I remember being taken away for surgery on the tenth floor, and not waking up for another two days. Later I was told that Rabbi Riskin sat with my family during the entire surgery. The fact that he took the time to be at the hospital at all was amazing in and of itself, but to stay with my wife and children was beyond belief. During a different surgery (I try to not do this too often, as I really don’t like hospitals) I asked him how he found the time to come to the hospital when he clearly had so many other responsibilities, and he said simply that he “he loved us.” Those words accurately expressed how he felt not only about us, but also about Klal Yisrael in general.
Following a month in the hospital, and a long and slow recovery period, I was feeling better, and I went to ask about doing a seudat hodayah every year in order to express my thanks to God for saving my life. He explained that the time the doctors said that I was out of danger would be the appropriate occasion. So, every year on Rosh Chodesh Iyar, I celebrate life.
Nonetheless, the first time that I celebrated with family and friends was several months after leaving Shaarei Zedek, and felt that I had the strength to celebrate. There again, Rabbi Riskin was present to share the moment with us. Only two years later he read the ketubah at our eldest daughter’s wedding in Jerusalem, and has since been under the chuppah at three more of our children’s weddings.
During the summer of 2002 my mother became ill, and was nearing her death. We had finished our Camp Moshava experience (an experience we kept up for 24 summers), and went back to Philly to visit my mother. The doctors said that she had very little time left to live, and so I decided that I would stay until the end, to be by her side, even thought most of the time she was not awake. On the thirteenth of Elul my beloved mother passed away, and my family was preparing for the funeral. That night I received a phone call from my rebbe. I don’t know how he found out, but he took the time to call and express his condolences – something that I would always remember.
Not only was I touched deeply by my personal connection with Rabbi Riskin, but my wife and her sisters also felt this way when my mother-in-law became ill with pancreatic cancer three years ago. All four sisters (my wife, Sharona, Shira, and Rena) had several conversations with him throughout the ten months of her illness. Then, two years ago, on the sixteenth of Iyar, my mother-in-law passed away. Soon after her passing, Rabbi Riskin was at the door. Being a kohen, he always has to be careful to avoid any home or hospital where someone has died. He helped my wife and sisters in Israel come to the correct, but difficult decision to postpone the funeral until Sunday, Lag Ba’Omer, so that their sister from the states could participate.
Throughout the years, Rabbi Riskin has been present at our simchot, and in times of illness and aveilut. I hope and pray that he continues being a part of our lives until 120!
