Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron in Special Interview After Heart Incident: "After the Angioplasty, I Realized the Severity of the Situation"

"I thank Hashem for the miracles and the kindness," says Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron this week, about four weeks after the heart event he underwent, which led to his hospitalization at Kaplan Hospital in the intensive care unit. In a special interview with the 'Hidabroot' website, Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron talks about the heart event he went through, "I didn't understand the severity of the matter," he shares, "It's the kind of situation where the suppression system operates vigorously, you can't really grasp what's happening to you. The entire system mobilizes to continue living, and *b'ezrat Hashem* since I'm used to praying, that's what I did. It was a survival situation accompanied by prayer. After I underwent angioplasty, I realized the severity of the situation - the attending doctor explained to me that if I had arrived half an hour late, I would probably have reached another world. I thank Hashem for the life He gave me and wish for myself to continue doing what I do - to encourage, strengthen, and bring joy to Jews."

Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron, one of the leading and well-known rabbis of the Breslov Hasidic movement, was born 56 years ago and grew up in Haifa. He returned to faith during his military service, and upon being introduced to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov's teachings, he began teaching the stories as parables for the human soul. Over time, he influenced the return of Yuval and Noa Dayan, as well as journalist Zvi Yehezkeli, to faith. Over the years, he has published 17 books on coping with crises, *Avodat Hashem*, and soul work, which have been translated into several languages. His book "The Warriors of Change - The Annals of the Last War" is a fantasy novel that sparked interest among Hollywood producers. Despite being one of the influential leading rabbis of Breslov, Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron did not create around him a homogeneous community or group of students; in fact, his listeners come from all colors of the spectrum and all types of populations. 

"I Didn't Wait for a Heart Attack to Take Myself Seriously"

Upon learning that Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron had a heart event, his acquaintances and students expressed concern and began to pray for his recovery. After he recovered, he addressed the public and said that what would make him happy is strengthening in solitude, observing commandments, and taking on various commitments. "Many good people prayed for my recovery," he says this week, "I felt it changed the picture and helped. It warms the heart to see the people of Israel mobilized and caring. What made me happiest was having the ability to translate what I was going through into impact on others, to strengthen in observing commandments and prayer. *Baruch Hashem* that the private wave I went through, brought waves of prayers, Psalms, and merits. It made me very happy to know that from this too there can be closeness and strengthening." Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron returned to activity in the organization he heads, 'Or Pnimi Breslov', continues to give lectures, work on a new book that has not yet been published, and engage in personal and couple counseling. 

Following the incident he went through, he decided to dedicate a lesson in which he addressed questions and doubts that came to him from his acquaintances. "It raised question marks for people and created confusion, and I decided to address it. When I was hospitalized in intensive care, I had several days to sit and think and do soul-searching, and I shared my insights with people. It wasn't soul-searching from the side of the evil inclination, meaning rigid and hysterical self-examination, but more thinking, contemplation, and decisions to make changes according to my capabilities. I don't believe in extreme changes from one end to the other, but in a gradual process suitable for the soul. There is no doubt that life gains different proportions, but I didn't wait for a heart attack to take myself seriously, even before I strove to live with thought and contemplation - but such an event makes you focus on life. My main experience is gratitude to Hashem for watching over me and saving me."

One insight that became clearer and sharper to Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron is that life is not taken for granted, "Such an event strongly and deeply sharpens insights I had already reached before. One of them is that nothing is taken for granted, not life nor health. Even before, I was in work to thank Hashem, but now it has gained more depth and strength. Every little thing is precious. Every moment of life. Every opportunity to exercise kindness, to deal with the evil inclination, to believe in Hashem, to choose good. A moment comes when everything ends, and you can never know when it will happen. As long as we are here, it's a huge gain. The evil inclination wants to hide this, to make us forget this, but when Hashem suddenly shakes life, you see how fragile everything is. Of course, the evil inclination also wants to turn this into sadness and anxiety like: 'What will happen to me, and what's the worth of what I do'. But the truth is exactly the opposite, what will happen to me will be what the Creator wants, and it will always be the best and most correct for me. And what's the worth of what I do? A lot."

Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron continues: "I came to another insight - how sacred and good the people of Israel are. In the hospital, people I didn't know were genuinely interested in my wellbeing. Not because they knew me, but because we were together, brothers in distress. Each one revealed all his majesty, how he wants the best for the other and wishes him only all the good in the world. This is the true people of Israel, beyond the masks and unpleasant things we sometimes encounter." 

These days, Rabbi Moshe Doron is delivering lectures, some through the internet and some frontal (on Sundays in Jerusalem). His lectures are available online, he releases discs of his lessons, engages in personal and couple counseling, and is working on several books simultaneously, "I'm rewriting the book 'Heart of the World is You' and hoping to publish it soon. I have been working for several years on a new book 'The Purpose of Everything is Great Happiness', and on additional projects."

What is your main message, and to whom is it intended?

"Once I thought there was a specific target audience that strengthens from Rabbi Nachman's teachings. Over time and experience, I realized that everyone goes through distresses and difficulties in various forms. Based on Rabbi Nachman's teachings, my message to every Jew, near or far - you are good, and you are not alone, and even your mistakes do not contradict this. This is the foundation and the central element of everything I say. I see that no matter how many times it is said, people need to hear again and again that they are not alone, surrounded by the love of Hashem who so loves us and wants our good, and always can turn to Him."