Today, we had the privilege of meeting some truly extraordinary individuals, and among them was Yossi Urim, a man with a remarkable story of survival and kindness. On the morning of Simchas Torah, Yossi, who lives in Sderot, was shot by a terrorist right outside his shul.
Despite the severity of his injuries, today marked a significant milestone in his recovery as he was finally being discharged from the hospital, over three weeks later. He recounted his incredible tale of survival with us, attributing his life to the timely intervention of two strangers from another community, who courageously came to his rescue.
Yossi described that on that fateful day, amidst the catastrophic chaos, the local ambulance and emergency responders were overwhelmed and couldn’t reach him in time. Steadily losing blood at home, he started to wonder how he could possibly survive this ordeal. That’s when two men showed up at his house. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they made a swift decision to drive him to Saroka Hospital themselves.
In an innovative and quick-thinking move, they dismantled one of the closet doors to create an improvised stretcher. They then carefully placed Yossi in the back of their car, doing their best to stabilize him for the journey ahead. As Yossi grappled with his injuries, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, the men offered words of reassurance, urging him to hold on and promising that help was on the way.
It was at Saroka Hospital where our paths crossed with Yossi, allowing us to bear witness to his story of resilience and the unwavering spirit of human kindness.
One of the men who had come to Yossi’s aid, Leon, embodied the true essence of a hero. Tragically, his life was cut short the very next day, as he too fell victim to a murderous terrorist. Although Yossi was still confined to his hospital bed and unable to visit Leon’s family during their shiva, his parents went to pay their respects on his behalf.
During their visit, Leon’s wife shared an incredible story about her late husband. She revealed that on the night before his tragic death, Leon had spoken to her about the heroic deed he had performed that morning, saving a life by rushing Yossi to the hospital. With a deep sense of responsibility still lingering, Leon asked his wife to please remind him to return to Yossi’s house when this nightmare was all over. When she asked him why, he unassumingly responded, “I need to fix the closet door.”
יהי זכרו ברוך
To Whom It May Concern 