With great sadness we report the passing of R’ Yosef Raksin of Crown Heights, who was murdered Shabbos morning (13th of Av) on his way to the Beis Menachem Chabad Shul of North Miami Beach.

He is survived by his wife Mrs. Faigy Raksin; his children Mrs. Shuli Labkowski (North Miami Beach, FL); Mrs. Mushky Ezagui (Palm Beach, FL); Zalman Moshe Raksin, Menachem Mendel Raksin, Avraham Boruch Raksin and Lazer Raksin; his mother Mrs. Yehudis Raksin (Crown Heights); his siblings Mrs. Shterna Levitin, Mrs. Nechama Losh, R’ Mendel Raksin, R’ Lazer Raksin, R’ Boruch Raksin, R’ Zalman Raksin, all of Crown Heights, Mrs. Chani Begun (Woodmere, NY), and Mrs. Gitty Neuwirth (Montreal, Canada).

7 News / WSVN Reports:

Police are searching for two men who, they said, shot and killed a rabbi who was walking to a South Florida synagogue on the Sabbath.

A shell casing and crime scene tape marked the area where, police said, 60-year-old Joseph Raksin was shot. According to investigators, the rabbi was walking along Northeast 175th Street and Eighth Court around 9 a.m. on Saturday when two men approached him. Police said an altercation ensued, and one of the men pulled out a gun and shot the religious leader.

An area resident said his son heard the gunshot. “He told the detectives he thought he heard one shot,” said Louis. “[He] didn’t see anything.”

Police said the subjects fled the scene, one on foot and the other one on a bicycle.

Good Samaritan Jean Louis Denis said he ran out to help Raksin. “When I saw him, he was alive. We know he is dead now,” he said.

Raksin was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

Police said Raksin was heading to Bais Menachem Chabad, a synagogue located a few blocks away from where he was shot. The rabbi, who lives in New York, was in town visiting his daughter and grandchildren, who live in the neighborhood.

For Northeast Miami-Dade’s Jewish community, the shooting marked a disturbing and heartbreaking start to Sabbath. “That’s unfortunate. It’s very sad to hear it,” said Rich, who lives near the scene of the shooting. “That’s about the most extreme thing that’s happened in the 10 years I’ve been here.”

Denis said he is saddened by the tragic outcome. “The neighborhood [is comprised of] really nice people, and I feel very, very sad that something can happen here and to people who are nice and peaceful people.”

Investigators said the shooting does not appear to be a hate crime.

A witness described the suspects as younger looking men, one wearing an orange shirt and the other a yellow shirt.

If you have any information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

(c) JEM / TheLivingArchive.org

1054