Found Deceased LA - Michael Gelfand 33, left NJ for business, didn't return home, New Orleans, 6 Jan 2022 *Reward*

[Kristin Esq.]

A 33-year-old resident of the Jersey Shore has been reported missing in New Orleans.

New Orleans police requested the public's help in locating Michael Gelfand of Jackson on Tuesday.

The reporting person stated that Gelfand arrived in New Orleans on Jan. 5 for business and was scheduled to return to his home in New Jersey on Jan. 6, police said.

His family has not heard from him since Jan. 6.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Gelfand is asked to contact NOPD Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080.

NJ Man Goes Missing On Business Trip To New Orleans

 

[GraceG]

This news article states he also has children. What is concerning is the missing poster language as to "do not approach" if sighted. In my opinion, that's not usually not stated unless the person is believed to be harmful to themselves or others or they are involved in a crime of some manner (abduction, etc). Frum Jackson Resident Missing in New Orleans » The Lakewood Scoop » The heartbeat of the lakewood community

 

[Shamrock1]

He’s Frum, per above posted article. That’s an extremely insular community. Coupled with the “do not approach” I wonder if he found some freedom in New Orleans that he would not get in Lakewood NJ. Perhaps knowing if the outfit described in the missing person poster (jeans etc) was typical or not would be helpful. JMO.

 

[Teche]

This news article states he also has children. What is concerning is the missing poster language as to "do not approach" if sighted. In my opinion, that's not usually not stated unless the person is believed to be harmful to themselves or others or they are involved in a crime of some manner (abduction, etc). Frum Jackson Resident Missing in New Orleans » The Lakewood Scoop » The heartbeat of the lakewood community

I wonder if it’s Canal Blvd and Carondelet St and just a misprint.

 

[angelainwi]

He’s Frum, per above posted article. That’s an extremely insular community. Coupled with the “do not approach” I wonder if he found some freedom in New Orleans that he would not get in Lakewood NJ. Perhaps knowing if the outfit described in the missing person poster (jeans etc) was typical or not would be helpful. JMO.

Are we thinking he is a Hasidic Jew? Edited, I missed the first two words that he is Frum

Appears to be somewhat similar to Hasidic Jews which I am familiar with

Frum - Wikipedia

 

[Teche]

I’m from south Louisiana and visit New Orleans often. He must be in a culture shock.

 

[Shamrock1]

Are we thinking he is a Hasidic Jew? Edited, I missed the first two words that he is Frum

Appears to be somewhat similar to Hasidic Jews which I am familiar with

Frum - Wikipedia

My understanding is that Frum covers a variety of ultra-Orthodox sects. Lakewood NJ is a major hub of these sects. It’s a different world, with its own culture and sometimes even primary language. JMO.

 

[ErinC]

If he's frum, interesting that he doesn't have peyot [those side curls], at least in those pictures. I know not all Jewish communities wear them but it's common enough that their absence caught my attention.

 

[Shamrock1]

If he's frum, interesting that he doesn't have peyot [those side curls], at least in those pictures. I know not all Jewish communities wear them but it's common enough that their absence caught my attention.

That’s why I’m curious if the reported outfit of jeans & a hoodie was his typical wear. There were two photos in the poster. (It’s possible he tucked the peyot behind his ears, though - not an unheard-of practice IMO).

 

[yurintroubl]

Does anybody know what industry he was employed in? Would be helpful to know who he was rubbing elbows with while down there. Where was he staying while in town?

 

[yurintroubl]

I wonder if it’s Canal Blvd and Carondelet St and just a misprint.

May also be Canal St and Carrollton... which is in Mid-City. There are several banks/financial institutions within a block or so of that intersection.
There are a lot of AirBnB hosts in that area as well.

 

[Kristin Esq.]

Does anybody know what industry he was employed in? Would be helpful to know who he was rubbing elbows with while down there. Where was he staying while in town?

I haven't read anything about the industry.

 

[bykerladi]

Just to clarify, MG is from Jackson, not Lakewood. While many orthodox have moved to Jackson (because there is no more room in Lakewood), Jackson is actually a very diverse community. It is NOT orthodox, or even predominantly Jewish.

 

[StarRemy8]

Canal and Carondelet intersect, why would that be a misprint? Bourbon St turns into Carondelet just South of Canal so he was basically right in the Heart of the French Quarter. There is a CVS on the corner but otherwise just random shops. However, there are a bunch of trolley car stops right there as it is where Bourbon street starts/stops so he could have been on using that public transportation. I wonder where exactly and what time he was last seen?

Also, he was supposed to return home on 1/6 and didn't make his flight and wasn't heard from again. I wonder why they waited so long to report him missing, not until 1/11? That seems like a lot of lead time they could have missed out on.

 

[Shamrock1]

Just to clarify, MG is from Jackson, not Lakewood. While many orthodox have moved to Jackson (because there is no more room in Lakewood), Jackson is actually a very diverse community. It is NOT orthodox, or even predominantly Jewish.

Correct - I brought up Lakewood because the Lakewood paper described him as Frum. I should have clarified his residence is Jackson.

 

[LauraAnne]

Hm. There are two missing persons notifications that appear to be created by TheLakewoodScoop.com, that mention you shouldn't approach him. I can't find that statement in any other publication or article that deals with his disappearance.

I wonder if this is just some odd artifact of something TheLakewodScoop would think appropriate to tag onto a missing persons notification?

 

[yurintroubl]

Hm. There are two missing persons notifications that appear to be created by TheLakewoodScoop.com, that mention you shouldn't approach him. I can't find that statement in any other publication or article that deals with his disappearance.

I wonder if this is just some odd artifact of something TheLakewodScoop would think appropriate to tag onto a missing persons notification?

May be that they don't want some stranger to tip him off and "run him off" if he thinks he's incognito.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The group’s spokesman, Nathan Ginsbury, says the search team has mapped out possible sightings of Gelfand, starting from the Magnolia Hotel at 525 Gravier Street where Gelfand checked out on January 6.

From there, the search has broadened. From the Highway 90 overpass to the west, and from Elysian Fields to the east. The team is searching for Gelfand in a grid pattern in cars, on bicycles, and on foot.

They’re also asking for surveillance video from places where people think they’ve spotted Gelfand, and from businesses where Gelfand’s credit card has been used in the last few days. Those businesses include drugstores, grocery stores, and bars, leading to the question of whether or not Gelfand is truly “missing.”

Ginsbury and the other searchers insist that Gelfand would want to be home with his wife and children, and with other members of the Orthodox Jewish community.

“As a nation, Orthodox Jews believe we are all one,” says Ginsbury. “[Michael] may, right now, have a struggle that he doesn’t understand (and) that we don’t understand. But he wants to be part of that community still.”
Friends search for New Jersey man who went missing in New Orleans | WGNO.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Gelfand’s disappearance has started to gain traction with the Jewish community nationally online, too, with rabbis and CEOs sharing news of the missing man.

In addition, local authorities have shared details about Gelfand’s disappearance online in the hopes the public will be able to locate him. While Gelfand’s disappearance is still a mystery, the search team has requested security video footage from different businesses where someone had used his credit card in the days since his disappearance, WGNO reported, leaving a trail of clues between drugstores, groceries and bars. The New Orleans Police Department has asked anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gelfand to contact the department’s eighth district detectives at (504)-658-6080
https://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article257336312.html

https://twitter.com/RabbiPoupko/status/1481840045342474244

 

[bykerladi]

Sounds like he's just out enjoying his freedom...