Rabbi Eliezer Berland Shlit”a Hospitalized: Prayer Rally

OVER THE PAST SHABBAT, MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A WAS NOT FEELING WELL, AND THEREFORE HE DID NOT COME OUT FOR THE MUSAF PRAYER NOR FOR THE MELAVEH MALKAH MEAL. ON MOTZA’EI SHABBAT AT 11:00 PM, MOREINU HARAV SHLIT”A WAS EVACUATED TO THE HOSPITAL.

DUE TO HIS MEDICAL CONDITION, ON SUNDAY NIGHT, MAARIV WAS NOT HELD WITH MOREINU HARAV SHLIT”A. INSTEAD, A PRAYER GATHERING WAS HELD FOR THE COMPLETE RECOVERY OF MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BEN ETIA SHLIT”A AND THE RABBANIT TEHILA BAT LEAH TLIT”A.

[TRANSLATOR’S NOTE: AS OF WRITING, ALSO TONIGHT, MONDAY NIGHT, MAARIV WILL NOT BE HELD WITH THE RAV SHLIT”A, AND INSTEAD A PRAYER GATHERING WILL BE HELD AT 7:00 PM AT THE KOTEL FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE RAV AND RABBANIT.]

ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, THE GRANDSON AND ATTENDANT OF MOREINU HARAV SHLIT”A WAS INTERVIEWED ON THE BRESLOV INFORMATION LINE (*9148). HERE IS THE FULL INTERVIEW:

Interviewer: Moreinu HaRav shlit”a has been hospitalized since last night, Motza’ei Shabbat, and we want to hear about his condition. With us on the line is his grandson and attendant, R' Dov Zucker. Shalom to you.

R' Dov Zucker: Shalom, shalom.

Interviewer: Yesterday we reported that the Rav went from his home to the hospital after a Shabbat in which everyone saw how much the Rav was not feeling well. We are now on Sunday afternoon. What are the doctors saying? What is going on with the Rav?

R' Dov Zucker: So really, as we said yesterday, the Rav needs prayers. Bezrat Hashem, also tonight there will be a prayer gathering at the Kotel at 7:00 PM. Of course, everyone must pray for the Rav, and it’s very important that people come to pray for his complete recovery. He needs mercy from Heaven—this is even before we’ve heard what the doctors say.

And so yesterday we reported that really due to low blood pressure, he was taken to the hospital, and overnight the Rav was moved to the ward. Although his vital signs were more in order, the kidney readings and other things were somewhat elevated, in addition to the low blood pressure we mentioned yesterday. That means he remains hospitalized for monitoring. The Rav is receiving the proper treatment, but he is still very weak. I believe that the prayers—each person in his place, and all together at the Kotel tonight—will have their effect, and we will be able to announce soon that the Rav has been released and is feeling well.

Interviewer: So you’re saying that the tests show that this is what the doctors think, that it’s connected to the kidneys and to low blood pressure?

R' Dov Zucker: Yes. This comes from physical exertion.  The low blood pressure comes from a lot of physical exertion and the body simply becomes weaker.

Interviewer: Is this something the Rav has suffered from before?

R' Dov Zucker: From the kidneys—yes. From low blood pressure—not that I recall. In the past, there was high blood pressure, but not low.

Interviewer: When and what treatment does the Rav have to undergo now?

R' Dov Zucker: It’s mainly medication. It’s a matter of monitoring—every few hours they check the readings. There are also two things we’re still waiting for test results on—tests they did at the end of last week—as well as the general monitoring the Rav has been undergoing over the past two months. They are doing everything at this time.

Interviewer: Is there an estimate for how many days the Rav will be in the hospital?

R' Dov Zucker: This is something that changes according to the doctors’ estimations from day to day.

Interviewer: So this evening there is definitely no Maariv prayer?

R' Dov Zucker: Correct. First, the Rav needs to feel better. Only after that can we see if he has the strength to pray with the public.

Interviewer: So here we are calling on everyone—everyone is hearing the situation—and we are all praying for his complete recovery. As we said: tonight, Sunday, there is a prayer gathering at the Kotel at 7:00 PM. Everyone should make an effort to come, and may you soon be able to give us good news.

R' Dov Zucker: Amen. It’s also important to include in the prayers the Rabbanit Tehila bat Leah, as we spoke about last week.

Interviewer: She already returned home, correct?

R' Dov Zucker: Correct. But she is still recovering from her hospitalization and everything she has. Everyone should pray for both the Rav and the Rabbanit—their lives are bound up with each other.

Interviewer: Rav Dov Zucker, may you bring us good news. Thank you very much.

R' Dov Zucker: Amen, amen. All the best.

COURTESY OF THE BRESLOV INFORMATION LINE (KAV HAMEDA) – *9148