Barry Levitt, z’l, 80, was identified as the man killed on Monday evening when a porch collapsed onto a bakery in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Rechavia.

Levitt was sitting at the Angel Bakery on Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael Street with his wife and grandchildren when a porch on the second floor of a three-story building collapsed onto the bakery. He was extracted from the scene unconscious and in critical condition, but was later pronounced dead.

Levitt’s wife and two teenagers sustained minor injuries.

His levaya will be held at Har HaMenuchos on Tuesday at 9 p.m.

A preliminary investigation carried out by the Jerusalem municipality found that just hours before the collapse, a private engineer hired by residents inspected the porch after stones fell and signs of sagging were observed. The engineer instructed that scaffolding be erected and that work to stabilize the porch begin immediately. However, just hours after those instructions were issued—and before any work had begun—the porch collapsed.

The residents had not informed the municipality about the problem. According to reports, the building was constructed in 1952.

A resident of the building told Kan News: “I was the last customer there five minutes before the porch collapsed. I bought a slice of pizza and walked up the stairs. Just as I was about to enter the building, I heard a tremendous boom. The pizza saved my life. Baruch Hashem for the miracle.”

The Jerusalem Municipality said Monday: “Following the balcony collapse on KKL Street, a dangerous structures team, together with the city engineer, was dispatched to the scene. The professional teams are working alongside the emergency and rescue forces to assess the building’s stability, identify hazards, and issue further instructions. Once the inspections are completed, the municipality will act in accordance with the findings and the recommendations of the professional authorities.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)