Chabad of Brandon Raises Funds for Torah in memory of Nosson Deitsch

In the Jewish faith, it's traditional to bring something good from tragedy, said Rabbi Mendel Rubashkin.

With that in mind, Chabad of Brandon has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase its own Torah in honor of a young rabbinical student who was killed in an accident last May.

The cousin of the rabbi's wife, Tzippy, Nosson Deitch, 21, and fellow rabbinical students from Miami were visiting Chabad of Brandon for the Jewish Lag B'omer celebration and barbecue last May.

"They just came for the weekend and Nosson made a big impression on everyone," said Rubashkin. "He was so full of life." 

But that life was cut short when he and his fellow students decided to go jet skiing that Sunday, Deitch was killed instantly when his jet ski collided with another rabbinical student's jet ski.

"In Judaism, we try to bring some light into the darkness of tragedy," said Rubashkin. "We want to esnure that something good comes out of the sadness."

So the members agreed to raise the $25,100 for their own Torah in Deitch's honor.

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