A Lakewood family shared a chilling account with TLS after a Rav urged them to check their mezuzos just days before their father was scheduled to undergo major surgery.

The family, who asked to remain anonymous, said their father had suffered a serious fall several weeks earlier, severely injuring his neck. Doctors advised him to wear a neck brace for approximately eight to twelve weeks, hoping the fracture would heal without surgery.

“Wearing the neck brace was an extremely difficult and uncomfortable experience for my father,” a family member told TLS. “Nevertheless, we remained hopeful that, with siyata d’Shmaya, he would recover without needing surgery.”

But approximately seven weeks later, a follow-up X-ray brought difficult news. The family said doctors told them the fracture had not healed and his condition had worsened significantly. Major surgery would now be necessary.

Throughout that period, the family had been in contact with a prominent Rav in Eretz Yisroel who was davening for their father.

With the surgery just a few days away, the Rav called with an unexpected request.

“The Rav told us that he had been davening for my father and had a strong feeling that something was wrong with one of the mezuzos in my father’s home,” the family member said. “He urged us to have all the mezuzos checked immediately.”

The family arranged for a sofer to come to the house. According to the family, he found that a mezuzah on a doorway leading into their father’s bedroom, which also led outside, was completely pasul.

The family later clarified that the sofer told them the case was waterproof, yet water had still seeped inside.

“Water had seeped into the case, leaving the klaf completely drenched and the mezuzah entirely pasul,” the family member said.

When the family shared the discovery with the Rav, he asked them to publicize the story to encourage others to check their mezuzos.

“He explained that if, through hearing this story, even one person would be inspired to have their mezuzos checked, it would serve as a tremendous zechus and tikkun,” the family member told TLS.

Residents are encouraged to use proper mezuzah cases and to make sure that cases labeled waterproof are genuinely waterproof.