"I told God: My son was injured in the head. You protect his head, and I will cover my head"
Moments after her son Yosef was critically injured in an electric bicycle accident, Nurit Ben-Rosh, a successful secular cosmetologist from Ramat Gan, stood outside the operating room and made a dramatic decision. She closed her business, began covering her head, and has since dedicated her life to her son's rehabilitation and a journey of faith and miracles.
Three years have passed since that morning when Yosef Ben-Rosh left home on his electric bicycle, but his mother Nurit remembers every detail as if it happened yesterday: the inexplicable feeling that accompanied her in front of the mirror, the inner voice that warned her of trouble, the phone call that changed everything, and the urgent drive to Ichilov Hospital. Nurit (49) lives in Ramat Gan, is married to Raphael, and they are parents to three sons. Yosef is the youngest.
"Before the accident, our lives were simple and routine," she recalls. "We kept tradition at the level of Kiddush. I kept Shabbat, but the others respected me and did not travel on Shabbat. I ran a successful facial treatment business, was surrounded by clients, and loved every moment of my day-to-day life."
And then that morning arrived. "Yosef, who was just starting 11th grade, left the house quickly, slamming the door. I continued to get ready, and suddenly I felt that something bad was about to happen to him. I tried to ignore the feeling, blaming my anxious nature. But inside, a voice whispered: 'Don't worry, everything will be fine.' At 8:12, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. I called Yosef—silence. A short time later, his friend called to report an accident. It turned out Yosef was riding without a helmet and sustained a critical head injury. Since then, the importance of wearing a helmet has become my main message to the world."
A mother's promise
When Nurit arrived at the hospital, Yosef was already in the operating room. "The doctors fought for his life, and the prognosis was grim. I sat with Raphael outside the room and spoke only with the Holy One, blessed be He. In the most difficult moment of my life, I said the sentence that became my turning point: 'My son was injured in the head. You protect his head, and I will cover my head.' I asked my mother to bring me a scarf and tied it right there. Until that day, head covering was far from me—I loved my hair and never thought I would cover it. But something inside me changed forever."
"Every small change was a miracle to me"
After the surgery, a long journey of rehabilitation began. Yosef was in a coma, and the days were filled with uncertainty. "Where many saw only difficulty, I began to collect points of light. I started a 'Diary of Miracles,' where I recorded every bit of progress, every answered prayer, and every moment I felt God was with us. I wanted Yosef to read it one day and know how many people prayed for him."
Rehabilitation was long and complex. Yosef had to relearn basic tasks. "There were moments when I felt reality changing before my eyes. In such situations, a person realizes how little control they actually have. You can make an effort, stay by your child's side, and listen to the doctors, but ultimately, there are things above you."
When the whole family changed
Nurit's spiritual path touched the entire family. A few weeks later, Yosef opened his eyes. The eldest son began attending Torah classes, the middle son began wearing tzitzit. Yosef himself, despite his condition, also connected to the world of commandments. "When I see him putting on tefillin, I get excited every time anew. I remember where we were, and I look at him as a miracle."
Today, three years later, Nurit continues to share her story. "I never asked 'why.' Faith for me is agreeing not to understand, but knowing that everything is from God and for the best. I am still waiting for more miracles, but I have learned to stop and thank God for the path we have already traveled."
Yosef continues his rehabilitation. He uses a brace and a walking stick, and has a permanent drain in his head that will accompany him for life. "He has returned to communicating and doing things we didn't dream of. We thank God every day for every step he takes by the grace of heaven."
