1,447,561 MDA EMERGENCY VEHICLES WERE DEPLOYED TIMES — ONE EVERY 21.7 SECONDS
336,456 UNITS OF BLOOD WERE COLLECTED AND PROCESSED
1
3
ADVANCED LIFE-SUPPORT MEDEVAC HELICOPTERS
3,314,193
200
AMBULANCE S TATION S NATIONWIDE
WORLD’S ONLY BLOOD CENTER REINFORCED AGAINST ROCKET ATTACK
VOLUNTEERS
31,200 ISRAEL’S LARGEST VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION EMERGENCY CALLS WERE RECEIVED
2,300
AMBULANCES, MEDICYCLES, AND OTHER EMERGENCY-RESPONSE VEHICLES IN SERVICE
2,900 LITERS OF BREAST MILK PROVIDED TO BABIES IN NEED
1,062 BABIES DELIVERED BY MDA TEAMS AT HOME OR EN ROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL
During the initial days that followed the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, MDA’s paramedics and EMTs worked fiercely, courageously, and selflessly around the clock to save lives. In the December issue of The Pulse, we shared the testimonies of three of these brave men and women. We continue the obligation of bearing witness by sharing the experiences of three more medics who put their lives at risk to help the wounded.
She drove back and forth through “Death Street” for 13 hours.
On October 7, paramedic Hadas Erlich left her parents’ home to begin what she expected to be a normal day at MDA’s William H. Bloomberg Jerusalem Emergency Medical Station.
Arriving at the station, she was shocked to hear that Israel was suddenly under attack, and every ambulance in the region was needed immediately. Rockets were not unusual, but this was horribly different.
“We have an armored ambulance, so we were called to help out in Sderot. On the way, we didn’t understand the extent of the terror there. We thought there would be rockets, but we started hearing about the many injured and the dead,” she explained.
With rockets exploding above, Hadas and her driver, Eliel, rushed to Sderot, a city near Gaza. “On the way, we put on bulletproof vests and helmets. We can hear the bombs going off around us and the rockets.
But we’re just going on through because we are in an armored ambulance.”
Nothing could have prepared her for the scene they were entering.
“A lot of people think there was chaos, but it was quiet, like a movie that had been paused,” she said. “The only thing you could hear was the shooting and the terror.”
They took a single street into the heart of the conflict and transported patients out via that same street, over and over, all day, a street she now refers to as “Death Street.”
Everyone had been living as they normally did, until death came suddenly, freezing the street in a morbid scene of life placed on hold.
“You see an old woman sitting on a bench dead, and beside her, there’s a dog. The first time I saw a dog
sitting there alive, I said, ‘Oh, a dog.’ The fifth time I went by, I realized that the dog was waiting for the woman to wake up, but she was dead. And he was just waiting.
“You see a bunch of elderly people who woke up to go on a trip to the Dead Sea, and they were shot.”
She bit her lip, fighting tears, and went on. “The first time I saw them, I’m like, O.K., bodies. I’ve seen very graphic things, and I’ve been in very, very rough cases, but nothing was like this. You go through a street that is supposed to take you a minute and a half to go through, and you feel like it’s a lifetime.”
She saw a teenage boy and his bike; both had fallen over on the sidewalk. People wearing Shabbat clothing were lifeless on the side of the street. There was a woman sitting dead next to her cup of coffee.
Hadas passed a playground, with tiny children’s lifeless bodies scattered around. This terrible scene shocked her and then continued to wrench her heart each time she rode through.
“The way they went out to live is how they died.”
For 13 hours, Hadas and Eliel drove past this scene toward the fighting, stopping in the war zone with rockets and guns being fired, as the wounded were quickly loaded into her armored Mobile Intensive Care
Unit ambulance. She administered plasma transfusions, inserted IVs, and stopped the bleeding. Once, she piled two soldiers on top of each other to evacuate them for treatment.
Some of the victims stood out. She made a deal with a terribly wounded soldier that he would stay awake and not slip into unconsciousness: “If you promise not to fall asleep, I promise to do everything I can to keep you alive.”
She knew if he fell asleep, she would lose him. Each time he started to nod off, she’d say, “Hey, we made a deal!” The deal worked, and she passed the soldier and their deal to the next waiting ambulance team, who rushed him to the hospital.
The unarmored ambulances waited just outside of the war zone, ready to take the wounded from her to the hospital, so she and her driver in the armored ambulance could rush back in.
They unloaded as quickly as possible, washed the blood from the floors, shut the doors, and headed back down
Death Street.“You’re not supposed to cry, but no one could be prepared for this. I’d cry looking at the children on the playground, the little dog waiting, all those who left their homes that day to live,” she said as her voice wavered.
Then with a deep resolve, she explained that before receiving a new patient in her ambulance, she’d dry her tears, bracing herself for the next round of victims to be loaded in. Her training kicked in, and she was in lifesaving mode, emotions pushed aside.
At the end of the day, her shoes were filled with blood.
“We are not heroes,” Hadas said solemnly. “The amount of terror and death we saw, it could cripple us. But remembering those injured patients who did survive, that’s what keeps me going.”
The soldier did indeed keep his promise to stay awake, miraculously lived, and was reunited with his family. That’s what Hadas holds on to.
