United States died, and to oversee the return of their bodies.
Those who died, all in their 60s and 70s, were part of a group attending a 14-day Celebrity Cruise of South America supported by B’nai B’rith, an international Jewish human rights organization committed to the security and continuity of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, officials said.
The bus tumbled down a cliff in the Andes over 100 meters, on Wednesday, March 22, killing the 12 travelers from New Jersey and Connecticut, and also injuring two other tourists, the tour guide and the driver
Dante Noce, Arica’s municipal tourism director, identified the dead as Marvin Bier, 79, Shirley Bier, 76, Miriam Diamond, 76, Hans Wilhelm Otto Eggers, 72, Maria Eggers, 71, Ira Greenfield, 68, Linda Gail Greenfield, 63, Arthur Joseph Kovar, 67, Frieda Kovar, 74, Carole Ellen Rochelman, 63, Barbara Rubin, 69, and Robert Rubin, 72.
NATIONAL PARK
They "had gone ashore for a bus excursion to Lauca National Park and on the return trip to the ship, the bus plunged off the road. Of the twelve people who lost their lives in the crash, we believe as many as eight were members of the B’nai B’rith group," the organization said. Two additional people – both B’nai B’rith members – were injured and reportedly in stable condition.
"We are devastated by the tragic and untimely deaths of our B’nai B’rith brothers and sisters," said B’nai B’rith International President Joel S. Kaplan and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin in a statement.
"These long-time active members of B’nai B’rith and their Jewish communities will be sorely missed. We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and friends, as well as to all other members of the B’nai B’rith group. And, we pray for a speedy recovery for all those injured."
In total 64 of the Ponds Unit of B’nai B’rith participated in the cruise, organizers said.
RETURNING BODIES
Rabbi Leibel Miller from Florida was in Chile dealing with how to return bodies to the United States – and the ticking clock of Jewish law, news reports said. Miller needed to bring the bodies home by the Sabbath beginning Friday at sundown. Jewish law prohibits flying on the Sabbath, and the law also requires the dead be buried as quickly as possible.
"I’m here to take care of the spiritual needs and transfer of human remains," Miller told reporters. The site, Arica, is 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) north of the capital, Santiago, and Celebrity was flying victims’ relatives to the scene Thursday, March 23.
Two chartered planes were expected to transport the remains to the United States Friday, March 24. The Associated Press news agency said the Chilean government and the cruise line distanced themselves from the operator of the tour bus, saying Andino Tours wasn’t among the agencies it authorizes to run side trips for passengers. (With reports from Chile and BosNewsLife Research).
