Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi David Lau Shlita is close to Rav Shimie and Michal Gross, and he has been among the visitors to the children in Schneider Children’s Hospital.

B’chasdei Hashem it was announced on Thursday, erev Rosh Chodesh Adar 1 5774 that חיים מוכאל has opened his eyes and he is responsive to his surroundings. Rav Lau is among the many rabbonim commenting on the amazing bitachon displayed by the parents and the marvelous Kiddush Hashem that has emerged from their personal tragedy. The young boy is off the ECMO machine as well, and while there is much joy and hope surrounding the positive developments, the family calls on Am Yisrael to continue being mispallel for the children, חיים מיכאל and רפאל יצחק אייזק, both in need of Rachmei Shomayim.

Rav Lau was at the hospital on Thursday, speaking with the younger brother, Chaim Isaac, offering him a candy. The parents were on hand of course as they are every day, thanking the rav for his call last week to Am Yisrael to bring in Shabbos five minutes earlier for the zechus of the children. Shimie and Michal said “we feel the embrace of Am Yisrael” from the outpouring of tefilos and support that have followed the tragedy in which their daughters Yael and Avigail z”l died as a result in inhaling a phosphorus based pesticide.

Later in the day Rav Lau visited the Noam School in Yerushalayim and told the students of the good news. He added that he calls on Am Yisrael on this erev Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Adar 1 to also take in Shabbos early and to have kavona for the boys’ refuah shleima.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)