Rav Zilberstein in Tears as he Davens for his Son-In-Law Rabbi Dov Kook

Hundreds of Bnei Brak residents gathered in the Ramat Elchanan shul Monday evening to pray for the recovery of the mekubal Rabbi Dov Kook of Tiberias, whose medical condition has not shown significant improvement.

The gathering was led by Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein, one of the city's most senior rabbinic figures and Rabbi Kook's father-in-law. Toward the end of his regular weekly shiur, Rabbi Zilberstein shared a halachic question he had heard from his son-in-law, then spoke at length about him.

He described Rabbi Kook's years of tireless work on behalf of Shabbos observance in Tiberias, where he had put up large public notices urging the city's residents to guard the sanctity of the day. "He was moser nefesh for Shabbos," Rabbi Zilberstein said. "He told the people of Tiberias: if we keep Shabbos properly, we will merit everything."

He also recalled incidents at the Kinneret in which Rabbi Kook's intervention had, in his telling, saved lives in ways that went beyond the natural.

Rabbi Zilberstein then stepped to the amud and recited three chapters of Tehillim, pausing several times as he was overcome with emotion. Those present said his tears moved the entire congregation deeply. At the close of the atzeres, he recited a Mi Shebeirach for his son-in-law, his voice breaking on the words "lehachalimo, lerefa'oso, lehachaziko, ulehachayoso."

He closed by thanking everyone who had come, and expressed his hope that the community would soon see Rabbi Kook restored to full health and back at his learning.