‘Doesn’t seem real’: Jacksonville Jewish community prays for Surfside condo collapse victims

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Three more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the collapsed Surfside condo on Monday. Two of them, Tzvi and Ingrid Ainsworth, were part of the Jewish community.

So far, there are at least 18 Jewish victims who are either confirmed dead or missing.

About a third of Surfside’s population is Jewish. Many residents of the Chaplain Towers attended The Shul, which is part of the international organization Chabad.

>>Related: Surfside condo collapse: Death toll rises to 28; 2 additional victims identified

In Jacksonville, Chabad Lubavitch is part of the same network.

“You couldn’t believe something like that could happen,” Rivka Kahanov, whose husband founded the Jacksonville Chabad, said. “There’s nothing to say to them. You just have to be there for them and show your love for them and that you’re praying with them.”

Kahanov knew the Ainsworth family and said it struck an emotional chord.

“There was hope and hope. But in a sense, there’s actually relief that they found the bodies — unfortunately, it’s better knowing than not knowing,” she said.

Crews resumed search and rescue operations late Sunday night after the rest of the standing portion of the condo was demolished. The death toll has now risen to 27, and 118 people are unaccounted for.

©2021 Cox Media Group