Praying For Moshe Feiglin’s Son

By: Shmuel Sackett

Published: July 7th, 2010

tell a friend

Editor’s note: This week, Shmuel Sackett, international director of Manhigut Yehudit, is filling in for Mr. Feiglin.

Moshe Feiglin’s son, Dovid Yosef ben Faigie Perel, remains in intensive care in stable – yet serious – condition following a car accident. Here is an update for Jewish Press readers, who have followed Moshe’s column for many years:

On Thursday, July 1, I picked up Moshe at 5 a.m. for a trip to the Kotel to daven. Immediately afterward we immersed in the Breslov mikveh (in the Muslim quarter of the Old City), and then ascended Har HaBayit (The Temple Mount). Something very interesting happened just before we went up to Har HaBayit.

The day before, I e-mailed Rabbi Nachman Kahane (brother of Rabbi Meir Kahane) and asked him to meet us before we go up to the Har so that he can give Moshe a berachah. For the record Rabbi Nachman Kahane is a rare kohen me’yuchas,” meaning he can trace his family’s line directly to the first high priest of Israel, Aharon HaKohen. He is also a Talmudic scholar who has written more than 40 holy books. Finally, he is a member of Manhigut Yehudit and believes strongly in Moshe’s ability to soon become prime minister of Israel.

Just before we arrived, Rabbi Kahane saw Rav Shlomo Aviner, chief rabbi of Beit El and rosh yeshiva of Ateret Cohanim. Rav Aviner is also a kohen, and Rabbi Kahane asked that he bless Moshe as well. Shortly after, Moshe and I arrived (with our dear friend, Dovid Shirel of Hebron). Rabbi Kahane explained that when one kohen blesses a Jew it has the status of a rabbinic blessing, but when two kohanim bless a Jew it has the status of a Torah blessing. Both kohanim held Moshe’s hand and blessed him simultaneously with the traditional priestly blessing.

After Moshe was blessed, he, Dovid Shirel and I went up to Har HaBayit and had the very rare opportunity to fulfill a unique halacha. The Mishnah in Midot (chapter 2, Mishnah 2) states that when people ascend the Har, they walk rightward. However, if a person is in mourning or has another problem (which the commentaries explain as praying for a sick relative), the person walks leftward. The reason for this is that people already on the Har will see that the people are walking in the opposite direction and will ask them what happened. When they find out, they will say (in the case of an illness), “May the Dweller [Hashem] in this House grant your son a quick and speedy recovery.” Thus to fulfill this requirement, we walked to the left upon ascending the Har.

About 30 minutes into our walk around Har HaBayit, some people who ascended the Har shortly after us noticed that we were walking toward the left. Inquiring about this seeming oddity, Moshe said to them, “Because my son is sick and needs a refuah sh’laimah.” They immediately replied, “May the Dweller in this House grant your son a quick and speedy recovery.” This was exactly as the Mishnah described it over 2,000 years ago! This brought chills to my spine for a long time. After all, it’s one thing to learn the law; but to experience it is infinitely more incredible.

Ten minutes after leaving Har HaBayit, Moshe’s wife Tzippy told him via telephone that about 20 minutes earlier Dovid Yosef started moving his leg and arm. The doctors were ecstatic about this small – but very significant – progress. Just imagine: he started improving at the exact time we were davening for him on Har HaBayit and practicing the Mishnah law.

We hope for more progress every day.

Moshe and Tzippy Feiglin have asked me to express their heartfelt hakarat hatov to the public for their outpouring of prayer and encouragement. They kindly request your continued prayers for their son.

tell a friend

About the Author:

Praying For Moshe Feiglin’s Son

You might also be interested in:

Related posts: