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Celebratory Dinner Reunites Kidney Donor and Man He Saved

By Joshua RunyanJanuary 16, 2011 2:45 PM

Two months after Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Mendy Mathless of Albany, N.Y., gave one of his kidneys to Yisrael Konstantini of Netanya, Israel, the two reunited with friends and family at a Netanya synagogue.

Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Mendy Mathless, left, who gave one of his kidneys to Yisrael Konstantini, second from left, chats with Rabbi Avrohom Lider, the Brooklyn, N.Y., rabbi who made the donation possible, at a Jan. 10 celebratory dinner in Konstantini’s hometown of Netanya, Israel.

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Chaya Lipschutz Brooklyn, NY/USA January 16, 2011

What DOCTORS have to say about kidney donation: "Just think people have no problem having only one kidney, so we have to ask, why did G-d give us two kidneys? Perhaps it is so you would have an extra one to donate and save a life!
- Dr. Stuart Greenstein, observant Surgeon, Montefiore, Bronx, NY

"We are born with approximately 4-5 times the kidney function that we need, to be healthy and stay off of dialyisis- to not have kidney failure. So by donating one of your kidneys, you are still left with with 2-3 times the amount of kidney function that you need to be healthy and lead a normal life"
- Dr. Joseph Del Pizzo. Asst. Professor of Urology, Director, Weill Corneil Medical Center, NYC

“Kidney donation is a relatively safe operation, and many donors will never feel the loss of their second kidney. So giving up a kidney causes no disadvantage to your long-term health. In fact, studies have shown, that KIDNEY DONORS actually LIVE LONGER than the general population.... - Dr. Michael Edye, Surgeon, Mt. Sinai - NYC Reply

Chaya Lipschutz Brooklyn, NY/USA January 16, 2011

Mendy & Rabbi Lider I met Mendy and his lovely wife - both very special people! Mendy's wife deserves great credit for allowing her husband to do this great mitzvah, despite having 2 children, a 2 year old and a baby.

I got to know Rabbi Lider and he is a wonderful person too. A great mitzvah he had here!

May G-d bless them all with long years, good health, always! Reply