12-Year-Old Elhanan Karni Dies in Jordan River Boating Accident During Family Vacation

Elhanan Karni, a 12-year-old boy from Modiin Illit, tragically drowned in the Jordan River on Sunday during a family boating trip. After losing contact with him, police and rescue teams conducted extensive searches and recovered him from the water without signs of life. Elhanan was a student at the Breslov Talmud Torah in the Brachfeld neighborhood of Modiin Illit and was about to enter eighth grade. His teachers and classmates described him as a beloved, well-mannered child dedicated to his studies.

The tragedy struck the family during a time of celebration preparations, as Elhanan's sister recently became engaged and is expected to marry in the upcoming month of Cheshvan. This incident marks the second fatal tragedy to hit the Breslov Talmud Torah community in recent weeks, following the death of another student, Moshe Glinsky, in a traffic accident on the 17th of Tammuz. Both boys’ fathers study together in a kollel.

ZAKA rescue officials from Modiin Illit and Safed are supporting the family and coordinating with relevant authorities to expedite funeral arrangements. The community mourns the loss of a pure and cherished child, with prayers offered for his soul to be bound in the bond of life.