“We were besieged. I was sure I was going to die.”
Haim Rubin is a paramedic who lives and works in southern Israel. He had responded to many terror attacks in his career and had seen terrible things. But on “Black Saturday,” he was shaken to his core, encountering horrors beyond what he ever thought possible. This is an excerpt of his story in his own words.
On Simchat Torah at 8:30 in the morning, we received a call about missiles falling. Avia Goldstein, Ariel HaCohen, and I got organized, took our tallit [prayer shawls] and bulletproof vests, and got going.
About 30 miles from Gaza, we saw there were some seriously injured people who we needed to bring to the MDA helicopter. They were unstable and looking really gray. We stopped their bleeding and took them to the helicopter.
From there, we drove about 15 miles toward Gaza, where we encountered more severely injured people
that we had to physically lift and carry. We realized that we did not have enough manpower to transfer them to another helicopter. We saw people trying to help a farmer who had lost a leg. I asked them to come help us carry the wounded, and I encouraged the farmer to hop to our ambulance on the one leg he still had. It was surreal.
We then headed toward Moshav Neve because we understood that the road there was relatively secure. When we arrived at the beit midrash [place of Torah study] everything was arranged nicely for the holiday. Menachem, a paramedic who was there, and I moved away all the benches and set up a triage and treatment area with signs and places for the lightly, moderately, and severely injured. In the center, we put tables for the medical equipment. Cars carrying wounded people started flowing there.
We received another report about a severely injured person just a few miles away who needed to be evacuated immediately. Menachem stayed and I left with my team and found a man named Amichai lying on the bed in a clinic, severely injured, mumbling, and bleeding, with limbs amputated.
I inquired about a helicopter and found out that it was currently not possible to land there. I decided that we would transport Amichai to Neve for further treatment and wait there for the helicopter. We treated him with plasma as many more injured people continued to arrive. Amichai was one of the most seriously injured and medically complex patients I have treated in all my years as a paramedic. I knew that if I gave him too many painkillers, he would deteriorate and, on the other hand, if I sedated him, he would probably die. However, I was finally able to stabilize him.
The situation was incredibly extreme … a never-ending nightmare. We heard about more and more wounded
whose conditions were unknown and were on their way to us. We used all the equipment we had until we had nothing left. Sometimes, I reused what I had and gathered what I could from others and from the helicopter.
We were besieged. I was sure I was going to die. At night, we slept in a shelter; the area was not protected, so we didn’t walk around outside. There was a constant sense of danger. I felt powerless. Every time I closed my eyes, visions of terrorists would fill my mind.
I was encouraged by the MDA helicopter crews. They went and returned; we brought them the wounded again and again. They were our oxygen, because they were the only way to evacuate anyone, and everything, in the end, was up to them. The MDA helicopter crews did crazy things in order to reach us. I don’t think I can express the feeling. They are the ones who changed the picture.
“Kiss the children; I may not come home.”
Lior Levi is a happily married father of four and a Magen David Adom paramedic. On October 7, he was on the morning shift at his station in Jerusalem when he got the call to roll and head south into a war zone.
Lior and his team quickly geared up in bulletproof vests and helmets and raced down the highway in an armored ambulance.
On the way down, the radio crackled with multiple reports from other ambulance teams as they evacuated critically wounded people. Teams were racing from across the country, relaying patients in and out of areas with live gunfire, rocket attacks, and worse.
As they approached a junction near Ashkelon, they got their instructions — meet a vehicle transporting three critically injured people with gunshot wounds. They pulled up and got right to work. Once all three patients had been stabilized, the team evacuated them to a hospital.
As soon as they had cleaned the blood from the ambulance, they got new instructions — head to Zikim Junction to treat and transport five more critically wounded people. It was like a battlefield.
As they arrived, rockets were falling around them. There was the clatter of AK-47s as terrorists began shooting in their direction.
“We could feel and hear bullets over our heads,” Lior recalled. “It was constant rocket fire. You’d hear a boom, look over, and see smoke. Hear another boom, look over, and see smoke.”
Their ambulance took fire and was damaged by shrapnel, but they kept going.
“It was scary,” Lior said. “We saw bodies of civilians laying around, of elderly people, of young children … I will never forget those things. I definitely felt my life was in danger. I called my wife and told her to kiss the children; I may not come home.
“Pray for us,” he told her. “We’re treating wounded people under fire. We’re being shot at while treating people.”
One of the men they had come for was a critically wounded soldier. A bullet had penetrated his helmet. He was 19 years old. As bullets flew around them, the crew loaded him into the ambulance and quickly closed the doors. Lior got right to work, administering lifesaving treatment.
The young man was semiconscious, had a serious head wound, and was in great pain. He grew agitated and started kicking everything around him. Lior quickly sedated him, stopped his bleeding, and administered powerful anesthetics. His status remained critical. As they raced to the hospital, the patient went in and out of consciousness.
“Personally, I didn’t think he would survive,” Lior later admitted.
Over the following days, Lior found himself thinking occasionally about this young man. He was elated a few weeks later when he got a call from the soldier’s mother.
She told Lior that her son was doing well. He was conscious. He was eating. He was talking. He still had a long rehabilitation ahead of him, but he was going to make it.
