A group of bochurim vacationing in Arizona were in for a terrifying shock when an Uber driver allegedly pointed a handgun at them while on a trip.
According to one of the bochurim involved in the incident who spoke to TLS, an Uber was ordered to transport him and four friends to a vacation spot in the state. The lengthy trip began uneventfully, and at some point, three of the boys asked the driver to make a short detour to a nearby rest stop, to which he obliged without any complaints.
Once the three bochurim entered the gas station, the atmosphere in the car suddenly changed. The Uber driver began urging the two bochurim still in the car to also enter the gas station. They insisted they did not find it necessary and would stay in the car until their friends returned.
After urging them multiple times, the Uber driver allegedly got out of his vehicle, went around to the passenger door, opened it, and pulled a handgun out of the vehicle’s glove compartment.
Pointing the deadly weapon at the two bochurim, the Uber driver reportedly ordered them out of his car, telling them to get lost. Facing down the barrel of the gun, the bochurim naturally and wisely obliged, taking off to the gas station. The driver then re-entered his vehicle and drove off, leaving the boys stranded.
Shaken, the group of bochurim then phoned Phoenix police who took down a report. As of this report, TLS had not confirmed whether police had detained the suspect.
“It was definitely one of the more terrifying experiences of my life, that’s for sure,” one of the bochurim told TLS. “Baruch Hashem, we are all safe and sound and our vacation will go on as planned.”
[TLS-15/TLS-31]
They must be sweaty…
This is another reason why Bachurim going to arizona should only go with an organized program which have set Madrichim as drivers
This is why bochurim should instead be learning Gemorah, Rashi, Tosfos……with an organized program.
Bachurim need a break. Who’s to say that these Bachurim aren’t planning on learning a couple hours a day, and airing out?
Eliyahu F, please clarify what that reason is? This is hardly a normal occurence. This is not something the driver has done before, or he wouldn’t be driving for Uber, and will likely be convicted of a felony and lose his gun license. Point being this is a highly unusual incident and not something someone has to be choshesh for.
Most bochurim going on these trips are around 20 years old, so in a year or 2, they are expected to be mature enough to be married and start a family, but they are not mature enough to travel somewhere?
If that is the case, the reason for the immaturity is likely due to the fact that maturity comes with experience, and nowadays, Children are sheltered and babied well into their teens and beyond, preventing them form gaining the experience needed in order to mature
So you’re saying we have no lesson to learn??? It isn’t anybody’s fault??? Oh by gothhhh. That means that Hashem runs the world!!! Wow, thank you so much for sharing that with us. Live and learn (lessons).
#1100 that’s why you should stay in the bm and not go on road trip
#Mta
This is horrific. There is clearly no excuse for threatening with a weapon, but think a big part of the story is missing.
I would tend to agree
They should definitely get a good attorney and go after uber.
About the bachurim not going on trips….. do you sit and shteig the whole zman in the Beis medrash that you have a right to say that???
If 3 boys of a group of 5 already left the car at a gas station and the driver asks the remailing 2 to leave, don’t wait for him to pull a gun, just leave. Especially in Arizona.
1. Just because you’re paying a driver, doesn’t mean you could stam ask him and noch expect him to drive you where you want. It could make him pull a gun. Just because you decided to need the bathroom?! Mechutzafim. Especially in Arizona.
2. Bachurim have no business going on such vacations. Especially in Arizona.
3. Before you enter an Uber car, check the glove compartment. If the driver doesn’t want to let you check, it’s very suspicious. Especially in Arizona.
4. If you’re memaila at a gas station, even if you don’t davka need the bathroom, it’s always kedy to go. It could save your life. Especially in Arizona.
I hope they didn’t give him 5 stars.
They may also wanna mention that in their review.
I’m glad the bochurim are OK.
This driver was obviously not well. He won’t get another fare. Like, Ever.
Now he’s gonna have to do deliveries for Amazon.
They like thugs.
Bochurim obviously need some vacation like everyone else
However in th old days it was with Family or Organized groups under the care of adults
The past few years it has been a new trend where they just go anywhere in the world on their own without any Supervision
Which Mechanhim and Roshei Yeshivos endorse this type of Hefkeris ?
Why would parents allow this when there are plenty of Supervised camps and programs
Listen up i am one of the guys that were in the carinsyead of everyone’s 1st reaction being how were they wrong. Put urself in our shoes were just trying to enjoy ourself after a long zman and a terrible story happens to us instead of taking shots on us and trying to figure out how it was our fault pls feel for us
You guys called the Lakewood Scoop and told them half a story, and then you wonder why people are questioning it?!
And what was so long about this Zman? It was three months, like any other summer Zman.
From the grammar, punctuation, syntax, and language usage of your comment, it seems obvious that you do not have a high school education. If your bren for Torah and your hasmodah does not allow you to consider a HS education a good use of your time, then you really shouldn’t be taking a vacation in Arizona. It would be too much bittul zman when you could be learning, instead. A break at a local venue would be much more appropriate.
This is not a criticism at all, but I’m curious how the Uber compared with renting a vehicle if this was a long drive. Was it a very substantial difference in cost?
Because you had a long zman, you are allowed to use an iPhone bein hazmanim?????????????????????????????????????
sounds like the driver was ticked off that they made him detour from the original plan, its a uber, not a i ride, its not as hefker velt,
Let me guess,
That was uncalled for. I am SURE these bochurim are wonderful and you should think the same. Apologize. Boys, enjoy the rest of your break and come back invigorated!!! You’re holding up the world!!!
I agree! What was written was totally uncalled for. Even if someone agrees or disagrees with bachurim going on vacation by themselves, there is no reason for attacking these bachurim who just had a gun pointed at them. If you don’t have anything worthwhile to say please don’t say it.
The ahavas yisrael is oozing all over on this page. Right after tish’a be’av. Hopefully this will lead us into a fulfilling elul zman as well.
Farkert! This is the biggest display of ahavas Yisroel, as the bible tells us ‘Don’t hate your brother … rebuke him …’ and ‘Rebuke the wise person and he’ll love you.’
Let me teach you a lesson. ‘Jewish guilt’ teaches us that whenever something happens, it’s someone’s fault. In this instance, such an unusual and impossible to expect story, it’s hard to figure out why it’s the bachurim’s fault. So that’s why we have loving wise people on this thread who in their immense wisdom are able to explain just why the bachurim are truly at fault. Give them credit for their ingenuity.
And by the way, my beloved brother, I hope you realized that I am rebuking you now with this critique, so now I know that you’ll love me more!
(Especially in Arizona)
Because of ben and jerry
You all know it’s because of lace שייטלעך.
I agree with Eiliyahu F. Bochurim should go to an organized program such as MTA.
I personally know how much more the bochurim enjoy a structured program. Keep it up Eliyahu!!
Can I borrow $200?
They had time to grab their luggage??
Suprised Noone has started a go fund me or charidy page yet….
When I grew up ( when zaidy was young in Brooklyn), every decent mesifta had a summer camp it required( or strongly encouraged) the bochrim to attend . Yes some had it for 2 months. What’s the averio to have yeshiva in the country with a little swimming for 2 months? The olim still learned. This new mishigas of no structure is extremely dangerous.
To Shai. ?. Why is a go fund me page necessary?
2)I tend to agree with the commentator that the request to take a detour is probably what ticked the driver off.
3)Most importantly, Baruch Hashem, no one was hurt or killed.
To Brooklyn native. Do you mean to say that if a mesifta doesn’t provide summer camp that it’s not decent?