A Pill Could Kill 

Reb Ruvy was a shady medical askan from Bnei Brak who ran a “yeshivah” for troubled bochurim to keep them out of hospitals. When he brought Mahyer to my office so that I could quickly fix him up with some strong meds, I knew I had to take matters into my own hands. How many more families would be at risk with his reckless behavior?

Part III

Reb Ruvy had taken the Geiselman family for quite an expensive and dangerous ride with his promises for healing their son through his “private hospital.” And although Rabbi Geiselman would have preferred to keep things quiet, especially since he was a prominent and influential member of his chassidus, he realized other people’s lives were at stake as well.

“I just wanted to let you know that I told the social worker at the hospital about Reb Ruvy’s private operation,” Rabbi Geisleman told me. “They were horrified and contacted the Ministry of Health to look into what was really going on there and to make sure that Mahyer is the last case of this sort that Reb Ruvy’s ‘hospital’ is involved in. Naturally, I discussed the entire chapter with the Rebbe shlita, and he said he doesn’t want to trouble you, but he’d like to speak to you next time you’re in Bnei Brak.”

I was duly flattered, and told Rabbi Geiselman that I would be honored to discuss mental health issues in the community with the Rebbe. But I was totally caught off guard when I received a phone call two nights later requesting that I come to Bnei Brak immediately.