That call meant a lot to Lior. He knew he had done all he could to save a life, no matter the odds, no matter the danger — and he succeeded.
“There is the Lior before October 7,” he said, “and the Lior after October 7. I am a different person now and forever will be, because what I’ve experienced and seen will stay with me forever.”
dying on the battlefield.
Eitan Tesler was wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) in Gaza. The damage caused to his body was massive. Eitan lost a large volume of blood and suffered critical injuries, including two punctured lungs. Most soldiers so seriously wounded in the field would not normally survive. But something special happened.
Eitan received a near-immediate blood transfusion on the front lines, just in time to keep him alive long enough to get to a hospital. And it’s the first time it’s been done anywhere in the world.
After the onset of the war, Magen David Adom initiated a new program of providing whole blood units to combat groups on the front lines. This is normally not feasible, because every unit of blood donated is only compatible with people who have certain blood types, and those who are wounded must be matched with compatible blood. This can only take place in a hospital setting. However, 10% of people in Israel have type O blood that is universally compatible. So blood donations from these donors are collected, processed, and distributed to the IDF units that are most likely to need them.
Seeing Eitan’s horrific injuries, an IDF medic immediately began the transfusion, while under fire, on the
battlefield. It gave Eitan a chance to live long enough to get to a hospital for emergency surgery.
“Israel is only the third country in the world to use whole blood,” said Prof. Eilat Shinar, M.D., director of MDA’s Blood Services Division. “And the only one, as far as I know, to use whole blood in the field.”
Eitan survived the surgery. Several weeks later, he was released from the hospital. Recently he was able to meet the blood donor, Gershon Panker, who gave the special gift that saved his life.
“You saved my life; I'm full of chills,” Eitan said excitedly when meeting Gershon. “God works with people, and you are the man he chose. Thank you very much. Now that you have your blood in me, it joins us together.
“I thank you, Magen David Adom, and all the medical teams who treated me. Thank you very much.”
When the war first began, Gershon immediately donated blood at one of MDA’s collection sites. “I felt in my heart that if needed, it would go to the right person,” he said.
“Nothing makes me happier to see that my contribution saved lives in the field.”
American physicians volunteer on ambulances during war, improving patient care.
When the extent of the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 was exposed to the world, hundreds of Jewish and Israeli expatriate physicians in the United States wanted to be there for Israel in its darkest hour. Within a few days, the first delegation of physicians from the U.S. had boots on the ground, joining MDA paramedics in Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulances through an organization called IL-USDocAid.
IL-USDocAid was founded by Dr. Adi Kogan, an OB-GYN based in Boulder, Colo., initially established to send physicians to Israel’s hospitals. Dr. Tamar Geva, an intensivist (critical care specialist) from Boston, started the MDA branch in collaboration with Eli Bin, MDA’s director-general.
As of the beginning of March, “We already sent 14 delegations,” said Dr. Yoav Golan, an infectious disease specialist in Boston who has joined Dr. Geva in the recruitment of American physicians for MDA. "We have a cohort of about 100 trained physicians and many are starting their second and even third missions." Dr. Golan served on two delegations himself, where he joined the MDA station in Sderot, a city near Gaza heavily affected by Hamas acts of terrorism.
Magen David Adom made an arrangement with Israel’s Ministry of Health to provide temporary medical licenses to American physicians. This opened the door to doctors without Israeli medical licenses to volunteer for two weeks or more.
“It’s one of the best things I ever did,” said Dr. Larry Weiss, a retired emergency medicine physician from the Baltimore area. Dr. Weiss volunteered for an entire month, working eight- to 10-hour ambulance shifts, six days a
week. “I’m 70. I knew this might be my last chance to make a difference.”
Each delegation comprises about 10 American physicians. They begin with an intensive one-day orientation at MDA’s William H. Bloomberg Jerusalem Emergency
Medical Station followed by training and shadowing on two shifts before beginning their own ambulance shifts with paramedic partners. The physicians learn MDA policies, procedures, and emergency protocols.
“The idea is to train a large number of volunteers who know the system and can step in in times of crisis,” said Moshe Schuman, a paramedic at the Jerusalem station who coordinates the doctors’ assignments in Israel. The program has been a huge morale booster, explained Schuman.
“It’s so important for our paramedics to know that other people care so much that they’re willing to give their own time. They don’t take it for granted. It makes them better paramedics, and touches their souls, and gives them strength during complicated times,” he said.
But the paramedics are not the only ones to receive huge benefits from this program. The physicians and patients they treat also reap great rewards.
“They taught me a lot, especially about emergency protocols,” said Dr. Sharon Goldstein of the paramedics
she served with. A surgeon from Pittsburgh, Dr. Goldstein volunteered for three weeks in December. “It was a real exchange of knowledge. I was challenged by doing things I don’t do anymore.”
Dr. David Bryman is an emergency medicine physician from San Diego. “I learned a lot about how the medical system works in Israel,” he said. “I was part of their team. It was very collegial. They asked for my input, and I asked for theirs.” Dr. Bryman volunteered for two weeks in November and is planning to go back in late spring.
The American doctors were also deeply moved by the outpouring of welcome and gratitude they received from the paramedics and the patients they treated.
“I will always remember how welcoming and kind the medics were, despite how tired and sad they were,” said Dr. Goldstein. “They worked so hard and made every effort to teach us.”
