Psalms book spares Rabbi

hardwrknmom

Tue, Apr 18 2006, 2:35 pm

From the WorldNetDaily.com

Amid the aftermath of the Palestinian suicide attack today that killed nine comes news of a miracle as a rabbi's life reportedly was spared when a book of Psalms held in a pocket next to his heart was ripped in two by a piece of shrapnel.

Chabad Rabbi Avishai Batshvilli and his wife were among the people at a crowded fast food stand near Tel Aviv's old central bus station when a suicide bomber blew himself up as Israelis celebrated the fifth day of the Passover holiday. Along with the dead, more than 60 were wounded, at least 10 of them seriously. The same restaurant was hit by a suicide attack in January, wounding 20.

The rabbi's son-in-law – himself a prominent Torah scholar – told the Israeli news site Shturem.net his father-in-law was saved by a "big miracle."

"He had a small book of Psalms in his shirt pocket next to his heart. One of the (pieces of) shrapnel penetrated his jacket and hit the book of Psalms tearing it in two," said Rabbi Avraham Alashvilli.

"I am now holding this book of Psalms, it's unbelievable, this fragment could have entered his body, Heaven forbid. Indeed a very big miracle occurred."

Batshvilli and his wife, who reside in Nachlas Har Chabad in Kiryat Malachi, have been hospitalized with moderate injuries.

Alashvilli, at his father-in-law's bedside all day, said his condition has improved, although there was shrapnel all over his body.

Alashvilli told Shturem.net the family will continue to be at his bedside until after the Passover holiday, and they are confident that with God's help he will make it out of the hospital.

Earlier today, Hamas declared the bombing Israel's fault and a "legitimate act of resistance."

"[The bombing is] a natural result of the continued Israeli crimes against our people," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "The Israeli occupation bears responsibility for the continuation of its aggression. Our people have every right to use all means to defend themselves."