"And They Cried Out to Hashem in Their Distress" • The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi

During the past Shabbat, our teacher the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), did not feel well, and because of this, he did not go out for the Musaf prayer (the additional Shabbat morning prayer) or for the Melaveh Malkah (the meal accompanying the departing Queen Shabbat). On Saturday night at 11:00 PM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a was evacuated to the hospital.

Due to the medical situation, tonight, Sunday, the eve of the 3rd of Av, the Maariv (evening) prayer with our teacher the Rav shlit"a will not take place. Instead, at 7:00 PM, a prayer gathering and outcry will be held for the complete healing of our teacher the Rav, Eliezer ben Ettia shlit"a, and the Rebbetzin Tehila bat Leah tlit"a (may she live long and good days), among all the sick of Israel.

This afternoon, the grandson and gabbai (attendant) of our teacher the Rav shlit"a was interviewed on the Breslov Chassidim information line (*9148). Here is the full interview:

Our teacher the Rav shlit"a has been hospitalized since yesterday, Saturday night, and we want to hear about his condition. On the line with us is his grandson and gabbai, Dov Zucker. Shalom to you.

Shalom, shalom.

We spoke here yesterday about the Rav leaving his home for the hospital after the Shabbat, where we all saw how unwell the Rav was feeling, as has already been recounted. We are now at Sunday afternoon—what are the doctors saying? What does the Rav have?

Indeed, as we said here yesterday, the Rav is in need of prayers.

With Hashem's help, there is also a gathering at the Kotel (Western Wall) this evening at seven o'clock. Of course, everyone must pray for the Rav, and it is very important that everyone comes to pray for his complete healing, as he needs Rachamei Shamayim (Heavenly Mercy)—this is even before we hear what the doctors are saying.

Yes, indeed. Yesterday we spoke about how, due to low blood pressure, he went to the hospital. During the night, the Rav was moved to a ward. Although the vital signs were more stable, the kidney levels and other metrics are somewhat high, plus the low blood pressure we mentioned yesterday. This means he remains hospitalized for observation. The Rav is receiving the proper treatment, but he is still in a state of great weakness. I believe that the prayers—each person in their place and everyone together at the Kotel tonight—will achieve their purpose, and we will soon be able to announce that the Rav has been released and is feeling well.

So you are saying that from the tests, the doctors understand it is related to the kidneys and low blood pressure?

Yes, this is something that comes from exertion; low blood pressure happens when the body simply becomes weaker due to a lot of effort.

Is this something the Rav has suffered from in the past?

From the kidneys, yes. From low blood pressure, no—not that I remember right now. He had high blood pressure in the past, but not low.

When and what is the treatment the Rav needs to undergo right now?

It is primarily medicinal treatment and a matter of monitoring. Every few hours they check the levels. There are two other things waiting for results from tests they did at the end of last week, as well as general follow-up the Rav has been undergoing for the past two months. They are doing everything during these days.

Is there an estimate of how many days the Rav will be in the hospital?

That is something that changes from day to day according to medical assessments.

So tonight there is certainly no Maariv prayer?

That is simply the case, yes. First, let the Rav feel well; after that, we can see if he has the strength to pray with the public.

So here the call goes out: we all hear the situation and everyone is praying for his complete healing. As we said, today, Sunday, there is a prayer gathering at the Kotel at 7:00 PM. Everyone should make an effort to come so that you can bring us good news soon.

Amen. It is also important to include Rebbetzin Tehila bat Leah in the prayers, as we discussed last week.

She has already returned home, correct?

Correct, and she is also still recovering from her hospitalization and everything she is going through. Everyone is praying for both the Rav and the Rebbetzin; their lives are bound up with one another.

Rabbi Dov Zucker, may you bring us good news. Thank you very much.

Amen, amen. All the best.

Courtesy of the Breslov Chassidim Information Line *9148