“They welcomed us with open arms,” added Dr. Bryman. “Working with them was so uplifting, especially to learn that most of them are volunteers.” More than 90% of MDA’s paramedics and EMTs are volunteers.
Dr. Abigail Hankin-Wei, an emergency medicine physician from Chevy Chase, Md., felt an intimate connection with the paramedics and the patients. Normally, doctors don’t go into patients’ homes. She said it was enlightening to see how people live and to be with them and their family members during a serious period of medical distress.
“Israelis were movingly grateful for coming to volunteer,” she said. “I was so touched by how grateful they were.”
This intimacy with the patients is one of two things that had the most profound impact on Dr. Weiss. “The Israeli people expressed such gratitude that I came from America to help,” he said. “One of the patient’s family
members hugged me and said ‘attah achi’ — you are my brother.”
The second profound impact on Dr. Weiss, he said, was “the incredible motivation of the paramedics. Their skill set is very advanced. I worked with paramedics [in the U.S.] for 40 years, and I am impressed with the training and skill of MDA paramedics.”
Dr. Goldstein was particularly moved by the country’s unified solidarity for the hostages. “Every conversation, every moment, everyone is talking about, praying for, and thinking of the hostages.” She remarked how the photos of the hostages are everywhere, adorning ambulances, MDA stations, and every space throughout the country.
The cases the doctors address include routine medical emergencies like cardiac incidents, strokes, accidents, sepsis, and even birthing babies. “On my last day, I delivered a baby girl in the ambulance,” said Dr. Weiss. “It was a great way to end the month.” Dr. Weiss also dealt with incidents of gang violence in Ramla.
While most of the doctors serve in the center of the country and not near the war zone, they also tend to victims of terrorist attacks. Dr. Bryman triaged people with gunshot wounds who were victims of an attack at a Jerusalem bus stop.
There was a time when volunteer Israeli doctors staffed Mobile Intensive Care Units — specially equipped
ambulances dispatched to the most critical medical emergencies — with paramedics on an ongoing basis. Several factors, including Israel’s doctor shortage, makes this less common today. Connecting with emergency rooms and doctors via telemedicine helped meet the need. But there’s no replacement for the in-person paramedic–doctor–patient experience. Additionally, the
American doctors helped fill the gap when many of MDA’s senior paramedics were called to serve in the reserves.
“The program has been such an incredible success, with both the paramedics and doctors learning from one another,” said Eli Bin. “It is our goal to extend this program beyond the war because the physicians fill a great need and help improve our emergency medical response.”
Currently, the doctors’ airfare, lodging, food, insurance, and more are funded by the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation with support from Nefesh B’Nefesh. The management consultant firm McKinsey & Company donated one month of services to help IL-USDocAid become a functioning organization.
Physicians interested in volunteering can apply at ilusdocaid.org
AFMDA supporters take part in a solidarity mission to Israel.
On December 4, 2023, a small but passionate group of AFMDA donors traveled to Israel with AFMDA’s CEO Catherine Reed to stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and bear witness to the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7. Three participants share their experiences.
Barry S. Feldman, AFMDA National Board Member, Pepper Pike, OhioWe began with a visit to the Kotel. We prayed for peace for Israel and its people. Then began the emotional, heart-rending visit. We walked the carnage of Kibbutz Be’eri, where one of the initial massacres took place. We saw the piles of burned vehicles from the Nova music festival and watched videos — taken by car cams or by the terrorists themselves — of the Hamas terrorists on trucks, murdering innocent civilians on Shabbat.
This Unimog, only one of three in MDA’s fleet, can transport up to four patients. The EMTs explained to me that this vehicle was a game-changer on October 7, saving many lives in Ashkelon. I spent much of my youth on the beach of Ashkelon with my great-uncle and cousins. This moment touched me very much.
At MDA’s Command Center, we heard some of the tragic calls that came in on that dreadful October 7 morning. I’ll never forget the chilling voices of a young boy and his sister in a shelter. Their parents were murdered, and they wanted to know what to do and when they would be rescued.
On our last day, we went to what has become known as Hostage Square. It was amazing to see the community lighting the Chanukah menorah and praying for hope, peace, and return of the hostages. The solidarity of the citizens was inspiring, and we were moved by the welcoming love bestowed on us for visiting Israel, and them, during these turbulent times.
Our final dinner was at the Kempinski hotel in Tel Aviv. Sadly, the restaurant was deserted except for us, due to lack of tourists. We exited the restaurant and saw two medics and a huge Magen David Adom ambulance with the red sirens glaring. I began to speak with the EMTs, not understanding why they were there. It was moments later that I learned that the vehicle was the Mercedes Unimog I donated to MDA in memory of my parents.
I am prouder than I have ever been for being a member of the MDA family. The staff and volunteers embody tikkun olam, making the world a better place.
During the solidarity mission, I met incredible paramedics and EMTs who risked their lives to save others, displaying immense bravery as they rushed into the line of fire. Their commitment was inspiring.
