Double Miracle: Life's Gift by Rabbi Rosenberg

It was an exhilarating night, truly unique. On the creaky bed in the dark hospital room lay the young scholar, his mind abuzz with thoughts. The excitement controlled him, and his heart was more alert than ever. In just a few hours, he knew he would be respectfully wheeled into the operating room, where he would part from one of his kidneys, which would be donated to a person he had never met.

These moments, which would fill any ordinary person with real fear and dread, were enveloped in emotion for him. He struggled to suppress the tears of excitement choking his throat. He felt that the decision he had made could save an entire world, as our sages say. He never imagined he would feel this way that night, just hours before the lengthy surgery. In a moment of elevation, he decided to rise from the bed, took a paper and pen in hand, and began to write.

"I thank You, Hashem, my God and the God of my fathers," he began his prayer, "for creating me out of nothing, body, soul, spirit, and soul. You developed me in my mother’s womb, shaped form within form, and brought me into this world to reverent parents who raised me on a good path"....

"And I know there are sick individuals whose kidneys have stopped functioning, and they can barely survive an hour before You, except that in Your great kindness, You inspired doctors to invent a machine simulating the kidney's function, but this help is very limited and its benefits short-lived, and its pain great. And in Your great kindness, You inspired the doctors further to transplant a healthy kidney from a healthy person into a sick body, thereby extending the patient's life by many years, for sure.

Therefore, at this time when I am healthy in body and soul, and I have two kidneys that You gave me in Your great mercy, while I currently need only one, and Your other singular son needs this to save his life, I believe with complete faith that I have nothing of my own and everything is from You, blessed be He. This is Your satisfaction when man rises above his desires to do Your will. Therefore, strengthen and fortify me at this time so that I do not falter in any thought of fear or sorrow or worry, and may this wish of mine be considered before You as if I offered a sacrifice on the altar."...

(Photo: Yaakov Nehomi)

This prayer, which emerged from the depths of his heart, moved him even more. Now he also felt the security. Fear was never part of the reservoir of feelings that accompanied him throughout the long procedure spread over a long period, yet now he felt a strong sense of security instilled by the moving prayer.

"In the morning, I was led into the operating room," recounts Rabbi Yehuda Rosenberg, "As I was sedated, I muttered the prayer. I focused only on the tremendous benefit that would come from this kindness I was doing. I allowed no other thoughts to disturb me. These were moments that I can undoubtedly say were among the happiest I have known in my life."

About half a year earlier, the previous summer, Rabbi Rosenberg, a young scholar living in Kiryat Sefer, decided to take a very unusual step and approach the 'Gift of Life' organization with a special request. "I approached the organization and asked to be included in the kidney donor registry," he recounts. "They were not surprised at all by my request. In hindsight, I found out that tens, maybe hundreds, had done so before. Almost daily, individuals from various places approach the organization, expressing their wish to donate. What seemed to me a special procedure was, I learned, quite common among the members of the organization."

He made the decision to embark on this journey, so he recounts, together with his wife after reading several articles describing the terrible plight of those in need of a kidney, enduring endless waits for their health. "I read about it and understood the immense suffering those unfortunate Jews experience who need dialysis and wait for long periods for a donor to agree to give up a kidney for their benefit," he explains. "It's hard to stand by when you see the huge distress of these Jews. Afterward, when I read some articles about kidney donation, I realized it wasn't a particularly complicated step, and the desire to donate began to awaken within me."

The Blessing of the Rabbis

Rosenberg embarked on an extensive and fulfilling journey. He approached the local health fund near his home, and after a visit to his family doctor, the decision started to take concrete shape. "The doctor told me there is absolutely no danger in this donation, and it's certainly recommended if I'm able to save another person's life through it. I thoroughly examined all the medical procedures I needed to undergo, and when I was on the verge of decision, I sought to consult with the rabbis who have guided me throughout my life."

The rabbis, in Rosenberg's case, are actually his closest family members. He is the direct grandson of the esteemed Rabbi Nissim Karelitz, may he live long and well, and the son of the reputable dayanim, Rabbi Shriel Rosenberg, may he live long and well. "For years, I've been consulting my great-grandfather, may he live," he recounts. "But in the past year, it's harder for my grandfather to answer questions, so I approached my father and teacher. Initially, I feared his reaction because, as his son, he might worry and say this donation poses a danger. When my father heard what I had to ask, he told me he wouldn't tell me whether to do it or not, but it is an immense mitzvah. At that moment, I knew the sign was given. If my father tells me such a thing, the answer is certainly positive."

At this stage, Rosenberg approached the 'Gift of Life' organization, led by Rabbi Yeshayahu Haber. "They guided me and explained the entire procedure to me. They also assisted in scheduling the medical checkups I needed to undergo, and throughout the process, they were extraordinarily supportive. I constantly felt that their support was strengthening me and helping me deal with the not-too-great difficulty involved in the whole procedure."

The motive, as Rosenberg explains, was singular. "Not every day does a person get a chance to perform such a rare mitzvah," he says. "Saving lives is not a mitzvah easy to find. I felt I had a real opportunity to fulfill this mitzvah, which I doubt I could replicate. I didn't think too much and ventured forth."

(Photo: Yaakov Nehomi)

In preparation for the surgery, Rosenberg had to meet with a social worker and a psychologist to confirm he was competent and aware of the step he was taking. "I saw their looks of surprise when they heard I wanted to do this because it's a mitzvah," he recalls. "For people who aren't Torah observant, it might be hard to understand that. But for me, it was very clear. I explained to them that I have no interest other than saving a Jewish life. I told them that I live with the belief that I didn't come into the world to enjoy, but to do what Hashem wills. And if it's clear to me that this is what Hashem wants, then I do it with joy and feel no problem. On the contrary, I feel I'm only gaining from my action this rare and precious mitzvah of saving a human life."

