Rabbi killed on Melbourne road
THE body of Rabbi Yitzchok Rotenberg will be transported back to his hometown of New York on Thursday evening, after he was killed in a road accident in the Melbourne suburb of Rippon Lea.
NAOMI LEVIN
THE body of Rabbi Yitzchok Rotenberg will be transported back to his hometown of New York on Thursday evening, after he was killed in a road accident in the Melbourne suburb of Rippon Lea.
Rabbi Rotenberg was struck by a motorcyclist as he left synagogue, near the corner of Glen Eira Road and Hotham Street, just after 7pm on Wednesday. Sources close to the rabbi, who lived in  New Square, New York, speculated that he may have looked the wrong way when crossing the road, being more used to American traffic.
Victoria Police reported that he was clipped by the motorcycle, which caused him to topple over and hit his head on the pavement.
While autopsies are usually conducted after road accidents, Melbourne Chevra Kadisha worked with the Adass Israel Chevra Kadisha to obtain an exemption from the Coroner, in keeping with Jewish tradition.
It is understood that Rabbi Rotenberg was visiting his son, a member of Melbourne’s Adass Israel community.