Rome attracts many American students for a semester abroad, most of them contact Chabad for the holidays or in case of need, but in this case it was Chabad that reached out.

In the summer of 2014, Rabbi Lazar got information that a Jewish student was recovering at the Policlinico Umberto I hospital.

With just the name in his hand, he found Ben recovering at the Neurological unit.

Ben was walking with his friends one night, when for no apparent reason a guy approached him and punched him in the face, the “knockout attacks” were then in style.

Ben got back on his feet, but his roommate sensed that something was amiss, he decided that Ben should see a doctor, this decision probably saved Ben’s life.

Ben’s parents had reached him in Rome, Rabbi Lazar brought some Kosher food and Tefillin, Ben put on Tefillin right away, it was the second time in his life, the first was at the Kotel.

Ben’s father, who had never put on Tefillin in his life joined enthusiastically; in the courtyard of a Roman hospital three Jews connected with G-d to thank him for the miracle.

Ben graduated this summer and is joining graduate school next year!