Brooklyn Rabbi Robbed and Murdered in Bogotá; Family, ZAKA Seek Answers

Rabbi Nachum Aber, 51, a Brooklyn-based member of the Belz Hasidic community, was found dead in an abandoned apartment in Bogotá after disappearing while traveling in Colombia.

According to preliminary reports citing Colombian authorities, Aber — a father of four originally from Canada who worked in real estate — disappeared on April 21 and was later located with signs of violent injury. Reports indicate he was robbed and killed, allegedly by a local criminal gang.

Aber was reportedly taken to the medical examiner's office without any identifying documents and was identified only after a family search and notification. The family contacted ZAKA, the Israeli volunteer emergency response organization, on April 27 to request help securing the release and return of his remains, ZAKA commander Yossi Landau told reporters.

Credit: Noticias Caracol/YouTube

Calls For A Transparent Investigation

“As a woman of faith and an advocate for religious freedom, I express my deepest sorrow and absolute condemnation regarding the tragic and violent murder of Rabbi Nuchem Yisrael Eber — a foreign national,” Senator Lorena Rios Cuellar wrote on X, urging a rigorous, transparent investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Landau described the logistical and legal challenges of working with local authorities in homicide cases, particularly when families seek to avoid autopsy out of religious concerns. He said ZAKA’s priorities in such missions are to prevent autopsy where possible in keeping with Jewish law and to return the deceased to family for timely burial.

The investigation into Aber’s death is ongoing. Colombian authorities and local officials are reportedly pursuing leads, and family members have called for the perpetrators to be identified and brought to justice.

Note: Reporting relies on preliminary statements from local officials and ZAKA; authorities have not released a complete public account of the investigation.