Reichenberg Saved Boy's Mother Before Getting Killed

David Eichenberg Z"L

As the 5-year-old boy critically injured after being shocked by a downed power line remains hospitalized, his father credited the man who tried to save the child with also saving the life of the boy's mother. David M. Reichenberg, 50, was going to the aid of Reuven Herbst on Aug. 28 when he was killed by the live wire that injured the boy in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. Reichenberg left behind his wife, Ruth Miriam; daughter Rifka Hadassah, 19; and sons Josh, 14, Eliyahu, 12, and Akiva, who turned 11 just days after his father's death. Reichenberg's survivors also include his father, Harry, of Seattle, and his brothers, Steve, of Cherry Hill, N.J., and Eric, of Croton-on-Hudson.The family all gathered for a weeklong period of mourning, just weeks after they had gotten together to mark Reichenberg's 50th birthday, friends said Tuesday.Reuven remained in critical condition Tuesday in the pediatric burn unit at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. His father, Yehuda Herbst, also tried to help and was burned by the wire near the family's home at Merrick Drive and Union Road.Herbst credits Reichenberg for saving the life of his wife, Chava Leah Herbst, family friend Rabbi Yochonon Wosner said Tuesday. Wosner is a lecturer at Ohr Somayach in Monsey, a Judaic studies college attended by Reichenberg, who almost never missed a 6:15 a.m. Talmud class each morning.Reichenberg was not particularly religious growing up in Cherry Hill, but that changed after a summer trip to Israel prior to college, his friend of 25 years, Abraham Stubin, said.It was during a visit to the Western Wall where he encountered Rabbi Meir Schuster, who gradually introduced him to new aspects of Judaism, Stubin said.Once Reichenberg got to the University of Washington in Seattle, he got involved with the Chabad House and over time became increasingly devout.He remained an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, canoeing and camping, friends said.The Reichenbergs and the Herbsts are backyard neighbors, friends said.
From The Journal News