Rabbi Isaiah Bar, who was responsible for nearly 800 altruistic organ donations in Israel, passed away after weeks of illness • Was 55 at the time of his death
Isaiah Haber // Photo: Tzahi Miriam
Rabbi Yeshayahu Haber, founder of the "Gift of Life" organization responsible for nearly 800 altruistic kidney donations in Israel, died Tuesday (Thursday) of the Corona virus, after weeks of illness. This evening, the CPR moved to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, after a significant deterioration in his health, but despite the efforts of the medical staff, they had to determine his death.
Rabbi Haber was born in Tel Aviv and studied at the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. In 2009, he founded the Gift of Life organization, which aims to help find altruistic kidney donors for the benefit of kidney patients in Israel, after undergoing a kidney transplant himself and seeing the suffering of patients waiting in line.
In 2014, Rabbi Haber received the President's letter to volunteer, then-President Shimon Peres. In 2016, he was awarded the Health Minister's Award for Outstanding Volunteers. "Dedicated nights to changing the common perception of animal organ donations," the award givers reasoned.
The hospital announced the death of the rabbi and a statement from the hospital reads: "Rabbi Yeshayahu Haber, chairman of the Life Gifts organization and who himself founded the important factory that saved hundreds of people, was a close and close friend of Hadassah over the years. Worked to connect kidney patients with donors. Altruists were most prominent in encouraging animal organ donation, and in Hadassah many surgeries were performed that saved human lives thanks to him.
"Past and present Hadassah managers, transplant center staff, nephrology, operating rooms and basically all hospital units, got to know the man who was home with us. He touched the hearts of all of us, the extraordinary modesty and personality, the wisdom and love of the person who became a symbol - both of the man The private, and the organization, headed. Hadassah participates in the deep grief of the bar family and strengthens it at this difficult time. "
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri also referred to Rabbi Haber's departure, writing: "The heart is broken by the unimaginable tragedy of the passing of Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Haber, the dear and devoted Jew of the Gift of Life, who saved the lives of hundreds of people by donating a kidney and deciding "The Corona virus is only 55 years old.
"These are difficult and shaky days for all the people of Israel, and we cry out to the Creator for the death of this righteous Jew to atone for all the people of Israel and stop the terrible plague."