Paying our respects to amazing individuals, such as paramedic Amit Man, who worked tirelessly to care for villagers in Kibbutz Be’eri but eventually lost her life to Hamas terrorists, was sobering. This was a very personal space of loss; why should I be here? Even as I struggled to grasp the cruelty, I was also inspired by Amit’s courage. Haifa in northern Israel was stunning! And even though this lovely port city is within missile range of Hezbollah, Magen David Adom personnel are prepared to face whatever comes. They were ready and not afraid.
I grappled at times with doubts and fear during the trip, but I was reminded to “be strong and courageous,” as Moses commands in Deuteronomy 31:6, “for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Then I was reassured of this truth as I encountered Magen David Adom personnel from Sderot, Ramla, Haifa, and Kiryat Ono, who possessed a composed resolve.
In honor of my beloved parents, Manny and B. Claudette Bengen Fink, and my heroic grandfather, Henry Fink, an officer in the U.S. Army during WWII, it was profoundly meaningful to be able to support Israel and those on the front lines during such a critical time. While on the mission I wore my grandfather’s dog tags and brought the prayer book he carried with him during battle.
Meeting one of MDA’s paramedics from the Sderot station, who bravely saved lives on October 7 while under fire, was one of the most meaningful experiences for me. As a small symbolic token of appreciation on behalf of New York, I presented him with a Yankees baseball cap.
It was also an honor to meet First Lady Michal Herzog. After she received a call of support from First Lady Olena Zelenska, I shared how our family’s third armored ambulance, given in 2001 by my mother in honor of my father, was the first one onto the cargo plane and flown to Ukraine by MDA when the war with Russia started in 2022.
I was proud to be part of the solidarity mission alongside fellow Americans who support Magen David Adom. It was an honor to represent our agency, Infinity Concepts, which helps engage the Christian community to support MDA’s lifesaving efforts in Israel. I am honored to serve an organization that is so committed to saving lives in Israel every day.
To all those lost and who are still being held, my family continues to be with you. In the midst of winter, we know there is an invincible summer.
A Christian charity donates 21 ambulances — 7 of them armored — to MDA.
Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization based on Christian Gospel, immediately responded to Israel’s urgent need for support following the horrific Hamas assault on October 7, sponsoring 21 ambulances, seven of them armored.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see for myself how the men and women of MDA are risking their lives for others when I visited several of the communities in Israel that were brutally attacked,” said Rev. Franklin Graham, president and chief executive officer of Samaritan’s Purse.
During his visit to Kibbutz Be’eri, where 100 people were murdered, including a 22-year-old paramedic who was tending to the wounded, Rev. Graham learned that
14 ambulances were destroyed by Hamas and vowed to replace them. Furthermore, when he learned there were so few armored ambulances in MDA’s fleet, he pledged to sponsor seven.
At a moving ceremony in Jerusalem, 14 Life Support Ambulances were dedicated in January in memory of the first 14 MDA medics who were killed on October 7 while attempting to save lives or in the ensuing war while working as combat medics. One by one, the inscriptions on the ambulances were unveiled, as family and friends got the chance to see and touch their loved one’s memorial ambulance for the first time.
“It is an honor to dedicate these ambulances today, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to help MDA continue its heroic and exceptional work,” said Rev. Graham.
The seven armored Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulances are still being manufactured and are expected to be ready this spring.
“At a time when the Israeli people — and Jews around the world — are feeling alone, this donation is so meaningful,” said Catherine Reed, chief executive officer of AFMDA.
“It’s a testament to the fact that amid all the protests and the increase in anti-Semitism, the people of Israel and the worldwide Jewish community have friends they can count on.”
Donations made to American Friends of Magen David Adom since October 7 (as of March 18) have been allocated for war- and terrorism-related response initiatives. This includes purchasing emergency vehicles, medical equipment, and supplies to treat the injured; programs to harden communities and MDA facilities and make them more resilient in future attacks; and initiatives designed to train new EMTs and shorten response times to medical emergencies even further.
Protecting communities against future attacks, including Magen Project, equipment trailers, training, and preparadness drills
Fortification of National Operations Center and repairs to other EMS stations
Specialized vehicles, including armored ambulances, armored command cars, and bloodmobiles
Marcus National Blood Services Center for expansion of Israel’s bloodbanking capacity
Water and fuel trailers, communications equipment, mobile generators, uniforms, and miscellaneous equipment
Bandages, IV equipment, and other disposable medical supplies
Ballistic vests, helmets, and other protective equipment
Ambulances, Medicycles, and other lifesaving vehicles
Trauma kits and re-supplying ambulances, Medicycles, and emergency medical stations
Community
behind cafe owner and helps sponsor an ambulance.
When Aaron Dahan, owner of Caffè Aronne in New York City, showed support for Israel after October 7, all his employees quit.
Aaron’s cousin and his cousin’s girlfriend were murdered at the ill-fated music festival near the Gaza border. Aaron reached out to American Friends of Magen David Adom to create a peer-to-peer campaign to raise funds for a Medicycle from the patrons of his two Caffè Aronnes. He also placed a small Israeli flag next to a big American flag and hung posters of the hostages in the window. That’s when his staff quit in protest.
With only his mother able to jump in and help work the counter, news of what happened went viral across social media channels. Competitors and vendors donated supplies. Community volunteers stepped in to help keep the store open and encouraged their friends and family to support Aaron and his coffee shops.
