True Greatness Found in Hospital

By Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

Shevi’i shel Pesach this year marks the 20th yahrtzeit of Yosef Yitzchak Zaklos, who passed away in 5757 at the young age of 19. Yossi was a tomim who worked tremendously to deserve the title of tomim.

All those who were privileged to meet him, recognized that they were standing in the presence of a bochur of tremendously fine character, a bochur who was always working on his midos, a bochur who was wholly connected and committed to the Rebbe.

Yossi was born on the 21st of Kislev 5738, to the joy of his parents Rabbi Hershel and Rachel Zaklos, at that time Shluchim to Nashville, Tennessee. As a young boy, he moved together with his family on shlichus to Oak Park, Michigan.

Even as a young child, Yossi was recognized for his astute mind and a keen understanding of deep subjects: he learned ba’al peh many mesechtos of Mishnayos and Gemara, as well as many perakim of Tanya. Yossi spent much of his free time reviewing subjects with classmates that needed assistance.

In his short life of 19 years, Yossi achieved greatness in both his personal achievements and in the profound impact he had on so many others. His ahavas yisroel was legendary. Throughout his years in yeshiva, camp, and everywhere in between that people got to know him, so many of those with whom he came in contact felt that they were his best friend.

Upon hearing that the parents of one of his classmates couldn’t afford the yeshiva tuition, Yossi quietly rallied the community members to raise funds, restoring his friend’s dignity and pride.

Yossi was completely devoted and committed to the Rebbe and the mivtzoim. Having been born close to Chanukah, made this yom tov one of his favorites. At the young age of 11, he spearheaded a campaign to build and then display massive menorahs in public places throughout the Metro-Detroit area.

The true greatness of Yossi’s character was only realized when he was diagnosed with stage four of cancer, rachmana litzlan, in the prime of his life, at the age of 17.

Throughout his suffering and pain through 2 years of aggressive treatments, Yossi’s chassidishkeit, hiskashrus, and positive spirit never waned. In the hospital, he would receive his visitors with a smile, even when he was in great pain, and he made every effort so that his visitors should not be aware of his discomfort. His shining personality touched all of his doctors and nurses alike, seeing his room as a beacon of light and warmth.

He sought every opportunity during his stay in the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital in New York to inspire those around him to do mitzvos, and managed to bring smiles and hope to all those that came in contact with him. He actually viewed his illness and his stays in the hospital as hashgachah protis—opportunities to do more mivtzoim!

Yossi was in the hospital’s pediatric ward. This section of the hospital had many visitors, often distinguished and famous personalities who would come to try to lift the children’s spirits. When these visitors would approach Yossi’s bed and ask him how he was feeling and if there was anything they could do for him, Yossi would respond by asking of they were Jewish. If the answer was yes, Yossi would ask them to do a mitzvah, saying that that made him happier than anything else they could give him.

During this time, he once shared with his brother-in-law that he heard that there was once a Jew from France who was afflicted with cancer. When he asked the Rebbe for a brachah, the Rebbe instructed him to go to a certain doctor who specialized in oncology. This doctor told the French Jew that sometimes the disease can be caused by extended anxiety and worry. Yossi concluded by saying, “It’s possible that this is the reason for my illness, too. Ever since Gimmel Tammuz, my heart is completely broken.”

Yossi’s davening was truly an experience to behold. He davened with sincerity and passion, every word was said slowly, aloud, and with a special tune. Even when he was in terrible pain and weak from the illness and the treatments, he continued the practice of davening in this fashion.

During the final days of his life, after the disease came back with a vengeance, following a brief remission, Yossi felt that his days were numbered. He himself consoled his family, asking them to be strong and not to be dejected. He also asked that they not make a big deal of him!

Though Yossi was taken from our midst, he left behind a legacy of pure ahavas Yisroel, and devotion to the Rebbe’s mivtzoim and bringing the ge’ulah.

Yossi’s family requests that on his yahrtzeit, everyone please do an extra mitzvah and/or learn some extra Torah le’iluy nishmas Yosef Yitzchak ben Tzvi Hirsh. Yehi zichro baruch.