Dr. Ira Weiss, the Rebbes Cardiologist to Speak to Shluchim
In Tishrai 1977 (5738) when the Rebbe suffered his first heart attack, Dr. Ira Weiss from Skokei, IL came to Brooklyn to treat the Rebbe. From then on a very close relationship formed between the Rebbe, the Rebbetzin and Dr. Weiss.
CrownHeights.info has learned that Dr. Weiss will be speaking to the Shluchim at this year’s convention at the Motzoai Shabbos Sessions of the Kinus Hashluchim chaired by Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky the vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.
Crown Heights Resident
Thank you crownheights.info!
Always breaking the accurate news sensibly.
aliza
last year crownheights dot info reported the Rosh Chodesh Kislev celebration in Chicago and that a letter was read from Dr. Weiss.
in this case crown heights dot info was one-upped by shmais
… they printed the entire letter – it is a beautiful letter:
LETTER FROM THE REBBE’S DOCTOR IN HONOR OF ROSH CHODESH KISLEV 5767
11:05:AM Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006
Happy Rosh Chodesh Kislev!
Although the stories of our joy on being able to “release” the Rebbe from his “medical confinement” on Rosh Chodesh Kislev 29 years ago have often been retold, they still are able to freshly rekindle the spark and spirit of that miraculous moment. At the time this miracle occurred, we, the doctors, could not possibly have divulged the magnitude of the miracle. In doing so, we would have revealed to the public how very extensive was the Rebbe’s heart attack and how many doctors on the team felt that the victim of such a heart attack could not realistically be expected to have much of a future, both in terms of longevity and functionality. In making such pronouncements at that time, as “realistic” as they seemed to many of us, we would have stymied the Rebbe’s leadership and contact with his followers. Not one of his Chassidim would have thought to burden the Rebbe with personal problems or community matters if we had announced how limited was the Rebbe’s cardiac reserve or how precarious was the stability of his heart rhythm. (Indeed, this was clearly demonstrated on his first post-recovery Farbrengen, Yud-Tes Kislev, when Dr. Larry Resnick and I watched in private horror as a hidden heart rhythm monitor demonstrated some very threatening cardiac arrhythmia’s during each of the Sichos but not during the Ma’amar.) Fortunately, the doctors kept their “pronouncements” and “predictions” to themselves on Yud-Tes Kislev, and HaShem granted the Rebbe a most miraculous and unanticipated 15 years of Full-Throttle worldwide leadership, teaching, and inspiration – and with complete contact with all his following.
A under emphasized perspective of Rosh Chodesh Kislev is the perspective of Rebbetzin Schneerson, who joyously saw the “return home” of her dear husband. To the Rebbe and Rebbetzin, their limited but very precious moments together constituted the high point of their day. As the Rebbe explained to me, setting aside time for a daily tea with his wife was as important to him as setting aside time to observe the Mitzvah of T’fillin.
I hope you might be able to relate these comments to your students. In these words are lessons that pessimism, even “realisitic” pessimism, should not always hold sway. Also included is the idea that human relationships, especially the relationship of a husband and wife, should be on a level of elevation and holiness as high as that of any of the other Mitzvot.
A Lichtige Chodesh Kislev!
Ira Weiss