HaRav Eliyahu Medina, the Sephardi Rav of the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City, was hospitalized on Tuesday morning in critical condition at Shaare Tzedek Medical Center after suffering a severe head injury in a fall.

The incident occurred after the 82-year-old Rav davened at the Neitz minyan, as was his daily minhag, and was the last person to leave the shul. He lost his balance on the stairs, fell, and struck his head with great force.

Because the next Shacharis was not scheduled until later, the Rav remained lying on the stairs, unconscious, injured, and bleeding, for an extended period without anyone noticing. It was only when the shul’s gabbai arrived that he discovered the Rav, who by then had lost a significant amount of blood.

Emergency responders who were called to the scene provided life-saving treatment before evacuating him urgently to the hospital, where he was sedated and ventilated.

His family and close associates have asked the public to recite Tehillim and daven for rachamei Shamayim.

Due to his critical state, the name Rafael has been added to his name.

Please daven for Rav Eliyahu Rafael ben Sa’ada (אליהו רפאל בן סעדה) b’toch sha’ar cholei Yisrael.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)