Back from the Dead: Gavriel Lavi was Saved from Forty Stabbings by a Terrorist

More than a month has passed since the severe terror attack at Damascus Gate, in which the dear young man Gavriel Lavi, from the Shuvu Banim holy Breslov community, was critically injured. Gavriel, who was stabbed 40 times in various critical areas of his body, was filmed for the first time since waking up at the press conference held at the hospital.

These were his words then: "Truly miracles of the Tzaddik (the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a), one can feel the prayers of all of Am Yisrael (the People of Israel)," Gavriel answered the interviewer who was moved to speak with him after he had been in critical condition on the verge of death. "Thank God, I feel good. Although there will be things we will learn to manage with in the future, in general, it is simply a transition from death to life. I was visited by several members of the team who came to rescue and treat me after the incident, who said, 'You gave us a mussar (moral lesson) for life—to never despair; your condition appeared critical and terminal.'"

A Moving Meeting Between Lavi and Rabbi Berland shlit"a Following His Release

Now, after being released from his long hospitalization, and while he attempts to rehabilitate and return to the routine of life, we bring a special interview with him. Additionally, we present wonderful sights from within the inner sanctum, rare footage from the moving meeting of Gavriel Lavi with our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

[caption id="attachment_17507" align="alignnone" width="482"] The young man Gavriel Lavi, may he live, with the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a[/caption]

"Throughout the week I was in the Yeshiva, and I also studied in the Kollel Chatzos (midnight study session) of Rabbi Meir Saada shlit"a, a student of our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. I prayed Shacharis (morning prayer) as Vatikin (at sunrise) at the Kotel (Western Wall) and hurried home through Damascus Gate so I could manage to see my sons before they went to the Talmud Torah (religious school)."

The Terrorist Attacked Me from Behind

"As I was exiting Damascus Gate, I felt someone knock off my hat, but I still hadn't processed the reason for it. During the event, it is difficult to understand that you are in the middle of a terror attack; the terrorist attacked and stabbed me from behind. It took me a few seconds to understand; I turned around and found myself face-to-face with the terrorist. I didn't run; I did what I could—everything that happened was entirely from Him, may He be blessed (Divine Providence)."

[caption id="attachment_16286" align="alignnone" width="482"] Gavriel Lavi in a media interview at the hospital[/caption]

"I definitely thought these could be my final moments of life. I received no less than 40 stabbings in all parts of my body. I began to recite the Krias Shema (declaration of God's unity), I fell to my knees, and for a minute and a half, I struggled with all my might against the cursed terrorist, until I felt my strength failing. I fell to the floor and fainted."

[caption id="attachment_16025" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The young man Gavriel Lavi from Shuvu Banim Yeshiva in the hospital after being stabbed[/caption]

"For nearly 10 minutes I lay on the floor and none of the locals called for help. During this precious time, I lost a great deal of blood, which caused my condition to deteriorate to an absolute critical and terminal state."

The Pidyon Nefesh to Rabbi Berland Brought Me Back from the Dead

"I understood that I was between life and death. In the merit of the Pidyon Nefesh (redemption of the soul) that my friends in the Yeshiva performed for me (with Rabbi Berland), the entire situation turned around for the better. We will, of course, continue to walk through Damascus Gate and we will not be afraid, as per the instruction of the Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland; one should not fear anything except the Creator of the World."