While performing a bris milah, R’ Emanuel Yichya Meshulam, a 89-year-old mohel known throughout Eretz Yisroel for performing thousands of brissim without ever accepting payment, collapsed and passed away. A student of his, whom he had certified just that day, stepped in to complete the bris.
By Anash.org reporter
R’ Emanuel Yichya Meshulam, a beloved mohel known throughout Eretz Yisroel for performing tens of thousands of brissim purely l’shem Shamayim, collapsed in the middle of a bris he was performing this afternoon and tragically passed away.
He was 89 years old.
The incident occurred during a bris milah in Bilu Junction, central Israel. As joyous music played and the bris was underway, onlookers were stunned when R’ Emanuel suddenly collapsed. Emergency medical services were immediately called.
The dispatcher who received the call, Kfir Meshulam – a volunteer with Magen David Adom – rushed to the scene, only to find that the patient was none other than his beloved grandfather, in critical condition. Despite his frantic efforts and transporting him swiftly to Kaplan Medical Center, doctors were forced to pronounce his passing shortly after arrival.
In a moment of open hashgachah pratis, R’ Emanuel had, that very morning, certified a student who had trained under him for four years as a mohel. Following his sudden collapse, it was this newly certified talmid who stepped forward and completed the bris on behalf of his teacher.
R’ Emanuel Meshulam dedicated over four decades of his life to his holy work, performing thousands of brissim across Eretz Yisrael and beyond without ever accepting payment, saying that he does it all l’shem Shamayim. Any donations he received were directed to support a shul he built l’ilui nishmas his father.
He was the son of Rabbi Yosef Meshulam z”l, the former Chief Rabbi of the Yemenite community in Rechovot. R’ Emanuel had served as a Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) in the Military Police, and later managed a branch of Bank Leumi – all while continuing his quiet, devoted avodas hakodesh. Upon retiring, he devoted himself fully to his life’s mission, continuing to perform brissim without ever requesting or accepting compensation.
His funeral was held this evening, beginning at his home on Yosef Meshulam Street in Rechovot, passing by the Meshulam brothers’ synagogue, and concluding at the Sha’arayim-Marmorak cemetery, where he was laid to rest.
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