Al Kiddush HaShem

If you had a choice of being rich but sick or poor but healthy, what would you choose?
If you had a choice of being a highly respected leader but no children or ill with children, what would you choose?
If you had a choice of being ill and passing away peacefully on Rosh HaShana in Uman or being healthy but passing away unpeacefully, what would you choose?[+/-] show/hide text

This is the story Baal Teshuva, Oded Rozenholtz, 37, zs'l. He lived in Bet Shemesh with his wife and baby daughter. He was extremely ill, weighing less than 100 lbs. His choice was to go to Uman for Rosh HaShana, against all medical advise. He insisted with the last drops of strength, to board a plane to Uman for Rosh HaShana.

Before leaving to Uman, he said good bye to with wife and daughter and packed his backpack with תכריכים (burial shrouds).


With help from his friends, he boarded the plane to Kiev. After the prayers of Erev Rosh HaShana, his condition worsened and could hardly breathe. He insisted not to be taken to a local hospital. He asked his friends to read with him "Shema Israel HaShem Elokeinu HaShem ECHAD" and took his last 3 breaths. He died peacefully, next to the Kever of the Tzaddik Reb Nachman, zs'l, with friends around him.

He merited to pass away doing tremendous KIDDUSH HASHEM. May the Neshama of Oded Rozenholtz be an advocate for all Am Israel in all 4 corners of the world. May HaShem help us to do Teshuva Gemura (complete Teshuva) and all the pure and holy Neshamot pray for Am Israel that in the new year, we be inscribed and sealed for blessings and fulfillments, Amen.