Family of Skulener Rebbe, Shlita, Issue Plea for Tefillos

In light of the serious health condition of the Skulener Rebbe, shlita, (Harav Yisrael Avraham ben Sheina Rachel), one of the elder and most widely accepted leaders of Klal Yisrael, the Rebbe’s children called for increased tefillos to be recited on his behalf on Monday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar I.

The Rebbe’s eldest son, Harav Yeshayah Yaakov Portugal, Rav of Khal Meor haGolah in Montreal, issued a heartfelt plea from the bedside of his revered father in the name of his entire family.

“The tzaddik hador is in need of tremendous rachamei Shamayim that he should be able to remain with us in good health,” he said in a public message. “Klal Yisrael’s koach is to use our mouths for tefillah…tefillah is avodah sheb’lev and needs to be with our whole hearts.”

Rav Yeshayah Yaakov also called for the tzibbur to take extra care in shmiras einayim as a merit for the Rebbe’s recovery. He also noted that the day was an especially opportune one for tefillah as Erev Rosh Chodesh is an “eis ratzon.”

Monday afternoon, several of the Rebbe’s children planned to lead tefillos at the kever of the previous Skulener Rebbe, zy”a, in the Vizhnitzer Bais Hachaim in Monsey. Minyanim for the recital of Tehillim and Yom Kippur Katan were called to take place in Skulener batei medrash in Boro Park, Williamsburg, and Lakewood.

Rav Yeshayah Yaakov ended his plea noting the words of Chazal “mishenichnas Adar marbim b’simchah.”

“What greater simchah can there be than for the tzaddik hador to be able to continue to be mashpia on the generation?”