Shalom,
Tehilah, Yehudit and I had a great time last week seeing you all and we are looking forward to seeing you again soon.
One of the most important stories in Israeli politics today involves the medical condition of a man who is 102 years old.
Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (born April 10, 1910) is a Haredi rabbi who lives in Jerusalem and is the highest authority as a posek, or one who decides issues of halacha, among the Haredi community in all the world. He spends most of his days engaged in Torah study, and delivers lessons in Talmud and Halacha in the Meah She'arim area in Jerusalem where he lives. In fact, he has never spent a night away from the holy city. He receives people from all over the world and answers complex Halachic questions. Many leaders around the world frequently seek out Rabbi Elyashiv's opinions and follow his advice and guidelines concerning a wide array of policy and communal issues affecting the welfare of Orthodox Judaism.
Elyashiv is the spiritual leader of the Degel Hatorah party which has representatives in the Knesset and therefore holds great influence over the policies of the party. Despite his exceptional scholarship and influence, Eliashiv holds no official title, neither as head of a congregation, yeshiva, or particular community.
Three weeks ago the Rabbi was taken to the hospital, his condition deteriorated, he was unconscious, and there was a serious threat to his life. Rabbi Elyashiv's influence on Israeli politics is so great that politicians in power call and get updates on the Rabbi's condition every day.
The leading Rabbis of the Haredi communities asked others to pray for "rachamei shamayim," or heavenly mercy, of behalf of the Rabbi. Thousands of people around the world prayed, cried, read Tehilim and did acts of kindness asking God not to take Rav Elyashiv from this world.
One of the most unusual initiatives was made by Aaron (his last name was never published), associated with a yeshiva in Jerusalem ,in his early 50's, who decided to "donate" a year of his own life for the elderly leader and called upon everybody to follow him. Aaron was contemplating the idea, and two weeks ago, after getting the OK from his wife and children he announced in his davening the following: Master of the world, I, Aaron the son of _____ donate one year of my life to the years and health of Rabbi Yosef Shalom son of Chaya Musha.
Aaron reported that the unusual idea came from Rabbi Elyashiv himself. Years before, in preparing a lesson on the topic of Chesed (kindness) Aaron asked Rabbi Elyashiv whether one is obligated to help another person even if they hate each other. Rabbi Elyasiv replied that yes, one is obligated, and even if much sacrifice is involved. Aaron adds that in this case the act of kindness is even greater since it is not only about two individuals but rather a matter that involves the entire nation due to the stature of Rabbi Elyashiv.
Aaron told of the Midrash about Adam and King David; according to the story, Adam was supposed to live 1000 years but he gave 70 to King David. Those 7 decades were the king's best years.
During the last few days, Rabbi Elyashiv, against all odds, is doing much better. He is conscious and appears to be on his way to recovery. Nevertheless, he is still in very serious condition.
While Rabbi Elyashiv was critically ill and all rabbis were called upon to pray for the rabbi's recovery, Rabbi Benjamin Lau was voicing a different opinion. Rabbi Lau asked his followers to stop praying for the recovery of rabbi Elyashiv and instead to pray for Elyashiv's easy departure and end of pain.
Rabbi Benny Lau is a community leader, activist, author and public speaker who lives in Jerusalem. He is the director of a number of programs and he is also a well-known writer and makes frequent appearances in the media. Rabbi Lau has been serving as the community rabbi at the Ramban synagogue in the neighborhood of Katamon since 2002 and considered by many as a serious candidate to be the next chief rabbi of Israel.
Rabbi Lau explained that there is a Talmudic tradition that also became the Halacha; if someone is dying and medically is defined as someone who is close to death then we should not pray for his well being but rather for an easy death and end of misery. Lau added that there is an educational element as well; it is wrong to expect students to pray and plead while we know situation is hopeless. Creating a serious doubt in the power of prayer is wrong.
Rabbi Lau quotes a story from the Talmud about Rabbi Yehuda the prince, editor of theMishnah, that was "collapsing into his body". While outside Rabbi Yehuda's house, his students were screaming in prayer preventing the angel of death to complete his job, inside the house, Rabbi Yehuda's housekeeper, was the only one who actually saw him as a human being tortured by pain. In the beginning she was praying with the students but after a while she changed her prayer saying: "may the will of the one above prevail the will of those bellow". She dropped a vase and while the students got quite for a second because of the noise, the angle of death was able to complete his job and Rabbi Yehuda passed away.
Rabbi Lau explains that we learn from that housekeeper that sometimes we have to ask mercy on someone and ask for his easy painless death and not to prolong his agony. He adds that this became the Halacha.
At this point Rabbi Elyashiv's situation continues to improve and we all, (including Rabbi Lau) pray for his speedy recovery. Nevertheless, I think that what Rabbi Lau is teaching us is something important. We need to sometimes be brave and ask for what is right, not necessarily what we really want, and no matter how difficult it is.
May we never have to decide between praying for recovery and praying for the release of death. May we and all our loved ones be healthy and happy, and never have such choices to make!
Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem and Happy Purim,
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