi Reuven Bauman, 35, was found on July 14 off the coast of North Carolina by a boat of volunteers from Misaskim.

Misaskim is an American Orthodox Jewish nonprofit organization that helps families dealing with tragedy.

Rabbi Bauman went missing on July 9. He was swept out to sea at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach. Bauman had jumped into the choppy water to save his student who was caught in a rip current.

The student survived and is in stable condition.

On Wednesday, the Coast Guard had called off its search for Bauman’s body. They later resumed their efforts following pleas from the family and community.

Jewish rescue efforts only stopped briefly to honor the Sabbath.

Two hundred emergency personnel from various Jewish organizations refused to give up hope of finding the rabbi, and immediately resumed their search once the Sabbath had ended.

Thousands of calls for prayer flooded the Jewish community through social media platforms in hopes that the spiritual efforts would aid the recovery of Bauman.

Hamodia reported that locals in Virginia Beach marveled at the Jewish community’s dedication to finding the rabbi.

A reporter said that an area gas station grocery store refused payment explaining, “This store is donating a bag of ice to you guys, out of respect for what you do.”

“It was a grueling search for them,” Aryeh Leib Freedman, president of Misaskim of Maryland told Hamodia on Sunday. “At times they felt like giving up – yet there was no way they would actually give up. That’s what being brothers is about.”

Rabbi Bauman’s funeral took place Monday morning, at B’nai Israel Congregation. He was buried at King Solomon Memorial Park Cemetery in Clifton, New Jersey.

A charity fund has been set up for the Bauman family.