Haredi urges: Give a year of your lives to save ailing rabbi

Forgive my arrogance, but how does one exactly offer up a portion of his life? Does it commence immediately? Can he select when? Is it towards the giver's own lifespan? If the Rabbi passes away unexpectedly, does the giver recieve his time back? Forgive me, but this is all nonsense. Ancient texts are notable in that they shed light on life as it was then - but no outdated text should be used in this manner for such obvious personal gain.

Interesting all the poisonous talk--the rabbis of the Talmud tell us that while Ahab ruled the Kingdom of Israel, one, they never lost a battle, and never had any causalties. For the record Ahab was not a very virtuous king, but throughout his rule no one spoke ill of their neighbor--yes Virginia, they were united and were rewarded for holding their tongues by victories. Okay, the time came and . . . , but you get the gist of the Rabbis' homily. King David, who was a religious man, and the people who lived in the Kingdom were also religious, but they weren't as careful about how they spoke to each other--they experienced losses, even some heavy losses on the battlefield. Interesting how it works. Unity, even when people are not "very religious" is rewarded by success while following the rules, or so it seems is not enough. You have to look for the good things in the people that irk you, to hold your tongue and accept them even if . . . you violently disagree with them.

No disrespect but I think a lot of people who are into religion can come across as small minded or blinkered. There is a whole universe out there and one soul out of a quadrillion is just a drop in the ocean of consciousness that we are part of. I suggest you look at a few galaxy photos and realise his life is blown out of proportion to reality

the latter being a more common, though still relatively rare practice (the idea that the angel of death can be confused by altering the name of one who's health is in an extreme situation). Indeed, do we not ask for God's intervention in healing the sick with the Mischibearach prayer? There is a tradition of offering up a portion of one's life to someone considered a tzaddik, again, something done only in rare circumstances, and usually in the form of lesser amounts (day's or weeks rather than one year). The old joke goes, as Jews were lining up to offer time of their lives to help their ailing rebbe, one man came to the fore, offering 10 years. When told such a personal sacrifice was too great, the man replied that he was offering 10 years of his mother in law's life, not his.

It's pretty funny to see the prejudice that many commenters have for anything related to practicing Judaism. I guess this is the "progressive", "enlightened" world in which we live. To me it proves that people only respect things when they are "cute", but when a religion or idiology represents a REAL philosophical challenge to world, that respect suddenly turns into defensiveness and hate, disguised as scorn. To these people I say that Judaism here before you and they will be here after you too. So enjoy your 2 minute of fortune.

and if all of them donate, could he possible live 5000-10,000 years, or even more???

This effort is pointless. Life belongs to God and no person can donate part of his/her life to another. God breathed His life into a humanbeing and a humanbeing became a living soul. Praye to YHWH in intercession for the Rabi will help.

What a lot of rubbish. Why dont they do some good deeds, join the army, do sherut leumi instead of thinking up stupid ideas.

"... when Israel returned to SHIVAT ZION we were like dreaming..." and now the dream becomes reality. First of all: the Rabbis taking a plane to fly over the entire country while they were blowing their shofars, the result was immediate, we don't read anymore about people falling sick with the swine flue. and now: the Rabbi will gain almost eternity (some 934 years) by the contribution of his admirers. isn't that a dream? or perhaps a nightmare?

Who says his life is more important then anyone elses life. If it is his time to go then he will go. Incredible how strange worships have entered Judaism.

I sincerely hope that works out for Mordechai.

I'd gladly give TWO years of my life if G-d would take all I have left to save my son from the brain cancer that's killing him right this moment. Please advise how and where you propose to undertake the transactions.

What's happening? Is Israel turning into a loony bin?

This is as feasible as time travel - see you in 2525.

If you had any knowladge of Rav Eliyahu you would know that his followers all go to the army, but why do you care about who goes in the IDF you're in Canada, come to Israel and serve yourself. If you are too old then why didn't you come and serve.

Hey all you folks in Montreal, Switzerland or wherever....before you start signing up others for the IDF....please feel free to come to Israel to serve a bit yourselves! sincerely, A Haredi who served in the army & did years of reserve duty

This is a metaphysical notion that apparently has worked in the past, in rare cases. It is not 'symbolic' and should only be done in consultation with a true spiritual leader.

Everybody has to put the IDF into the list--why?! What makes the IDF something holy. When BG reorganized it after he demobilized the Palmach, he had a hidden agenda to place otherwise traditional Jews and make them Secular by ignoring all the clauses that protected the rights of soldiers who were Observant. It's different now, with a larger percentage of religiously Observant soldiers and officers, so . . . they might serve if the Secularist obstructionists in the upper echelons in the Army stop crying about the way religious soldiers are "causing problems". Yeah, the peyot that B-G cut when he saw the Yememite boy can be seen in the IDF, and daily minyanim are more in evidence than they were in the past. Other than that, we're talking about picking a midah, a mitzvah, some good precept that is meant to promote the health of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu. What's wrong with doing something good for a change!

Nachal Haredi is the fastest growing unit in the army. My nephews served with pride..........

Rigoletti, did you serve in the army?

In Napoli they wait every year for the miracle to repeat itself. I was under the impression that orthodox Judaism (to which I do belong) is something serious but apparently these people are at the low level of primitive Neanderthals. It is with good deeds and also serving in the Army that you can improve everybody's lot.

Who knows? they could revive the state too!