For weeks, customers lined up for hours to purchase coffee, food, and other beverages. Orders came in from across the country. MDA paramedics who were visiting New York for speaking engagements even stopped by to thank Aaron in person. Due to the outpouring of generosity, Aaron quickly pivoted from raising funds for a Medicycle to sponsoring a Life Support Ambulance.
“To see Jews, gentiles, and secular people all come together to help a small business has been overwhelming. And I’ve cried many times,” Aaron told the New York Post.
“And despite all the hatred going on around us, I choose to hold up what happened here at Caffè Aronne as the real story of humanity. Evil always loses.”
Maureen Ellenberg stands in solidarity with Israel, always.
Prior to October 7, Maureen Ellenberg was deeply concerned that the political turmoil in Israel was eroding financial support from the diaspora. So, in August 2023, she decided to sponsor a Medicycle in memory of her beloved husband, Dr. Alexander “Sandy” Ellenberg, who passed away almost 19 years ago from leukemia. She hoped this significant gift would kick-start more financial contributions for the Jewish homeland they both loved.
Little did she know at the time how critical this gift would become. After October 7, the imperative to provide emergency vehicles and supplies to MDA became urgent. Maureen opened her beautiful home in San Jose, Calif., hosting a delectable dessert reception to encourage others to donate to Magen David Adom. Her recent sponsorship served as an example to her friends and community. Guests contributed generously to support MDA during this time of essential need.
Maureen and her family know that Sandy would have been deeply moved by their loving tribute and community advocacy. Nothing was more important to him than
his family, Israel, community, and, as a plastic surgeon, restoring beauty and function to those who came to him for transformation. In addition to his private practice, Sandy taught medical residents at Stanford University and traveled to Venezuela to repair cleft lips and palates.
“Sandy was a very giving man and a passionate supporter of Israel,” said Maureen. “He would be proud and happy to know that lives are being saved there in his name.”
Members of the Admirals Cove Foundation board gathered for the dedication of the Life Support Ambulance they sponsored. Admirals Cove residents have been staunch supporters of Israel and Magen David Adom for many years.
In a show of support for Israel, the City of Miami Beach sponsored a Life Support Ambulance. Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner (fourth from left) and city commissioners dedicated the ambulance in honor of the people of Israel.
In a powerful display of support, the Persian community came together in Great Neck to sponsor and dedicate a Life Support Ambulance.
Millie and Larry Magid dedicated an ambulance in the presence of 120 people from Lubavitch Aventura South Synagogue. Special guests included Dr. Charles Small of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy; Rabbi Yishai Fleisher, Hebron spokesperson; Aventura Mayor Howard Weinberg; Aventura commissioners; and MDA medics who shared their October 7 experiences.
Lois Pope dedicated her 17th ambulance surrounded by close friends and family. Guests heard testimonies from MDA medics who were on duty the morning of October 7.
Sandy and Maureen Salz (far right) didn’t hesitate to send their MICU to Israel immediately after October 7, forgoing a formal dedication. So, while the ambulance was on the way, they shared the lifesaving work of MDA with family, friends, and community with a “stock” ambulance.
AFMDA is grateful to our friends whose vehicles were sent directly to Israel between October 2023 and February 2024.
Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center — Aventura, Fla.
Michael Bier and Family — Highland Park, Ill. and Woodcliff Lake, N.J.
Dr. Edwin Bruno — Englewood, Fla.
Carol Buckmann — Great Neck, N.Y.
The Morton and Dinah Danseyar Family Foundation — Bradenton, Fla.
Robert and Michelle Diener — Miami, Fla.
Seymour and Miriam Feldstein — Miami, Fla.
Shirley Godis — Teaneck, N.J.
Avian Susan Greenberg — Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rose Grossinger — Lincolnwood, Fla.
The Guenter Borg Foundation — Philadelphia, Pa.
Gertrude B. Jaffee Trust — Boca Raton, Fla.
Linda Jaffe — Woodbury, N.Y.
Benjamin and Susan Krevsky — Philadelphia, Pa.
Miri and Jeff Levine for the Albert and Victoria Naggar Charitable Trust — Delray Beach, Fla.
Estelle Marco and Dr. Noachim Marco — Los Angeles, Calif.
Henry Mohr, Judy Mohr, Michelle Burcham, Marty and MaryLee Mohr, and Stephanie Zorensky — Denver, Colo.
Stephen and Robert Nash Family — Syracuse, N.Y.
Michael and Fernanda Newman and Family — Golden Beach, Fla.
David Rose — Los Angeles, Calif.
Ruth D. Rosin — Evanston, Ill.
Marilyn Segal — New York, N.Y.
Dr. Milton Foss Simmons and Family — Southfield, Mich.
Raisa and Ilya Stolyar — Northbrook, Ill.
David Owen Taylor (DOT) and Taylor Family — Los Angeles, Calif.
Lori and Steven Weisberg — Detroit, Mich.
Bo and Harvey Weisman — Woodmere, N.Y.
We are also grateful to several donors who wish to remain anonymous.
(Donors whose vehicles were flown or shipped to Israel during this time and who were featured in the December issue of The Pulse or elsewhere in this issue are not listed here.)
A Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulance funded by New Beginnings Church is rushed to Israel.
