Rabbi Yitzy Bald Saves Two Lives in Bayswater Blaze
Walking down Bay Park Place in the Bayswater neighborhood of Far Rockaway to catch an early Shabbos Minchah, Rabbi Yitzy Bald - noted musician, composer and rebbi at Yeshiva of South Shore - observed smoke rising from a chimney on the corner. Using his Gemara-kup, he reasoned that the smoke was out of place, in the warm August weather. Walking around to the side of the house, Rabbi Bald found two African-American women screaming for help from a second story window. Acting with urgency, he began knocking on neighbors’ doors, screaming, “Fire!” He borrowed a ladder from a neighbor and the two victims were safely evacuated. Their parents, who also live in the house, were not home.
Someone called the fire department and, in short order, half a dozen fire trucks, a police car and an FDNY ambulance were stationed along Bay Park Place and Coldspring Road. Between 20 and 30 firemen battled the smoky blaze, smashing windows and opening fire hydrants around the block. The residents of the house sat across the street on lawn chairs, emotional, surrounded by neighbors.
“This is the second time that this has happened,” the older of the two women cried.
The fire is assumed to have started in the basement. There were thankfully no injuries.
After ascertaining that the authorities had everything under control, the victims had a place to go, and relatives were on the way, Rabbi Bald made a quick and unassuming exit.
{Moshe Berman and Benji Lintz-Matzav.com Newscenter}
35 Responses to “Rabbi Yitzy Bald Saves Two Lives in Bayswater Blaze”
2. Comment from FYI
Time August 29, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Way to go!
Bravo!
3. Comment from Rabbaim
Time August 29, 2010 at 11:45 AM
I hope it gets all the hype in the secular press. This is what Yidden need to be known for!
4. Comment from WHY USE CAPS
Time August 29, 2010 at 11:48 AM
THERE IS A KEY CALLED A CAPS LOCK THAT YOU CAN TURN OFF SO YOU DON’T SOUND LIKE WHATEVER YOU SAY IS OF ULTIMATE IMPORTANCE AND NEEDS EMPHASIS.
5. Comment from Anonymous
Time August 29, 2010 at 11:50 AM
this story cant go un-noticed
6. Comment from Beautiful
Time August 29, 2010 at 12:51 PM
I know Reb Yitzy he’s mamash a Tzaddik. Megalglin zchus al ydey Zakay.
7. Comment from who klal gadol btorah
Time August 29, 2010 at 1:01 PM
nice job yitz!
8. Comment from reg
Time August 29, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Did he miss mincha?
9. Comment from Anonymous
Time August 29, 2010 at 1:17 PM
This should be on the front page of every Jewish newspaper this week. But it probably won’t because only a true Torahdig news outlet like Matzav believes in being mefarsem a mitzvah.
Way to go Rabbi Bald! We love you!! Keep it up!!!
10. Comment from Anonymous
Time August 29, 2010 at 2:22 PM
B”H with role models like Rabbi Bald it is no wonder that the talmidim of South Shore are well known for their midos tovos and caring
11. Comment from Anonymous
Time August 29, 2010 at 3:45 PM
yitzy nice job keep up the good work
12. Comment from Moshe
Time August 29, 2010 at 3:49 PM
I know Rabbi Yitzy Bald… he is one of the warmest and most kind men I’ve met… he’s a real example of an ohev es haberiyos!!!
13. Comment from A Midwest Fan..
Time August 29, 2010 at 4:33 PM
WOW WOW What a kiddush Hashem! We have the zchus to know Reb Yitzy VERY VERY well and are continuously impressed with his and his wifes maasim tovim. Continued hatzlacha in ALL you do. ps: I know that picture…
14. Comment from Anonymous
Time August 29, 2010 at 5:15 PM
yitzy is tzadik
15. Comment from An Admirer
Time August 29, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Reb Yitz, how could we not love you? You’re a gem in our midst.
16. Comment from a talmud that refuses to put out an albu
Time August 29, 2010 at 5:50 PM
i am thrilled that this hidden tzadik is finally getting a drop of the kavod he truely deserves yitzy may you always be famous for good things
17. Comment from 1234
Time August 29, 2010 at 6:01 PM
R’ Yitz you always had a heart of gold and you just demonstrated it again! Der Zchus zul dir beishtein!
18. Comment from South Shore Parent
Time August 29, 2010 at 6:22 PM
We are proud to have R’ Yitzy as a Rebbe at Yeshiva of South Shore!
19. Comment from Camp Agudah
Time August 29, 2010 at 7:37 PM
This wasn’t staged for next years color war break out, was it???
