YWN[chicago-aneinu] Zurich Gavaad Flown to Hadassah for Urgent Medical Care

HaGaon HaRav Shaul Breich, Gavaad Zurich, Switzerland and rav of Beis Medrash Agudas Achim was flown from Europe to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim on Monday, 9 Iyar 5772 on a private flight. His condition was listed as extremely serious. Rav Breich was not feeling well and about two months ago during a stay in Eretz Yisrael and he returned home. He was admitted to a hospital in Zurich at that time. Chadrei Chareidim is now reporting that the rav was diagnosed with pulmonary edema and his condition has taken a sharp turn for the worse. He is comatose and on a mechanical respirator. It is unclear if this is the severity of his condition or of the coma is medically induced as part of stabilizing him. Apparently doctors in Zurich felt there is nothing more to be done so one of the prominent chassidim, Rav Avrohom Gust undertook funding whatever necessary to bring the Gavaad to Eretz Yisrael. Prof. Linton of Hadassah accompanied Dr. Ron Heichal on the special flight to bring the rebbe to Jerusalem, with the assistance of Yad Avraham under the leadership of Shimon Braun. Chadrei Chareidim quotes R’ Gust as explaining “Dr. Eliezer Rosenberg, a well-known physician in Zurich called me up during the morning hours explaining we must send Prof. Linton and another doctor to save the rebbe’s life. The professor apparently treated the rebbe before takeoff, a procedure that is described as ‘life saving’. Dr. Rosenberg explained that local doctors did all they could”. Gust is quoted as saying that l’chatchila they planned to fly the Gavaad on a scheduled El Al flight but due to the sharp decline in his condition, this was not possible. The Gavaad has been serving in his position for decades, taking over for his father HaGaon Rav Mordechai Yaakov Breich ZT”L, Bal HaChelkas Yaakov. The tzibur is asked to be mispallel for Rav Shaul ben Pasha for a refuah shleima b’soch kol cholei am yisrael. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)