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ɳ Summary and conclusions

It appears that a physician should not desecrate Shabbos in order to
be present when bad news is given. If such news has to be conveyed
to a heart patient, further study is needed and perhaps it is permitted.



When Hakadosh Baruch Hu Sends

Misfortune, He also Bestows the Strength to Bear it

We shall cite here the conduct of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l,
who teaches us this fundamental lesson, that when Hakadosh baruch
Hu sends misfortune He also sends the strength to bear it.

Rav Shlomo Zalman’s wife, Rebbetzen Auerbach a”h, passed away
suddenly, two days after she fell ill, and there was much weeping. Her
son, the gaon Rav Shmuel zt”l, returned on foot from Shaarei Tzedek
Hospital on Shabbos afternoon and when he entered the house ev-
eryone could tell from the expression on his face what had happened.
They were in the middle of eating Se’udah Shlishis [the third meal
of Shabbos] and the gaon Rav Shlomo Zalman bolstered everyone’s
spirits telling them,“Right now it’s Shabbos.”

When the news became known when Shabbos ended, there was a
big problem with Rav Shlomo Zalman’s ninety six year old mother-
in-law who lived in their house. Rebbetzin Auerbach had been her
only daughter and they didn’t know how to break the news to her.
Although her mind was clear she was physically very weak and they
therefore worried that if they told her she might die... On the other
hand Rav Shlomo Zalman said that they had to tell her and that it
had to be done before the funeral, otherwise she would ask, “Why
wasn’t I at the funeral?” When they told him, “But something will
chas veshalom happen to her!” he replied, “About Akeidas Yitzchak it
says that when Sarah Imeinu was told that Yitzchak had ‘almost been
slaughtered, her soul flew out of her body’ (Rashi, Bereishis 23:2). This

440 1 Medical-Halachic Responsa of Rav Zilberstein