UPDATE IN EXTENDED ARTICLE Rav Mordechai [Tzemach ben Mazel Tov] Eliyahu Shlita was reported in serious condition during the predawn hours on Tuesday in Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center after open heart surgery.

Apparently “complications” during a catheterization procedure earlier in the day on Monday compelled physicians to decide on the emergency surgery.

Rav Zafrani, the Rav’s personal assistant, provided the following update on Tuesday morning at 8:10am local time.

The next three days are critical. Am Yisrael is requested to continued tefillos and tehillim. At present his condition is serious and he is in need of tefillos and rachmei shamayim.

On Sukkos Rav Eliyahu Shlita was permitted to return home to his sukka accompanied by a medical team but two hours after arriving home, he was rushed back to the hospital.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Tzfas Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, a son of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu Shlita, reported at 1:00pm on Tuesday that his father, Rav Mordechai Shlita, is opening his eyes and responding to his surroundings but his condition remains very serious.

Rav Shmuel stated the open heart surgery on Monday was a most complicated procedure, stating the doctors worked “with mesirus nefesh” for three hours to save his father’s life. Rav Shmuel stated he has no doubt that the physicians succeeded as a result of the worldwide tefillos on behalf of the Rav and special tefillos are ongoing on his behalf.

“I call on everyone. You do not need to wait for our permission. Please, continue davening for my father and all the sick among Am Yisrael.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)