An El Al airplane carrying members of an Israel Defense Forces rescue team is given a "water salute" upon departing Miami on July 11, 2021. (Screenshot from Twitter) News U.S. Israel Defense Forces rescue team leaves Surfside to salutes and serenades Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By Ben Sales, JTA | July 12, 2021 The Israeli military team that assisted in the search and rescue operation at the collapsed building in Surfside, Florida left on Saturday after receiving salutes and awards for their work. The seven-person team from the Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command, which arrived in Surfside three days after Champlain Towers collapsed last month, received thanks from Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and other local officials in a ceremony Saturday, according to The Times of Israel. The team received medals and gifted the officials with an Israeli flag in return. They then walked down a street flanked by other rescue workers while people sang “Ani Maamin,” a traditional Jewish song affirming faith in redemption from difficult times. “The world came to help #Surfside, and tonight we gave thanks” @senpizzo Thank you #IDF 🇮🇱#Surfside #SurfsideStrong @IDF @MiamiDadePD @MiamiDadeFire @FLSERT @HatzalahSoFla @IsraelinMiami @Israel @jacqui_carmona @Mdais @ChiefMaggs38 @MayorDaniella @charlesburkett @hatzalah pic.twitter.com/CZQ1fOYjJF — Baruch Sandhaus (@BaruchSandhaus) July 11, 2021 On Sunday, as the final members of the Israeli team departed, their El Al airplane was given a “water salute” by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. The salute involved the Fire Rescue team showering the plane with its hoses. This afternoon, #MDFR bid farewell to the IDF delegation that assisted in search and rescue/recovery efforts at the Champlain Towers building collapse in Surfside with a water salute at @iflymia. We wish them a safe flight back home! pic.twitter.com/hvkXVeinXS — Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) July 11, 2021 The confirmed death toll from the collapse has risen to 94 as of Monday, while Levine Cava said an additional 22 people remain “potentially unaccounted” for. Last week, Florida officials informed families that “there’s zero chance of survival” for the bodies still missing. Ben Sales Ben Sales is news editor of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. JTA Content distributed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news service. Also On J. Bay Area Car smashes into Wise Sons deli in Oakland during street race Books Radio host hit by car reflects on how to handle setbacks in memoir TV Is ‘The Idol’ good for Hollywood Jews or ‘torture porn’? Small Bites Bay Area delis come and go; saying goodbye to a friend Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up