Recovering Shliach Rabbi Ovadia Isakov made a request before being visited by Israel's newly elected Chief Rabbi David Lau.

By COLlive reporter

Newly elected Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau came to Petah Tikva’s Beilinson Hospital on Motzoei Shabbos to visit the wounded Shliach Rabbi Ovadia Isakov.

The condition of Isakov, 40, who is chief rabbi of Derbent in the Republic of Dagestan, has been improving following emergency surgery for injuries to his internal organs after being shot by assailants near his home.

"I would like to strengthen you to continue you shlichus," said Lau, the Ashkenazi rabbi who was elected to his government post last week and has a close friendship with Chabad officials.

"After you get well and return to your place of Shlichus - I will come visit you," said Rabbi Lau, who came accompanied by activist Rabbi Yaakov Gloiberman and said there a chapter of Tehillim for Ovadia ben Zehava Chaya.

Isakov's family told Rabbi Lau that immediatly after Shabbos has ended, Rabbi Isakov asked they tell him a story of the founder of chassidus, the Baal Shem Tov, as customary.

Doctors at Beilinson Hospital reported that Friday's complex operation went "very well," and the bleeding in the rabbi's liver has stopped. Rabbi Isakov's condition has been upgraded to "satisfactory," and he was conscious as of Friday evening.