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SOMETHING’S

NOT RIGHT.

The Aruch HaShulchan’s

Easy
Nose
Unusual Approach to Yom Kippur Bruising Bleeds

Rabbi Meir Bar Ilan ל”צז

The youngest son of the great Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin (the Netziv),
Rabbi Meir Bar Ilan was also the grandson of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein, the legendary
rabbi of Novardok and author of the Aruch HaShulchan. A prolific and powerful writer,
Rav Bar Ilan wrote movingly and honestly about both his father and grandfather. Enlarged
The following story about Rabbi Epstein is a translation of a passage from Bone & Liver and/
Rav Meir Bar Ilan’s autobiography, From Volozhin to Jerusalem.
Joint Pain or Spleen
y grandfather paid special attention to halachic questions relating to Yom Kippur. He knew all of the
sick people in Novardok; not only those who were seriously ill, but also those suffering from chronic
medical conditions that could be exacerbated by fasting on Yom Kippur. He would regularly remind
Mthese people to prepare something to eat that was “pachot m’keshiur,” smaller than the amount of food
biblically forbidden on Yom Kippur, which they could keep inside their shtenders in shul in case, G-d forbid, they
felt ill during the tefillah and needed to eat something quickly. Could it be
My grandfather himself would say that on Yom Kippur, he greatly shortened his prayers, for it was his respon-
sibility to care for those who were sick. On Yom Kippur day, he would often visit the sick in their homes and
walk to the hospital. He would also walk by each synagogue in Novardok, where he would check on people that
he knew were not in good health to hear how they were handling the fast. If he sensed that someone was not Gaucher Disease?
handling the fast well, he would order them to go home immediately and would send a doctor or medic to check
on them and see if they needed to eat. Sometimes, he relied on his own diagnosis and immediately ordered the
person to “put something in his mouth.”
He would often say: “When they come to ask me a question about the fast, this is my approach. Regarding the
four minor fasts, Tzom Gedalia, Asarah B’Tevet, Ta’anit Esther and Shiva Asar B’Tammuz, I wouldn’t wait – the Gaucher disease TYPE 1 is a rare genetic disorder that is easily detected with a blood test. It is more
moment the questioner walked through my doorway I would tell them to go and eat. A person who felt compelled prevalent in the Ashkenazi Jewish community, but is not life-threatening and is not included in
to ask a question certainly felt ill enough to be allowed to eat. On Tisha B’Av, I would wait until the questioner
closed the door behind him as he walked into my house, and then I would tell him not to fast. Only when it some Jewish genetic screenings. Once diagnosed, Gaucher disease can be treated with medication.
came to Yom Kippur would I investigate and ask for details.”
This was his great strength. Though he dedicated himself constantly to writing his magnum opus, the Aruch If you suspect you or a loved one has Gaucher disease, speak to your doctor
HaShulchan, he nevertheless remained completely dedicated to the people of his city. Every question, and every or call The National Gaucher Foundation toll free at 800.504.3189. Schedule
questioner, was incredibly important to him.
a call to speak with our Medical Director, Dr. Robin Ely, NGF Founder.
 Translated by Rabbi Elie Mischel.

For more information, visit gaucherdisease.org/mysymptoms
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