Kobi Alter, Director of the Senior Communications and Public Affairs Division at the Ministry of the Interior, found himself in an extraordinary situation: while donating bone marrow to save the life of a terminally ill patient, he chose to close a circle years in the making and commit to studying Daf Yomi. “The combination of these merits is what gives me the strength to persevere,” he says.
Sometimes a single act of kindness can ignite a profound inner transformation. This week, Kobi Alter arrived at the “Oranit” center of Ezer MiTzion for a critical mission—donating bone marrow for a terminally ill patient in urgent need of a transplant in order to survive. Yet as he lay connected to medical equipment during the stem cell collection process, Alter chose to add another layer to this mitzvah: studying the Daf Yomi through Rabbi Eli Stefansky’s shiur.
For years, Alter carried within him a deep desire to join the Daf Yomi learners. He testifies that he began and stopped the learning several times in the past. But it was specifically on this day—at the height of an act of life-saving—that he decided the time had come for true “consistency”. “The desire to learn Daf Yomi has been with me for many years,” Alter shares from the donation bed. “I’ve started and stopped more than once, but this time I felt it was different. It turned out that my second day studying Masechet Menachot was also the day I merited to donate bone marrow. I hope that the merit of this mitzvah, together with the merit of Torah study, will help me remain steady and committed to the daily learning.”
Alter explains that what helped him find his rhythm this time was Rabbi Eli Stefansky’s MDY shiurim. According to him, the combination of fluent delivery and technological aids—graphs and visual illustrations—transforms the learning experience entirely. “Topics we studied in yeshiva and didn’t always fully understand suddenly become clear and accessible. It’s worth a fortune. And if, because of this, more people begin learning or join the donor registry, I hope that will be another merit for me,” he adds.
In concluding his remarks, Alter sought to reassure those who may fear the donation process, noting that the procedure was painless and involved only temporary discomfort. “There is simply no comparison between mild discomfort and the possibility of giving life to another person,” he says. “I pray that the patient will recover and regain full strength, and I call on anyone who hasn’t yet done so—join the bone marrow registry. Perhaps one day you too will have the privilege of saving a life.”