By Rabbi Yakov Saacks, The Chai Center, Dix Hills, NY
When this pandemic hit, like most, I was nervous that this would be a catastrophe and that many people would get sick and even possibly pass away. I recall one day in mid-March closing my eyes and shedding a tear for what uncertainty we would be facing.
What I did not anticipate was that my family was going to get the virus and get it in a severe way. I had multiple family members who have Coronavirus and are still suffering with aches, pains and weakness. Like most, they will recover and be able to lead productive lives. I wish them well and hope and pray that all sufferers of this horrific and dreadful virus are completely healed without any compromise to their health.
I wish to focus on my youngest brother, age 44, who got this virus, and how it led to some incredibly positive changes for so many people.
In mid-March my brother tested positive. He had a fever and a headache and was told to take Tylenol and sleep. A few days later he was rushed to the hospital and placed on a ventilator as his blood oxygen saturation was low. Little did we know at the time that he would be on a ventilator for close to three weeks, and that this would lead to other serious issues and life-threatening complications.
My brother’s story has a happy ending and he is home with his family. He had a long road to recovery, but is one of the lucky ones for sure. Or, on the other hand, does luck have anything to do with it?
When it became apparent that he was really ill and that the situation was dire, I witnessed something that I will never forget. I believe what transpired during this time had nothing to do with luck and all to do with faith. There is much to be said but in the interest of writing too much where the message is lost, here are some highlights:
1. A prayer group emerged and his community members, friends, family and perfect strangers signed on for days and nights on end to recite Psalms. In total to date, there have been over 10,400 chapters of Tehillim recited on his behalf.
2. Thirty minutes before the first night of Pesach, literally in the heights of “Pesach pandemonium preparations,” dozens and dozens of people joined a conference call to pray and give him an additional name as is customary in a life-threatening situation as a segulah/omen for him to heal.
3. We were offered a $50,000 slush fund to do whatever was necessary to get him the best care there is. No questions asked.
4. We were given the home numbers of some of the greatest doctors and nurses so that we could talk shop while they ate dinner at home. We called and these righteous people’s generosity of care, time and spirit was overwhelming.
5. The health care workers were Tzadikim/righteous in their diligence to detail to save this young man’s life.
I would like to thank my sister-in–law for keeping a stiff upper lip. Miriam had to absorb the role of both parents and make Pesach while being infected herself.
Thank you to the Lubavitch community of Chicago who helped the family daily with needs, prayers and chizuk/support.
Thank you to the Rov, Rabbi Boruch Hertz for taking such an active role in my brother’s care.
Thank you to all those who said Tehillim for weeks on end. Some of you I know, and there are so many others who simply heard that someone needed a spiritual boost and they stepped up to the plate. “Mi K’amcha Yisroel” comes to mind.
Thank you to ALL health care workers including nurses, aides, doctors and janitors who risk their lives for someone they will never see again.
Thank you Hatzalah.
Last, but most important, thank you Hashem – Boruch M’chayeh Meisim. Blessed is He who revives the dead.
Only good news
Its beautiful to read how yidden help each other in time of crisis.more people can do more beautiful things to help other yidden. follow rabbonim and practice social distancing….think how many yidden we can save from being sick….
I feel your raw pain and love. Glad to read that for you and yours things seem returning to good health. Thanks for sharing.
I struggle to absorb the “Last, but most important, thank you Hashem – Boruch M’chayeh Meisim.” If “Hashem” orchestrates all, then he gave the pain and death. Do people thank “Hashem” for the virus and all its ongoings?
A person is obligated to praise Hashem for what appears to us to be bad as well as what we recognize as good. That’s why we say Baruch Dayan haEmes when someone passes. The Rebbe said many times that Hashem only does good but sometimes the good is revealed and other times it is hidden, and he would bless people that they should experience revealed good. Suppose you grew up isolated in a remote forest, and as an adult were brought to a modern city to live. As part of learning about the modern world you are taken on a… Read more »
We need (it’s healthy as well, for letting go of our bitterness, anger and frustrations) to thank “Hashem” for the good and BAD in our lives.
I know we are all hurting now and i dont want this tdound harsh. But yes, as believing Jews we know that life is in Hashems hands. He, in his goodness, restores our souls to our bodies every morning, allowing usanother day of beautiful life, even though He owes us nothing.
So yes, when we are given the sometimes difficult reminder that everything we have is only a gift from Him, we absolutely thank Hashem for His abundant kindness in giving us back our health and allowing us more time here on earth to serve him with humility.
As the author I will try and tackle this from my heart. It was very difficult for me to write what i wrote because of all the people (many I know personally) have passed on from this world. I asked myself, will this cause chizuk or pain? I ultimately decided to forge ahead with it because Jews are all about thanks – In fact, it is in our very name, Yehudim. While halachically my brother is obligated to say hagomel, I do not think it precludes me from thanking hashem as a recipient as well. I agree with you that… Read more »
And your brother is such a special tmimisdik, hard working man, Baruch Hashem, so thrilled with his recovery.
We should only hear good news.