New Beginnings Church in Bedford, Texas, sponsored its ninth Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulance, which was airlifted to Israel to immediately be put into service. The vehicle augments MDA's fleet of rescue vehicles, an urgent need even before the October 7 attacks.
When news spread of the attacks, Larry and Tiz Huch, pastors of New Beginnings, immediately pledged their support for Israel. “We knew there was an urgent need to replace ambulances that were stolen and destroyed. To know ours is part of this historic effort is incredibly gratifying,” said Pastor Larry Huch. Normally, ambulances that are manufactured in the U.S. are shipped to Israel by sea. The six-week trip is more cost-effective. However, following October 7, AFMDA recognized the urgent need for vehicles and arranged several airlifts. The New Beginnings MICU was part of the first airlift that included a total of 14 rescue vehicles and arrived in Israel on October 26.
“The generous sponsorship of another MICU by Larry and Tiz Huch and their congregation could not have come at a more fortuitous time,” said Richard Zelin, director of strategic philanthropy for AFMDA’s Midwest Region.
“Our EMTs and paramedics are totally focused on saving lives. This MICU assists in their mission and offers both practical help and inspiration to keep going.”
Cantor’s concert in Cleveland area raises funds for ambulances.
On November 19, a special cantor’s concert was held at The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood, Ohio. Seven local cantors participated, performing Broadway tunes. Many of the songs were sung in solidarity with Israel, like “Bring Them Home” and “There’s a Place for Us.” The concert inspired the 550-plus attendees to sponsor two Life Support Ambulances and a Medicycle.
During the horrors of the October 7 attacks, Hadas Ehrlich, an MDA paramedic, and her EMT driver, Eliel, traveled back and forth to Sderot in their armored ambulance 15 times over 13 hours — extracting the wounded amid terrifying Hamas rockets and gunfire (see page 4). Hadas shared her experiences with people in the Cleveland area. She spoke at the Mandel Jewish Community Center for a multifaith gathering of hundreds of people coming together to stand in solidarity with Israel. Barry Feldman, an AFMDA national board member, hosted a Shabbat dinner with Hadas for 14 people. The guests were moved to tears and expressed their deep appreciation to Hadas and the heroic men and women of MDA.
Stacy Carroll, former chief advancement officer at the University of Michigan’s Hillel, assumed the role of associate director of major gifts for AFMDA in Michigan on January 15.
In addition to her 20 years of fundraising experience, including a prior position as national director of development at the American Brain Tumor Association in Chicago, Stacy has a unique connection
to the work of MDA. She spent several years as a volunteer EMT on her hometown's ambulance squad.
“This makes the challenging, tireless, and emotional work of the medics in Israel near and dear to my heart,” she said.
A resident of the Metro Detroit area for a decade, Stacy lives in Brighton on a horse farm with her husband, Michael, and their two young children.
Temple Sinai in Roslyn Heights, N.Y., celebrated its 75th anniversary with a night of solidarity for Israel and Magen David Adom on November 16. Originally, all proceeds from the gala were intended to support the synagogue, but after October 7, the congregation changed the event theme and generously decided to donate the funds to MDA’s emergency medical response efforts.
The event brought more than 300 people together. Not a sound could be heard when paramedics Noa Abitbul and Aryeh Myers shared their moving testimonies with the guests. The room was filled with a profound feeling of unity and Jewish pride, and a determination to stand with Israel. The very successful event raised enough funds to sponsor two ambulances that will help save countless
lives. AFMDA expresses immense gratitude to Temple Sinai, Rabbi Michael White, and the extraordinary event chairs and committee.
A child’s choice on how to allocate tzedakah teaches them how to be a member of the community, to be kind and generous toward others, and to understand that tzedakah comes from the heart. We are grateful to the schools and their students and families who supported MDA during the war:
• Long Island Hebrew Academy (N.Y.) sponsored a Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulance
• The Leffell School (N.Y.) sponsored two Medicycles
• Henry Lindenbaum Lower School at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School (N.Y.) sponsored two Medicycles
• Germantown Academy (Pa.) raised funds for urgent medical supplies
• Shefa School (N.Y.) raised funds for urgent medical supplies
• Schechter Boston (Mass.) organized a shuk fundraiser
On November 29, 150 people came together for a night of unity in support of Israel and MDA. Award-winning singer, dancer, and social media influencer Montana Tucker headlined an event that included several incredible speakers, all staunch advocates of Israel striving to combat the disturbing rise in anti-Semitism. Thanks to the hard work of Co-chairs Lianne Leventhal and Laura Elkman, as well as the generosity of Steve DiFillippo at Davio’s Seaport, the event successfully raised more than $325,000, sponsoring an armored ambulance. We are grateful to the many families and businesses for their donations supporting MDA.
special
More than 60 guests, many attending an AFMDA event for the first time, came together at the home of Carol Becker, Northeast regional board member, in October. The Manhattan event featured Jonathan Miller, deputy permanent representative, Israel delegation to the United Nations. The attendees felt a sense of community, standing in solidarity with Israel, and were appreciative of the special update from Deputy Miller about current events in Israel.
Carol Becker and Jonathan Miller.
An intimate and moving evening takes place at Sotheby’s in New York.