20. Comment from Rabbu & Mrs Gary Pollack
Time August 29, 2010 at 8:08 PM
We are old neighbors of the Bald family and watched Yitzy Bald grow in Midos and Ahavas Ha Briut throuhout his life. We are proud that he continues in this noble derech.
21. Comment from mr 2 cents
Time August 29, 2010 at 8:15 PM
I saw the house and it was mamish all boarded up. What a moiredige shreck!
22. Comment from avi heineken
Time August 29, 2010 at 8:21 PM
yitzy you are amazing!!!!!!! camp agudah rocks!!!!
23. Comment from South Shore Admirer
Time August 29, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Rabbi Bald is one of the many warm & wonderful Rebbeim (and Secular teachers) at Yeshiva of South Shore. We are so proud!!!
24. Comment from Anon
Time August 29, 2010 at 9:29 PM
Was my rabbi last year
25. Comment from Woodmere rocks
Time August 29, 2010 at 9:43 PM
We need more people like Yitzy Bald, in talent and in menchlichkeit. What a breath of fresh air.
26. Comment from To comment 19
Time August 29, 2010 at 10:25 PM
I think your comment is highly inappropriate. He saved 2 lives and all you can muster is a corny joke?!
27. Comment from agudah boy
Time August 29, 2010 at 10:57 PM
Someone should nominate him for the Carnegie Hero Award.
Preferably someone who was there or came shortly afterward.
http://www.carnegiehero.org/
28. Comment from Old Torah Vodaaser
Time August 30, 2010 at 12:32 AM
There is not much to add to the posts above. But from the outpouring of love, and support, and admiration, it is obvious that I join many, many people in paying tribute to Yitzy. Actually, it should be Reb Yitzchok, as he is a talmid chochom, a true ben Torah, a fabulous rebbi, and a true mentch, who happens to be as talented as they come, creative and fun.
29. Comment from caring balebusta
Time August 30, 2010 at 1:19 AM
Wow!!! This is amazing. I’m NOT being sarcastic, but rather filled with admiration. This is one of the first posts I’ve read about praising a fellow Yid and there were no negative comments. That’s how it should be!!
Kol hakovod to Reb Yitzy Bald. (I have 2 nephews who attended South Shore) and kol hakovod to the people posting who kept it very positive.
In the zechus of seeing good in others, may we be zocheh to a good Din this coming year!
30. Comment from Practicaly speaking
Time August 30, 2010 at 5:14 AM
That is trully the act of a tsadik and yesterdays article regarding black in the jewish community and the claim that orthodox jews dont treat them nicely, well New York times here’s an article that proves you wrong , we have admirable people amongst us orthodox jews we do heroic acts to total non jewish strangers and reb yitzi didnt even stick around for the thanks and heroic admiration he just left as soon as he wasnt needed anymore, that is amazing! But dont expect the farshtinkina New York Times to publish it because THEY HAVE AN AGENDA!
31. Comment from Anonymous
Time August 30, 2010 at 12:54 PM
#27 - He technically doesn’t qualify. He didn’t risk his life. Read the nominations page at your link. One of the authors of the article was probably there, but we still need info about Reb Yitz. If you cab pull it together, go for it.
Matzav.com - Tizku L’mitzvot
32. Comment from E.Feder
Time August 30, 2010 at 4:36 PM
WOW! I am an old talmid from a bunch of years ago and this truely shows his real meidos. A tremendous rebbi who changed my life. He he is a living example of “derech eretz kadma latorah”,and I picked that up from him and it still is with me till this day.
33. Comment from Ruach Country Rocks !
Time September 4, 2010 at 9:30 PM
Rabbi Yitzy Bald is Amazing
buy his new Cd coming out this Jan.
34. Comment from Geshmockster
Time September 8, 2010 at 12:45 AM
Maskin Ruach Country is the best camp in the mountains, but what does that have to do with this story???
35. Comment from lyg
Time September 20, 2010 at 2:08 PM
i happen to know for a fact that rabbi bald is a tzaddik. of course the new york slimes is going to put itself out of business before writing a story about “0RTHODOX JEWISH RABBI SAVES TWO BLACK WOMEN” uh uh. not gonna happen. but anyway, its a huge kiddush hashem!!!
we love you reb yitzy!!
(buy his cd coming out in January)
1. Comment from MEKADESH SHEM SHAMAYIM!
Time August 29, 2010 at 11:10 AM
WITH ALL THE CHILUL HASHEM STORIES IN TEH MEDIA ITS A MITZVA TO BE MEFARSEM THIS FOR ALL THAT ITS WORTH!!