"Here I Am Healing You" • Update on the Medical Condition of the Holy Tzaddik

Last Shabbos, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, did not come out for the Shabbos prayers after not feeling well over the past few days. On Motzaei Shabbos, The Rav’s gabbai and grandson—R’ Dov Zucker—was interviewed on the information line and gave an update on The Rav’s medical condition.

Below is the update as it was delivered on the information line:

“Over the past week, starting from Tuesday–Wednesday, the Rav began to feel unwell. At first, it was diagnosed as a mild cold—especially since, as everyone knows, The Rav shlit"a himself does not complain about his condition. We, the gabbaim, tried to help in whatever way we could—hot tea, warming the room, and so on—but the Rav, with self-sacrifice for the sake of all of Klal Yisrael, did not change his demanding daily schedule. The regular chavrusos continued; likewise, the Wednesday shiur was even longer than usual; and receiving the public took place as normal. The Rav even conducted three chuppahs this past week—on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

“The outbreak of pneumonia began only on Friday night after Maariv. We started to realize something was not right after The Rav told us that there was not enough heat in the room. As everyone knows—and as we mentioned, in the vast majority of cases—the Rav does not complain at all about his condition. When it happens that the Rav does speak about his medical state, it sets off a red light for every gabbai in the Rav’s home.

“The Rav shlit"a, as is known, always tries until the very last moment. There have been times in the past when we thought the Rav was not in good health to go out for the Shabbos prayers, and nevertheless The Rav gave himself over to go out for the Shabbos prayers. So on Friday we did not know, until close to the entrance of Shabbos, what would happen with the tefillos. At candle-lighting, his medical condition worsened, and it became clear that he would not be able to come out for the Friday night prayer. Therefore, we updated the public at the first siren.

“About an hour after Shabbos began, the Rav’s personal physician arrived and diagnosed the Rav’s condition as pneumonia. At the same time, he began administering intravenous medication—antibiotics and other medicines. In addition, routine tests that were done—such as kidney and heart tests—came back higher than usual.

“Of course, throughout Shabbos day, as our people were updated, The Rav remained resting and did not come out for the Shabbos prayers. The Rav received the best possible treatment, with Hashem’s help. Tomorrow (Sunday), the doctor is expected to come again to assess where things are headed. We hope that already around 16:00–17:00 we will be able to update on the line whether The Rav will come out for Sunday night Maariv.”

Toward the end of the interview, R’ Dov Zucker added and strengthened everyone to pray: “Of course, as always, the medical condition of The Rav shlit"a requires tefillos—and now all the more so, with greater intensity and greater strength. Each person should see to strengthen himself and add prayers for the recovery of The Rav shlit"a. May we merit that he live with us for hundreds of years upon his kingdom, and may we merit to see together with him the coming of Yinon and the complete Geulah, speedily in our days, Amen.”

The public—our people—are called upon to pour out prayers and supplications for the complete recovery of our teacher, the holy Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer ben Atia Berland shlit"a, among the sick of Israel!