There was a sudden deterioration in the condition of HaMekubal HaRav Dov Kook on Tuesday morning.

As YWN reported last week, HaRav Kook was rushed to Poriya Medical Center in Tiveria after developing pneumonia and was sedated and ventilated.

There was a slight improvement in his condition earlier this week, and the doctors were able to reduce the level of his sedation. But sadly, following his deterioration this morning, the medical team was forced to restore full sedation in order to stabilize his condition.

On Monday evening, HaRav Kook’s chashuve father-in-law, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein, paused his shiur to recite Tehillim for his son-in-law.

In a voice choked with tears, he also described the tzidkus of his son-in-law.

“The generation is upheld by him, and he is now in serious condition,” HaRav Zilberstein said. “He is truly a Tzaddik Yesod Olam, beyond description! He is great in chachmas haKabbalah.

Immediately afterward, HaRav Zilberstein began reciting Psalm 130 from Tehillim, “Out of the depths I have called to You, Hashem,” while the hundreds participating in the shiur responded passuk by passuk.

HaRav Kook’s close talmid, HaRav Moshe Chaim Schneider, requested from the public: “We’re approaching the Yom Tov of Shavuos, an auspicious time when all the Cholei Yisrael were healed at Har Sinai. Davka now, we must unite as one person with one heart for the refuah of our Rav, who dedicated all his days for the benefit of the Klal, worked tirelessly for the healing of the sick, and whose pure tefillos stood by many in Am Yisrael in their time of distress.”

The public is asked to storm the gates of Shamayim for the refuah sheleimah of Dov HaKohen ben Shoshanah b’soch sha’ar cholei Yisrael.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)