If anyone still had any doubt, at the beginning of the month it became clear to all that Rabbi Yeshayahu Heber's life work has been successful. On Dec. 6, the Matnat Chaim (Gift of Life) organization mediated its 250th kidney transplant, donated by a stranger out of the desire to help.

Heber founded the organization eight years ago after he suddenly became ill with kidney disease. In a moment, his life changed. He had to undergo intensive dialysis treatment three times a week, for four hours at a time. These treatments were very tiring and greatly affected his quality of life. When he finally underwent a kidney transplant, he decided to devote his life to encouraging donations and connecting donors to those in need. 

“While in treatment I met Pinchas Turjeman, who was 19. He told me that he already had a kidney transplant, but three years before we met his big brother was killed in the Second Lebanon War, and in his mourning he neglected to care for himself. As a result his body rejected the kidney, and he’s had to return to treatment and wait for another kidney,” Heber told Al-Monitor.

The rabbi grew close to the young man, and together they endured the difficult treatments while studying the Torah. After he received a kidney, Heber decided to find his young friend a donor as well. Pinchas passed away shortly after a potential donor was located for him.