Daniel Mizrachi: "Twice I Saw Death; Only My Dialogue with Hashem Saved Me"

During the days when Daniel Mizrachi lay in the COVID ward of the hospital, he felt his body swaying between life and death. "I lay exhausted and saw the images of my life passing before my eyes," he recalls. "At a certain point, I was so tired that I told Hashem 'Enough, I am out of strength.' I even remember myself saying the Vidui prayer." A year and a half later, he has gathered the strength to recount what the crisis has taught him, and he does not forget to mention how he miraculously survived after falling from his wheelchair a few years earlier, precisely on Hoshana Rabbah.

COVID, Suffering, Gratitude

He suffers from a rare form of cerebral palsy, which causes his limbs to move involuntarily. Despite this, Daniel Mizrachi remains optimistic and inspires others with his mental resilience. However, the past year and a half have been particularly challenging. "I contracted COVID, and it left a lasting mark on my body," he begins. "A month after I got infected, my medical condition worsened and I was rushed to the hospital. I found myself alone, as my assistant also fell ill and couldn’t accompany me. My overall condition is rare in the medical world, and when I get sick, my body reacts differently from the usual cases. I remember lying there, exhausted, surrounded by severely ill patients all on the brink of death. It took the doctors 8 hours to realize something was unusual with me, 8 long hours during which the painful sights didn’t help my spirit, to say the least."

In the midst of this hard situation, Mizrachi did what he knows best: "I felt that only my Father, who created me, was by my sickbed. I began deep introspection and thanked Him for everything He had given me. I received so many gifts from Him – a functioning mind, the ability to express my desires and fulfill them, and more. I thanked Him for this but simultaneously felt my body weakening. I feared these might be my final moments and I said Vidui. I promised my Father that if I recover, I will continue to strengthen and inspire others and share this miracle story."

Later, Mizrachi found himself awakening from fainting: "Next to me, I saw the worried head of the day center at the Ilan Association. As soon as she saw I woke up, she brought me water. Tears of excitement began to fall from my eyes. I didn’t know what would become of me, but hope began to return, and I started to believe again that I would pull through."

Although Mizrachi emerged from life-threatening danger and his body defeated the deadly virus, he continued to suffer from prolonged weakness and other severe symptoms for a year. "I was completely exhausted, only leaving my house for hospital and medical treatments," he describes. "The isolation forced upon me, after being accustomed to attending strengthening events, was terrible. During the long hours in bed, I worried about my life and thought a lot about the afterlife. Every time I visited the ER, I was reminded of the Rosh Hashanah prayers, the words 'The soul is Yours and the body is Your creation.'"

What helped you during those difficult days?

"What kept me going was the sincere dialogue with Hashem at night in bed. This year, I went through a serious lesson, learning to appreciate the simple things in life. I thought a lot about the purpose of life and my strong desire to give of myself, and from all of this, I began to see the isolation forced on me as a gift."

A gift? How?

"Generally, any time I had severe episodes due to paralysis, what kept me and helped me retain my sanity was envisioning myself returning to activities and strengthening others through lectures I give. This time, however, everything stopped. In this situation, I continued writing columns and poems, pouring my heart out to my Father in Heaven, who is my family, and I felt that I was embarking on a profound journey with the Creator, contemplating the purpose and meaning of life. My feeling is that before COVID, I was busy with external actions like various production participations and several house moves; suddenly everything stopped, and I had time to deeply reflect on my life. Therefore, despite all the pain and suffering, I thank my Father for this journey through which I gained many insights about my life."

What are your thoughts for the future?

"Thank God, about a month ago, I started to go out and recover very cautiously. The doctors managed to diagnose the cause of the weakness and provided appropriate medical treatment. I hope to return to my activities and continue strengthening others, which I see as my mission in the world. Looking to the future, I envision establishing a personal empowerment company and delivering empowerment talks in schools, colleges, and events. Another thought I have is to create courses teaching how to cope with disabilities and later train mentors in the field. It will give me immense satisfaction along with abundant livelihood. I also pray to merit getting married and establishing a beautiful family, spending quality time with my wife, and maybe even working together in the business. Additionally, last month I released a clip, entirely words of thanks to Hashem for the precious gifts He gave me. Through it, I had to release all the feelings that were in my heart, and I thank everyone who helped me along the way."

These are the emotional words Daniel wrote after his battle with the coronavirus

4 Hours Between Life and Death

At this point, Mizrachi wishes to share more personal details: "About two years ago, I met my biological sister, whom I hadn't known for many years. Meeting her stirred up difficult and painful emotions that had been buried inside and caused me to emotionally block. As a result, I severed ties with the dearest people to me – the foster family that raised me for 24 years devotedly and other friends. The emotions during that time flooded me like a tsunami, and I had no one to share them with. I felt so terrible inside that one day I left home to find some relief."

Mizrachi could not foresee what would happen a few moments later: "I arrived alone at the grove near my house. I was extremely agitated, and a wrong movement led to overturning along with the motorized chair. For 4 hours, which seemed eternal, I cried for help. I felt all alone with the Creator and thought these were my last hours on earth. Again, the images of my life flashed before my eyes, and I said Vidui. Finally, with my last strength, I shouted for help again."

A dog passing by noticed the overturned Daniel. "It led its owner to me, and I was evacuated to the hospital with head injuries. Professionals intervening in the story suggested I begin psychological treatment. I followed their advice and, through a deep journey and very tiring self-work, I got to know a new Daniel."

Some time passed, and along came the COVID lockdowns. "I experienced severe loneliness, which led to difficulties with Hashem. I almost lost direction, yet I knew I couldn't go on without talking to the Father who sustains me moment by moment. It was hard, but even from that, I managed to grow. And now – I'm left with the painful disconnection I created with my own hands from loved ones, and there's not a day that goes by without thinking about how I can reconnect with them and ask for their forgiveness. For me, what happened is erased, and I only want them to forgive me for the hurt I caused. So I'm opening up and saying it here too: 'Please forgive me; you were with me through thick and thin.'"

Contact Daniel Mizrachi (WhatsApp only): 054-8995039