The image is too familiar. A bomb explodes in Jerusalem or Haifa or Netanya. Within moments, emergency workers appear on the scene, willing to risk their lives to save the wounded and show respect to the dead. Today, a look at Israel’s emergency workers on the World Wide Web.
The Magen David Adom (Red Shield of David) is Israel’s National Emergency Medical Service. Founded in 1930, the MDA is responsible for helping Israel’s Army Medical Corps in wartime, providing civilian emergency, medical and first aid services, and maintaining a blood bank for civilian use. The large Web site –www.magendavidadom.org — includes information about the aid organization and background about the fight to have its emblem recognized by the International Red Cross. The Newsflash section provides detailed information about terror attacks in Israel.
The Magen David Adom’s humanitarian efforts aren’t limited to disasters within the borders of Israel. Since 1999, its staff and volunteers have responded to crises in Greece, Kosovo, Indonesia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and a devastating earthquake in Turkey: “MDA paramedics sent daily reports of horror, despair and miracles. On the word of an excited boy and girl who said they heard knocking sounds deep within a pile of rubble, one paramedic used his stethoscope to locate the person underground. He dug a small hole toward the noise. At first two fingers and then an entire hand emerged, allowing the paramedic to insert an intravenous transfusion which helped to keep the victim alive for the eight hours it took to free him.” The story is at www.redcross.org/services/intl/global/mda/mdaworks.html
The Magen David Adom isn’t alone when disaster strikes. Hatzolah Jerusalem — www.hatzolah.org.il — is staffed by more than 200 volunteer emergency medical personnel, all certified by Magen David Adom. Hatzolah Jerusalem operates in more than 20 cities and towns throughout Israel and also runs volunteer emergency services outside Israel. You can read the first-hand account of Hatzaloh’s Shamai Goldstein as he explains what it was like to survive the attack on New York’s World Trade Center at www.jewsweek.com/society/111.htm
Members of Israel’s bomb squads — or sappers — risk their lives trying to neutralize suspicious objects before they can do any harm. Jewish Homemaker magazine devoted a lengthy article to the stories of Gal, Rami and Yaacov, members of Jerusalem’s bomb squad. Says Rami, “If you think about being injured, you can throw in the towel. All you can think of is how to do the work most efficiently and safely. Afterwards, you go over it in your head and then the shock of what you went through hits you.” The story is at www.ok.org/homemaker/ purim_57/cover.html
There are many other Israeli groups that try to help when disaster strikes. Ezer Mitzion — www.shemayisrael.com/chareidi/archives5761/vayeshev/acholek.htm — runs a fleet of more than 30 ambulances to transport children suffering from cancer and to help in time of emergency. Yad Sarah — www.yadsarah.org.il/ new_eng_index.html — is Israel’s largest voluntary organization. After the early December terror attacks in Jerusalem and Haifa, injured victims were able to borrow medical and rehabilitative equipment free of charge. You can find links to more medical organizations at the Israeli Physician’s Guide Web site, www.doctor.co.il/ organizationlink.htm
After a disaster, one of the most harrowing duties falls to the members of Chesed Shel Emet (True Mercy). These are the Orthodox Jews who arrive at the first word of a terrorist attack or civil emergency. Wearing black kippot, tzitzit and orange or chartreuse emergency vests, their task is to search for limbs and scrape down buildings splattered with blood and flesh. The Jerusalem Post Web site has a photo of group members, http://info.jpost.com/2000/Supplements/Terror/7.html
While rescue workers work against the clock to save the living and police make legal identification of corpses, Chesed Shel Emet is concerned with kavod hamet, the halachic concept of proper burial. A Jerusalem Post story on the mitzvah of recovering body parts is at the Jewish Bulletin Web site, www.jewishsf.com/bk960308/1bparts.htm.
“It’s a holy act,” says Chesed Shel Emet founder Rabbi Elazar Gelbstein. “God created us in his image and we must do his deeds. This is our job. It’s hard and it breaks us but it must be done.”