Rabbi Yeshayahu Heber, the founder of the NGO "Gift of Life," which is responsible for almost 800 altruistic kidney donations in Israel, passed away Thursday night at the age of 55 after contracting the coronavirus last week. Haber underwent resuscitation at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center on Thursday after his condition significantly deteriorated, and despite the efforts of medical staff, they had to pronounce his death.
Rabbi Heber was born in Tel Aviv and studied at Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. In 2009 he founded Gift of Life, which helps find people willing to donate kidneys. Heber himself received a kidney transplant and saw with his own eyes the suffering of those waiting in line.
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In 2014, Heber received the Presidential Award for Volunteerism from then-President Shimon Peres. Heber has also been honored by the Health Ministry and hospitals for his work.
"The administration of Hadassah in the past and present, staff of the transplant center, nephrology center, operating rooms and basically all hospital units, knew well the man who was a part of our family," the hospital said on Thursday night. "He touched all our hearts with extraordinary modesty and humanity. His wisdom and his love of people were a symbol for the man himself and for the organization he ran."
Heber's funeral took place at 2 a.m. on Friday in Jerusalem. The public was asked not to come to the funeral procession.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his "deep sorrow" about Heber's passing, saying the rabbi "instilled in the general public the awareness of the importance of donation."
"Thanks to him, hundreds of people in Israel were granted a new life," Netanyahu said. "Rabbi Heber was a model of humanity, kindness and mutual responsibility."
Health Minister Yaakov Litzman lamented Heber's passing as a "great sorrow for the people of Israel and a difficult evening for the healthcare system... A man of all kindness and compassion, who has saved many lives in Israel."
He was a "noble figure, a great man, who devoted his entire life to saving others' lives," Litzman said.
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri eulogized Heber on Thursday night, saying "The heart breaks from the unimaginable tragedy of the passing of Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Heber, the dear and devoted Jew from the [Gift of Life] organization that saved the lives of hundreds of people through kidney transplants."
Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz said Heber "spread so much kindness and solidarity."
"The parents, children, brothers and sisters that owe him the lives of their loved ones, and all of us who were impacted by the power of his giving to the community, are grieving tonight," Gantz said.
Recently, Blue and White MK Yehiel Tropper donated a kidney for a man he did not know through Heber's organization.
After the surgery, Heber said, "I am full of appreciation to Tropper for the kidney donation, a life-saving donation that solves a problem with no other solution. We are really pleased that Tropper not only saved a person's life but can also serve as an example and means to raise awareness of kidney donation in Israel. He is our 780th donor."
Tropper on Thursday called Heber one of Israel's "heroes" who "dedicated his life to save lives, with infinite dedication, exceptional humility and love for humans that is hard to come by."
"Many owe him their lives and Israeli society is better and more humane thanks to his life's work," Tropper said.
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