As the trusted physician of rebbes and gedolim, Dr. Eliyahu Schussheim brought his emunah into the world of healing and beyond
Suddenly, two obviously agitated Gerrer chassidim knocked on the door of their Kiryat Moshe home, and within a few moments, Dr. Eli Yosef Schussheim said goodbye to his family and was out the door with them. He raced toward the Geula neighborhood where the Gerrer Rebbe, the Beis Yisrael, was in his room in the beis medrash on Ralbach Street, in great pain.
A quick exam made it clear that the Rebbe had to go to the hospital — but the Rebbe refused, even as Dr. Schussheim, who understood the Rebbe’s hesitation due to chillul Shabbos and perhaps more esoteric reasons, tried to convince him otherwise.
In a similar situation, another doctor might have left the house, noting that he’d done what he could, but not Dr. Schussheim. He remained in the Rebbe’s home until Motzaei Shabbos, when the Rebbe agreed to be taken to Hadassah Hospital. For the next few hours he waged a desperate battle for his life, but early the next morning, Sunday, 2 Adar, chareidi Jewry was orphaned of one of its greatest leaders.
Dr. Schussheim, physician to gedolei hador and founder of the Efrat organization that supports and empowers mothers-to-be, remained with one memento of that day. The Rebbe’s family did not forget him, and in appreciation for his dedication, they gave him a special gift: the Rebbe’s high yarmulke. Since then, each year on Seder night, he would wear the unique yarmulke. But this year’s Seder was to be the last time — Dr. Schussheim, 80, passed away on 29 Sivan.
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