UPDATED, 12:30 p.m., May 18: Isaac Rosenberg, a Brooklyn real estate investor and developer and a member of Williamsburg’s Satmar Hasidic community, died Tuesday morning after drowning off the coast of North Miami Beach, Fla.
Rosenberg and three other men were swimming in an unguarded area of the beach when they were caught by a current and swept into the Atlantic Ocean, according to local ABC News reports and Orthodox Jewish community outlet VIN News.
While two of the men, identified as Aron Wurzberger and Yitzchok Englander, escaped the current and are in stable condition, Rosenberg and another companion, Chaim Parnes, had to be rescued and were rushed to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Rosenberg, believed to have been in his 60s, was active in the Brooklyn real estate market alongside his brother, Abraham. He also went by the name “Isack.”
Among Rosenberg’s real estate assets is a massive property on Kent Avenue, along the Williamsburg waterfront, that Ziel Feldman’s HFZ Capital Group and former Vornado Realty Trust CEO Michael Fascitelli were reportedly eying for north of $250 million.
City and state politicians reacted to news of Rosenberg’s death on social media:
Saddened to learn of the untimely death of Satmar community leader Isaac Rosenberg and Chaim Parnes. #BDE
— David G. Greenfield (@NYCGreenfield) May 17, 2016
My deepest condolences to the Satmar Community on the tragic passing of President Rabbi Isac Rosenberg. My thoughts & prayers are with you
— Tish James (@TishJames) May 17, 2016
I’m saddened by the tragic death of Isaac Rosenberg, President of Congregation Yetev Lev D’Satmar. My prayers are with the Satmar community.
— Jesse Hamilton (@SenatorHamilton) May 17, 2016
#Brooklyn‘s hearts go out to the #Satmar community following the tragic drownings of Rebbes Chaim Parnes and Yitzchok Rosenberg in Miami.
— Eric Adams (@BPEricAdams) May 17, 2016
In addition to his real estate interests, Rosenberg also owned Williamsburg-based lumber supplier Certified Lumber. [ABC and VIN News] – Rey Mashayekhi
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Rosenberg “owned and managed more than 40 properties” across Brooklyn. Many of those properties are owned by a different individual with the same name.