Rabbi Eliyahu's condition stabilized after heart surgery
Former chief rabbi's state of health deteriorates during catheterization, but doctors report recovery following long operation. Rabbi's son: Prayers helped
During the operation, the rabbi's state of health significantly deteriorated, and doctors were forced to perform another procedure, which ended successfully. The hospital then reported that the rabbi's condition had stabilized and that he was transferred to the recovery room.
Earlier Monday, the rabbi's son, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, interrupted his weekly lesson at the Heichal Yaakov Synagogue in Jerusalem's Kiryat Moshe neighborhood, and dozens of worshippers convened at the place and began praying for the former chief rabbi's recovery.
During the prayer, Rabbi Eliyahu Jr. told the public, "We see eye to eye that the prayers are helpful. As we pray I am receiving a message from the hospital that the rabbi's condition, which was serious, has managed to stabilize."
On Monday afternoon, Rabbi Eliyahu was rushed to an urgent heart surgery after an attempt to change one of his heart valves in a catheterization procedure had failed. The rabbi's family called on the public to pray for his recovery.
Following the deterioration in his condition, dozens of worshippers began flocking to the Western Wall, where prayers were held Monday night.
On Monday morning, the ailing rabbi was slated to undergo a complicated procedure to replace his heart valve. A specialist from the United States arrived at the hospital and joined the Israeli doctors, who attempted to perform the medical procedure, unsuccessfully. In the afternoon, the medical team decided to rush him to an open heart surgery.
Only two weeks ago, on the eve of Sukkot, doctors agreed to release Rabbi Eliyahu to his home for several hours, following his request to visit a sukkah built there and spend some time with his family on the holiday.
The rabbi said he was feeling better and that his recovery depended on this visit as well, and the hospital decided to release him for the first time since he was hospitalized. He went home accompanied by a medical team and returned to the Intensive Care Unit two hours later.
Former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, 79, is considered Religious Zionism's spiritual leader. He suffered a heart attack last Passover and was rushed to a bypass operation, which was successful.
Two weeks later, when he returned to the hospital for a routine checkup, he collapsed in front of the doctors and underwent a prolonged resuscitation. The next day he suffered a light stroke and was taken to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital for a catheterization procedure in his head.
In recent months, his condition gradually stabilized and improved, but he is still hospitalized and alternately receives artificial respiration at the Intensive Care Unit at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
