Thank You

By Moshe Feiglin

16 Tamuz, 5771
July 28, '11

Translated from Ma'ariv's NRG website

Today is the one year anniversary of the most traumatic event that I have ever experienced. Exactly one year ago, my wife Tzippy and I were informed that our son had suffered a critical head injury.

On the afternoon of that terrible day, Tzippy and I were bike riding together in the Yarkon Park. My cell phone rang and one of our community leaders began to stammer something unintelligible from the other end of the line. Somehow, we gathered that our son David had been injured in a car accident at the Alfei Menashe intersection and that he was in intensive care at the Beilinson Hospital.

We had no idea what his condition was, what type of injuries he had suffered - nothing. At least an hour of indescribable pressure passed until we managed to get back to our car and over to the hospital. On our way to the hospital we called whoever we could think of to try to get some information. We didn't imagine that all we had to do was to turn on the radio, where the story of David's severe injury was being broadcast time and again.

For some reason, David united the entire public in honest concern and prayer for his well being. We arrived at the checkpoint at the entrance to Beilinson. "You get out here and run in," I said to Tzippy, "while I'll park the car." But to my surprise, the guard motioned me in and told me to park in the area reserved for the ambulances. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw what looked like the senior staff of the hospital waiting for us on the stairs of the entrance.

Suddenly, it was as if I was watching a horror movie from the outside, understanding that this ceremony was planned to inform us of the very worst news. I functioned like a robot. "Your son sustained a critical head injury," said the head of the hospital. A stifled, horrible scream emerged from Tzippy and for me, that was the worst moment of all. "You can go in to see him now," he continued.

That was the beginning of the most difficult year of our lives. But alongside the difficulties, we have merited to see the most beautiful sides of the Nation of Israel. The intensive care staff at the Schneider Hospital and subsequently, the rehabilitation staff at Tel Hashomer put their hearts and souls into their work, putting in any and all effort needed. We were wrapped around and around with the power of empathy and loving kindness, beginning with our close family, on to our community and the entire nation.

Everybody prayed ceaselessly for David. There were specialists who lost hope, but a neighbor told me, "It cannot be that G-d will not listen to all the prayers for your son; people are praying for him throughout the world. I was in Hong Kong on Shabbat and I went to the local synagogue. I received the honor of reading the Torah and I planned to make a special blessing for David's recovery. But I didn't get that far, because the person who was called up to read the Torah before me blessed him", he said.

It was truly an extraordinary phenomenon. Cars would stop next to me on the road and drivers who I did not know would ask me how David was doing. Everyone prayed for him - everyone - it didn't matter what sector of society they came from.

And G-d really did listen. After three months, David began to regain consciousness. Many more nerve-wracking months would pass until he would begin to speak once again. They had already prepared us for the possibility that his memory had been erased. "We don't see things like this here," a senior doctor joyfully told me. "It is simply a miracle." Slowly but surely, David stood on his legs and began to walk.

There are many difficulties still ahead, and a long rehabilitation battle that is far from finished. But I thank G-d, Who has given us life and sustained us and brought us to this day. A special thanks is due to all the medical personnel; they are truly amazing. But my strong feeling is that the factor that ultimately got David back up on his feet was the unity of the entire Nation of Israel in prayer for him.

I do not have any special messages or unique insights to pass on. We are still too close to the accident for me to sit and analyze it from start to finish. But I have begun to pray for other sick and injured people: For Odeliah Nechama bat Michal, a young girl who was severely injured in her head in the terror attack next to Binyanei Ha'uma in Jerusalem, for patients who I met in rehab and more. I learned that prayers really do work.

I have actually written these lines because today, on the anniversary of the accident and the great miracle that was performed for us, I feel the need to thank G-d once again, to thank all those who cared for David, to all those who helped in every way possible and to all those who carried a prayer for my son in their hearts. I simply want to say thank you.