Ambassador Leiter: Son breathing on own after terror attack

Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, gave an emotional update on the condition of his son Neriah, a reservist critically wounded in the ramming attack at the Beit El checkpoint on Route 443 about two weeks ago. "Neriah has severe head injuries, but in recent days he's begun breathing on his own, though he's not yet conscious," the ambassador said.

Neriah Leiter, a resident of Chavat Yair in the Shomron, was serving with a security team in a police vehicle stationed at the checkpoint when a terrorist drove his car at him at high speed and struck him with force. He was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim with very severe head trauma and underwent a complex brain surgery that lasted many hours.

The family is facing another crushing blow, after losing their son Major (res.) Moshe Yedidya Leiter Hy"d in November 2023, who fell in combat in the Gaza Strip. Despite that heavy loss, Neriah continued serving in the reserves and completed hundreds of reserve-duty days on various fronts since October 7.

In the days following the attack, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu came to Shaare Zedek to visit Neriah and strengthen the family. As he left the hospital, the prime minister addressed the public with an emotional appeal to tear open the gates of Heaven and daven for the recovery of Neriah Dov ben Chana.

Ambassador Leiter, who had been in New York preparing for the prime minister's visit to the UN, landed in Israel and went straight to the hospital. Speaking to the media at the hospital, he said: "I thank the senior team treating our son Neriah. We feel we are in the best possible hands. The night was very complicated."

The father, Yechiel Leiter, today at the hospital (Screenshot)

Professor Alexander Yuskovich of Shaare Zedek updated: "After a series of tests and a series of surgeries, we can say the condition is stable. The situation is still serious and his life is in danger, but we are full of hope."

Ambassador Leiter published an earlier update in which he wrote: "Neriah's life still hangs in the balance, but we have seen some encouraging signs and we are holding on to them with hope." In chilling words of eternal faith, he added: "We believe in the power of tefillah, that Hashem hears tefillos and can heal even when healing seems impossible."

The ambassador asked the public that tefillos for Neriah include wishes for a complete recovery for all who have been critically wounded by terrorists. "They are the heroes who ensure we can persevere and prevail in the struggle against those who sow murder and destruction," he wrote.

The family continues to ask the public to increase chapters of Tehillim and daven for the complete recovery of Neriah Dov ben Chana. Extensive teams at Shaare Zedek, including surgical teams and intensive-care teams, continue to give Neriah life-saving treatment, with close accompaniment by social workers who are sensitively supporting his family at all times.