Former chief rabbi Abraham Shapira, 96, was hospitalized Tuesday after his health condition took a turn for the worse in the past few days. Students at yeshivas and religious schools, both Haredi and Zionist, are praying for the well-being of Shapira, who is also the Chairman of the "Merkaz Harav" (Rabbinacal Center) Yeshiva.

Rabbi Shapira was seen at Rosh Hashanah services at the "Merkaz Harav" yeshiva, sitting in a wheel chair and connected to an oxygen tank. At the end of the service he went home and has not been seen since as his health began to deteriorate.

During the Fast of Gedaliah, a day after Rosh Hashanah, thousands of prayed for him at the Western Wall.