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A Jewish man in his 70s passed away suddenly while traveling in a remote town in Namibia, Africa. From the outset, it was clear that handling the case would be complicated, particularly because local authorities required a postmortem examination to determine the circumstances of his death.

“From the very first phone call, we understood that this would be complicated,” Rabbi Yosef Rechimi, the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach’s Shliach to Namibia, told ChabadInfo.

In a country where legal procedures are strictly enforced, special efforts were needed to secure the release of the deceased without an autopsy, while preserving his dignity.

“After speaking with the country’s chief commissioner and the attending physician, we realized there was an opening to preserve the deceased’s dignity,” Rabbi Rechimi recounted. His friend, Yossi Landau of the ZAKA team, assisted in the effort, and together they succeeded in securing the release of the body without an autopsy.

Then, a particularly moving detail came to light.

In a conversation with the family, it emerged that the man had undergone a Bris Milah three years earlier. A careful check of the dates revealed that his Bris had taken place on 18 Tishrei, and exactly three years later, on 19 Tishrei, he passed away while in Africa.

Rabbi Rahimi contacted the Mohel, Rabbi Shlomo Goldberg, and shared the details with him. Rabbi Goldberg was deeply moved and remarked: “The angel of the Bris, through the procedure he performed, protected him so that he would not need to undergo a procedure after his passing in Africa.”

Rabbi Rahimi expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped handle the case: Yossi Landau and the ZAKA team; Consul Naama Skop and the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria; and his friend Eitan Kariv, CEO of Menucha La’ad, for their cooperation and assistance throughout the process.

Rabbi Rechimi concluded with a hope and prayer for the complete Geulah: “May the promise soon be fulfilled, ‘He will swallow up death forever,’ and may we meet him face to face by Techiyas Hamesim, with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu.”

Namibia is a vast, sparsely populated country in southwestern Africa, bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Zambia, with a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital, Windhoek, is home to a small Jewish community of approximately 150 people, alongside thousands of Jewish tourists and business travelers who visit the country each year.

Rabbi Yosef and Mushka Rahimi established Chabad of Namibia in 2021, bringing renewed life to Jews in the country. Their activities include Shabbos and Yom Tov meals, minyanim, Torah classes, arranging Bris Milah, and providing kosher food and supplies for Jewish travelers – even those venturing to remote areas.

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