The Plague of the year 590

 

Parshas Hashavua ויחי 'הנה אביך חולה בראשית מ"ח א The חזקוני quotes a פרקי דר' אליעזר " From the day of creation one who sneezed would die immediately afterward. יעקב אבינו Davened for this to end and one should have some advance notice of his death by becoming sick. In Chazal & Halacha, we find to say for this reason אסותה- מרפא-חיים - לישועתך קויתי ה. It is interesting that even Goyim say Gezundheit - Bless you, etc. The (ספר צמח דוד (תלמידו של הרמ"א ומהר"ל writes "In the year 590 (ש"ן) There was a pandemic in almost the entire world. People sneezed and immediately afterward dropped to the ground dead. (dropped dead) Yakob Eisenberg wrote that from then on all nations adopted the Minhag to say Gesundheit, etc. when sneezing."