The levaya of Avinoam Grossman, an 18-year-old yeshiva
bochur from Long Island, NY who drowned off the western
coast of Australia, was held on Monday 20 Av in Australia.
The aron was taken from Perth to Melbourne on the way
to be buried in Israel. Hundreds of Melbournians turned out
to pay their final respects in front of the Adass Israel
Shule. HaRav Opman of Adass Israel and HaRav Binyomin
Wurtzburger, the rosh kollel Beth Hatalmud gave
hespedim. The aron was scheduled to proceed to
Eretz Yisroel where the niftar was to be buried
on Har Menuchos on Wednesday.
Avinoam was drowned after being swept to sea in Perth, where
he was on a visit teaching Torah. He was standing on rocks on
the shore, well above the waves, when an unusually large wave
from the heavy seas (estimated at 10 meters high) knocked him
into the waters. The seas remained rough with many waves of
up to six meters, which hampered rescue efforts. He was last
seen about 50 meters south of the rocks on which he had been
standing, waving in apparent distress, police said.
His body was found only three days later after a very
extensive search by Australian search teams and the US army.
Avinoam Grossman of Cedarhurst, NY. was with a small group
of American tourists at Torpedo Rocks, about 186 miles
southwest of the Western Australia state capital, Perth, when
a wave swept him from the rocks last Tuesday afternoon 14 Av.
His body was recovered through a very extensive search and
rescue craft on Friday after being spotted by a search
helicopter, the Western Australia police said in a statement.
The London Daily Telegraph said earlier this year that
the beach area was a favorite surf destination, but its steep
slopes and rocky outcrops also make it dangerous. A fisherman
was washed off the rocks and killed in 2002.
One of his chaveirim said that he was, "one of the
finest people I have ever gotten to know and someone who will
be sorely missed. I personally experienced learning with
Avinoam and I can tell you firsthand that he was an
exceptional person. He was a true masmid, always
finding free time to learn." In addition to his learning, his
friend said that he was truly a "ba'al middos tovos."
Avinoam had learned in the Yeshiva of Passaic this past year.
For five years before that he learned in Darchei Torah of Far
Rockaway. He went to Toras Emes Kaminetz in Boro Park for
elementary school. He was on a SEED program with some Darchei
Torah boys in Perth, Western Australia.
The friends and family were grateful that in the midst of the
great distress of the situation, at least his body was
recovered so that he was able to be brought to kevuras
Yisroel.
The SEED program in which Avinoam z"l was participating
is a very demanding effort. The bochurim who
participate spend months preparing Torah material to give
over to the various members of the community with whom they
learn during the period they spend there. The material is
from a wide range of sources and includes Chumash,
Mishnah, Gemora, as well as halochoh, hashkofoh and
general Jewish knowledge. On the program they are busy from
early in the morning -- learning with people before they go
to work -- until late at night. In the middle of the day,
during the business lunch hour, many go to offices to give
classes and to learn individually with interested people.
They also spend time during the day working with children.
Shabbos and weekends are also utilized to allow families to
participate in kiruv-related activities.
