Reb Gedaliah Kook shared an emotional update this week on the condition of his father, the renowned mekubal and tzaddik Rav Dov Kook, describing moving moments at his bedside, ongoing tefillos, and what the family views as repeated medical miracles surrounding the revered rav’s condition.

Speaking on the “Hafuch Al Hafuch” program with Reb Moshe Ben Lulu, Reb Gedaliah said his father remains hospitalized in intensive care, partially sedated and on a ventilator, though some improvement has been seen in recent days.

“The Rav partially opened his eyes during Yom Tov,” he said, while stressing that the situation remains serious and that Rav Dov still desperately needs the tefillos of Klal Yisroel.

Reb Gedaliah recounted a particularly emotional moment that occurred beside his father’s hospital bed.

According to him, family members played some of Rav Dov’s favorite niggunim, prompting a visible emotional response from the weakened mekubal, who also grasped his son’s hand.

“That was the greatest thing that happened,” Reb Gedaliah said emotionally.

At the same time, he clarified that the rav has not yet fully regained consciousness.

“He is not really in a state of full awareness — it’s more like flickering,” he explained.

He added that family members and talmidim remain constantly at the bedside, surrounding the rav with uninterrupted Torah learning and tefillah.

Reb Gedaliah also revealed difficult details about his father’s longstanding health struggles, particularly the condition of his legs after years of prolonged standing during heartfelt tefillos on behalf of Klal Yisroel.

“His legs are almost black,” he said painfully.

He described how doctors in the past repeatedly warned that Rav Dov’s condition was severe, yet the rav continued recovering against all expectations.

“The Rav is accustomed to miracles,” he said, recalling instances in which physicians feared amputation would be necessary, only for the situation to dramatically improve.

One especially striking story involved a serious infection Rav Dov suffered several years ago.

According to Reb Gedaliah, doctors instructed the rav to undergo a full course of antibiotics, but Rav Dov took only a single pill, relying on his deep emunah.

“We had absolutely no reason to think it would disappear on its own, and the doctors were shocked,” he recounted.

Several months later, the infection reportedly vanished entirely, and Rav Dov returned to standing for long hours in davening.

“We are only people of little faith,” Reb Gedaliah added.

Toward the conclusion of the interview, he urged the public to continue davening fervently for his father’s recovery and not lose hope.

“It is the tefillos of Klal Yisroel that are sustaining the Rav,” he said.

He asked the public to continue mentioning the rav’s full name in tefillah: “Harav Dov ben Shoshana,” emphasizing that the tremendous outpouring of prayers is deeply felt around the rav’s bedside.

{Matzav.com}