By COLlive staff
The last time Rabbi Moshe Havlin, Chief Rabbi of the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, attended the Global Yarchei Kallah was 4 years ago. When the Covid pandemic hit, the gathering of rabbis, Roshei Yeshivs and Mashpiim went virtual.
When it resumed in person this past week at Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, New York, it took a moment for participants to recognize Rabbi Havlin.
While still wearing his black fedora and rabbinic coat, all of his facial hair has disappeared, including his snow-white beard.
It seems like Rabbi Havlin has grown accustomed to the puzzled looks because he opened his remarks at the Yarchei Kallah by defusing assumptions.
“Thank G-d, I am well and not dealing with anything cancerous,” he stated.
Rabbi Havlin went on to explain that earlier this year, he suddenly began experiencing hair loss. Healthcare professionals said the condition is called Alopecia areata, which affects an estimated 0.1% to 0.2% of the global population.
His doctors tried a few options and finally gave him a facial cream. He put it on for a while, and his hair indeed began growing again, returning some of his familiar rabbinical look. But then he took a break and lost it all again.
When he began applying the cream again, it didn’t achieve any results. The doctor explained that because of the pause, it had lost its effect. They would need to try something different now.
Rabbi Havlin, who also heads the Chabad Yeshiva in Kiryat Gat, has accepted his condition with remarkable calm. Even more, he said that it reminds him of a lesson that he learned from his teacher, the late Kfar Chabad Mashia R’ Shlomo Chaim Kesselman OBM:
When one is on a path to reach spiritual refinement, like practicing iskafya (self-restraint), a single relapse is actually a major setback. While climbing on the ladder, even letting go briefly can lead you to fall.
“What I learned from this was that consistency is key,” Rabbi Havlin said softly and added, “In all that you do.”
Wishing Rabbi Havlin a Refuah Shlaima.
Medication seems to just suppressed immune system but doesn’t cure of the disease.
A possible cure can be “carnivore diet”.
See research here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CWD-QvnKWqk
Alopecia used to be incredibly rare, but it’s become a lot more common over the past 2-3 years. Anti-vaxxers say it’s a known side effect of vaccines, but there’s zero proof of that.
who we are on the inside is much more important than what we look like on the outside.
Congratulations, you have been awarded the unofficial “Best Comment Award” (BCA) for this ColLive post.
Thank you so much for being so upfront, and honest about your situation.
Sadly, it seems that it has affected more people in many communities.
It is so impressive that you are handling your situation with a refreshing optimism and openness.