An Emotional Meeting

The first meeting with the destined recipient was as emotional as it was awkward. "I saw he was feeling uncomfortable because he didn't know how to thank me," Rosenberg recounts. "The word 'thank you' certainly wouldn't suffice for him, and so he felt awkward. To relieve him, I told him I wasn’t doing it for him but for myself. I'm doing this to gain another important mitzvah, and so there's no place for the discomfort he feels. He was greatly comforted by these words, and we bonded easily afterward. Our first conversation revolved around the various medical tests, and of course, I was very interested in his condition. I understood that he was in a difficult state, and the donation needed to happen quickly to improve and prevent his condition from deteriorating."

A day before the long-awaited surgery, Rosenberg needed to be admitted to Beilinson Hospital where the operation would take place. Before that, together with the recipient, he managed to visit the homes of great Torah leaders. Together they visited the home of Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, and the Vizhnitz Rebbe. "The Rebbe was very interested in the entire medical procedure we underwent," Rosenberg shares. "He clearly was emotionally involved. Even after the surgery, they called from his home to check if everything went smoothly. We saw that the Rebbe took this story deeply to heart."

The night before the surgery, Rosenberg was admitted to Beilinson Hospital, accompanied by 'Gift of Life' activists. That night, he wrote the special prayer he composed for himself. "I felt the need to write what I was feeling, and what better way than to write a prayer of thanks and request to the Creator?" he says with a smile. "I took a blank paper from the nurses in the department and began to write the prayer. The feeling that accompanied me was like a person who goes to sacrifice a korban in the Beit Hamikdash. It was a wonderful feeling. A feeling of fulfillment, excitement, and anticipation for the future."

The following morning, he was taken to a surgery that lasted several hours. "When I awoke, the only thing that concerned me was the recipient's condition. They told me that his surgery was still underway, and thank God, it was going smoothly. Then I relaxed." According to him, when he woke up, he felt no pain, despite the kidney being removed from his body. "Only later did I feel some pain, but they weren't particularly severe," he recounts. "Overall, this entire procedure is so simplistic and uncomplicated. To most of the public, it seems like something difficult and perhaps unachievable, but in practice, it's a very simple procedure that requires a bit of time, a bit of willingness, and a lot of faith."

Towards evening, Rosenberg was updated that the kidney had been perfectly accepted by the recipient's body, and it had started functioning during the implantation surgery. "I was very moved and thanked Hashem, and of course, I waited to meet him." Late in the evening, after recovering, the recipient approached Rosenberg's room. "It was a very emotional moment," he recounts. "We hugged and couldn't let go of each other. The excitement was enormous. We felt so close, and the blood connection between us gave us a wonderful feeling. I think I've never experienced such immense satisfaction as I did at that moment."

Double Rescue

Since the surgery, more than two weeks have passed. The recipient's condition has improved tremendously, and he has returned to his daily routine. Rosenberg also quickly returned to his routine, faster than expected. "Within a week, I was back to my work as an educator at a school and to my studies in the kollel," he recounts. "Aside from the fact that I can't run and have trouble lifting heavy things, I function normally without any pain. 'Gift of Life' is also assisting me with household chores as we prepare for Pesach, things I'm struggling to do. Overall, I don't feel any extraordinary difficulty."

One event that happened a week after the kidney donation particularly captured Rosenberg's heart. "My father came to visit me in the hospital," he recounts. "I showed him the prayer I wrote. My father, who usually doesn't express emotion, burst into tears. It deeply moved me. A few days later, my father went for a routine checkup with his doctor, who told him it was a miracle he came for the checkup because he was on the verge of a heart attack. He was urgently rushed to the hospital and underwent a bypass operation in a few days. When I came to visit him, he told me he wanted to thank me. I asked him for what, and he replied that thanks to my kidney donation, I saved his heart. He continued to say that we believe everything is interconnected. "By saving the life of another Jew, Hashem saved my life," he said emotionally. I truly felt the words of the scripture: 'Eat its fruits in this world, and the principal remains for the world to come.'"

Ultimate Satisfaction

Rosenberg shares that his close friends, who heard about his courageous act, found it hard to believe it was such a simple procedure. However, he states, "I don't persuade anyone to donate. I only urge people to read. I suggest every person should read about this procedure. To be interested, to research, and to understand. I'm sure many people are not fully aware of this procedure, which is relatively simple and saves another person's life. If you have the opportunity to save someone's life, without harming yourself, wouldn't you do it? Our duty is to save every soul in Israel. Our brothers are waiting for these donations that save their lives. I believe it's the duty of every God-fearing Jew to thoroughly investigate the matter, and if he can, with his family's consent of course, to embark on this journey."

As for the initial reward, Rosenberg concludes, he is already experiencing it these days. "The sense of satisfaction is supreme. I don't think I've ever felt this way. You know and feel that entire lives were saved thanks to your step. I saw the man I donated to before the surgery, hooked to dialysis machines, and later, I saw him with his health restored. There's no way to describe the feeling of satisfaction that fills you. Moreover, the fact that we saw divine assistance immediately, with the miraculous story of my father, I think this was undoubtedly an incomparable important step. I sincerely hope that my story, like that of many others, will serve as a key for people capable of donating to continue saving more and more lives."