10:45PM EST: [UPDATE BELOW] Attorney General Michael Mukasey (an Orthodox Jew) has collapsed a short while ago – while giving a speech to the Federalist Society in Washington, according to three senior administration officials.
Details about Mukasey’s condition were not immediately available.
Audience members said they began praying, fearing a stroke.
Mukasey is a former federal prosecutor from New York City who succeeded former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
At 10:30PM Eastern, medical officials were still working on him on the stage, administration witnesses said.
YWN reported the following in September 2007: YWN has learned that Mr. Mukasey graduated the RAMAZ Yeshiva – and a spokesperson for RAMAZ Yeshiva has in fact confirmed to YWN that Michael Mukasey graduated Ramaz in 1959. In addition, his wife Susan was a teacher and Headmistress of the Ramaz Lower School for many years.
He is also a prominent member of the Upper Manhattan Jewish community.
UPDATE 11:20PM EST: Mukasey was 15 to 20 minutes into his speech about the Bush administration’s successes in combatting terrorism when he began slurring his words. He collapsed and lost consciousness, said O’Connor, the department’s No. 3 official.
Mukasey’s was noticeably shaking during his speech before he collapsed shortly before 10:20 p.m. EST. His security detail called 911. Mukasey was on the stage for 10 minutes being attended to by his FBI detail before medics arrived, according to a Justice Department official who was there. Mukasey was still breathing at the time, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to talk to the media.
An FBI official said Mukasey got stuck on a word during his speech to the conservative legal group, repeated it several times and then “went down hard.”
A senior law-enforcement said Mukasey appeared to be talking when he was taken away. That official also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the situation.
He was conscious during part of the ambulance ride to hospital, the official said.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said President George W. Bush was informed about Mukasey’s collapse.
“The president has him in his thoughts and will be kept apprised and hopes that he will be back up and at ’em again soon.”
(Source: Politico / AP)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
10 Responses
REFUA SHELEIMA! What is his Hebrew name?
A name for thilem?
Uh…
You DONT need a name to say tehillim!
Just say Tehillim for Michael Mukasey!
Michael ben his mother l’refuah Shlaima min hashamayim.
May he have a complete Refuah Shaima!!
#4, sorry, you dont know, god only knows who you are talking about if you have a full jewish name !!!
Re 6: you know, I think it may have been Rabbi Krohn who recently mentioned the power one yid has to bentsch another, and that if you pass someone’s house and you know they need a yeshua in something, why not say a kapital tehillim and think good thoughts.
Do you think one should do so ONLY if s/he knows the name of the person in need? Hashem knows EVERYTHING!
And most of all, Hashem loves when we, His children, show love and concern for all His children. I’m not G-d’s accountant but I am sure that all tehillim said and good thoughts thought by all of us who heard this news for a complete stranger count in a big way.
4, it occured to me that that might have been tongue in cheek. Hope so and that no offense taken if that was the case.
#4 and #6 If you don’t know someones mother’s name you can say “Ben Sara”. It is an acceptable replacement. If you want double check with any competent rabbi. Second #6 Hashem hears tefillos even if you don’t know their name. Ever daven for a group of Yidden eg. the Yidden in Sderot, those who are loosing their parnassa, or the mosdos that are being crippled and crumbling under the current financial crisis? Hopefully we often daven for and may Hashem send a yeshua to Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael.
#6, you don’t know what you are talking about! HKB”H knows everything!! There is a well-known maiseh with Reb Moshe ZTVK”L who wanted to make a mi shebairech for R’Yakov ZTVK”L , who was ill at the time, but no one at the minyan knew R’Yakov’s mother’s name. Reb Moshe said, “just say Reb Yakov, and Hashem will know who you’re talkking about.
Attorney General Michael Mukasey has left a hospital and is heading back to work at the Justice Department with “clean bill of health” following his collapse at a Washington dinner.
Shortly after noon Friday, Mukasey left the hospital with his wife, Susan. Asked how he felt, the attorney general said: “Excellent.”
He climbed aboard a van outside the hospital for the short ride back to the department.