Rabbi Yitzi’s Bedside Farbrengen

By COLlive reporter

It has been a while that Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz has wanted to commission the printing of the Tanya in his Shlichus city of Temecula, California, and he wasn’t going to allow his ALS disease to stop him.

Hurwitz, known for his ebullient character and constant smile, is currently on bed rest in Los Angeles with his family. He uses the Tobii Communicator, designed for individuals with communication disabilities, to ‘speak’.

“With his eyes, he selects letters and words and the computer speaks them, and his face lights up when he can tell you how happy he is that you came to visit,” his incredible wife, Dina Hurwitz wrote in a recent blog post.

“Time slows down in that room,” she admits. “Each word takes time and every sentence a few minutes. I do a lot of the talking, which believe it or not, is not my norm. I was always a better listener and Yitzi, a better speaker. Now he is the listener and I, the talker.”

After Rabbi Yitzi communicated his request, the group of colleagues and friends who have been helping him since his diagnosis got to work. The printing was to coincide with the 19th of Kislev, the day of liberation of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad chassidism and author of the Tanya.

“Although Yitzi can no longer talk and has a very difficult time communicating at all, he conveyed his wishes to have the Tanya printed with his sheer will,” activist Rabbi Shmuel Fogelman told COLlive.com.

Fogelman and Rabbis Shlomo Bistritsky, Yossi Baitelman, Simcha Backman and Reuven Mintz got the necessary permission to print an edition of Chabad central text and brought the printing equipment to his room, along with L’chaim and refreshments.

Joining them for the special and heart-wrenching occasion was Rabbi Ezra Schochet, Rosh Yeshivas Or Elchanan Chabad in Los Angeles and Rabbi Shimon Raichik, Rov of Congregation Levi Yitzchok in Los Angeles.

As they printed the first pages, Hurwitz’s son Eli Chaim Hurwitz read the first few lines with clarity. That was followed by singing Lubavitch niggunim which has always been a regular hobby of Rabbi Yitzi back in Temecula.

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In the daily life in the Hurwitz family, “the little kids climb into bed and snuggle with him while they practice their reading. The older kids learn and review for tests with him,” Dina says.

“It is a very different kind of life, not at all easy, but so beautiful. All we have is time to smell the roses. I don’t wish this life on anyone, but I do wish you would take the time, and smell the roses. Love the smiles of your family, speak and listen, and take the time before it takes you.

“Put what is important in your life on the front burner. Fix your regrets, and forgive those who have wronged you. Be full of love, hope, and joy as often as possible. Allow your imperfections to be what they are, and not who you are. Do not define yourself by your weaknesses and sad moments, you are so much more then that. Acknowledge your pain and put it in its place. Yet most of all, stare each other in the eyes and smile from your heart,” she writes.

To contribute to the medical costs, visit hurwitzfamilyfund.com