Some 30 attendees gathered for a private preview of “The Halpern Judaica Collection: Tradition and Treasure” at Sotheby’s in December. Guests had the opportunity to hear from Magen David Adom’s Ronit Glaser, an EMT dispatcher, about the events on October 7. Ronit shared a moving story about speaking with Amit Man, a paramedic at Kibbutz Be’eri, during her final moments before she was murdered by Hamas while saving lives in the kibbutz clinic. Yoni Yagodovsky, director of international relations for MDA, told several stories of the heroic work performed by MDA’s extremely dedicated teams of medics on October 7.
Star-studded Miami Gala raises millions for MDA.
Some 600 supporters of Magen David Adom gathered at the sold-out Miami Gala in December to stand in solidarity with Israel. They paid tribute to the lives lost, kidnapped, injured, and displaced during the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Shari and David Lombardi received the Humanitarian Award and Gabriela and Jeffrey Gut were presented with the L’dor V’dor Lifesaver Award. Floyd Mayweather, Jr., a 15-time world boxing champion, received the Champion of Israel award in appreciation of his generous support and advocacy for Israel following October 7.
In addition to sending his personal airplane to Israel with supplies for those wounded and displaced, Mayweather emerged as a vocal advocate for the Jewish people during the recent rise in worldwide anti-Semitism. He also set up a website to raise funds for MDA vehicles and supplies: floydforisrael.com
Actress Emmanuelle Chriqui hosted the event and dancer/ singer Montana Tucker made the traditional blessing before a festive candlelighting ceremony, marking the sixth night of Chanukah. Israeli singer Shiri Maimon performed, followed by an auction, including a rare chance to accompany Mayweather at an upcoming boxing match.
The event raised about $4 million, including at least a dozen Medicycles and six Life Support Ambulances, which will be part of “Floyd’s Fleet.”
AFMDA is grateful to each and every supporter and especially to the gala host committee and event chairs: Moni and Jeff Cohen, Becky and Larry Herrup, Marian and Paul Kruss, and Ronit and Dr. David Neuman.
Magen David Adom extends its gratitude to George Temel and the owners of Max’s Grille and Sicilian Oven Pizza for holding successful benefit dinners for Israel. Proceeds from the events are supporting MDA’s heroic emergency response.
Jaime Weiss sponsored a breakfast at the Addison on the Ocean in Boca Raton, where Yoni Yagodovsky, MDA's director of international relations, delivered a special briefing on Magen David Adom's response to the war.
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton hosted MDA medics for a Shabbat d’var Torah. They shared their experiences working on October 7 and through the war. All in attendance were moved by their passion and dedication and thanked them for being the heroes they are.
More than 150 Miami paddleball enthusiasts united in support of Magen David Adom, spearheaded by Guillermo Fiskeman and Andrea O’hayon. The event was not only a fundraising success, raising $50,000, but also a joyous occasion for all participants.
Jordan Niefeld (far right), a financial advisor at Raymond James, rallied professionals for an engaging evening of networking and Israel advocacy at Fabel, a vibrant Miami hotspot. The event raised funds for Magen David Adom.
Magen David Adom extends its immense gratitude to Mayor Howard Weinberg (seated), Vice Mayor Paul Kruss (standing behind him), and the entire Aventura City Commission for passing a resolution supporting Israel and donating an MDA ambulance. Consul General of Israel in Miami Maor Elbaz-Starinsky attended the ceremony (third from left).
Jason Pizzo, a member of the Florida State Senate, recently visited the Magen David Adom National Operations Center in Israel. The senator declared support for MDA, presenting a donation of $30,000. He also had a chance to discuss the needs of U.S. emergency medical services and MDA's potential to share its expertise and technology.
Temple Beth Am of Jupiter held a lunch to honor the heroes of Magen David Adom. The congregants were moved by Ronit Glaser, an MDA EMT dispatcher who answered hundreds of horrific calls on October 7, and Yoni Yagodovsky, MDA’s director of international relations.
New ambulance saves lives on October 7 and beyond.
Tucson community tours an ambulance during a Chanukah event.
Members of the Tucson, Ariz., community had a chance to view and tour a Magen David Adom ambulance at a Chanukah family event and candlelighting ceremony at the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center.
Dr. Marvin Goldfarb, a Beverly Hills native, donated a Life Support Ambulance in memory of his beloved parents, Barbara and Joe Goldfarb, who were Holocaust survivors. Friends and family had planned to go to Israel to celebrate this meaningful tribute in October. Following October 7, the vehicle was immediately put into action and the dedication ceremony was canceled. This ambulance helped treat and save many people, ahead of its original service schedule.
A San Diego Chanukah party raises funds for MDA.
On the eighth night of Chanukah, the San Diego community came together at Tifereth Israel Synagogue to celebrate the holiday with dinner and live music and to raise money for Magen David Adom. Elana Michael, director of major gifts, presented MDA’s lifesaving work and the urgent needs it now faces.
Beacon Society members receive MDA update at luncheon in Los Angeles.
Beacon Society members (ambulance sponsors) gathered at the home of Ann Lesser, an AFMDA national board member, and her husband, Charles, to show their support for MDA and Israel. MDA’s Zvi Tibber, a senior paramedic, and Ronit Glaser, an EMT dispatcher, were among the medics to respond to the horrific events of October 7. They shared harrowing stories about what they experienced and demonstrated a moving determination to persevere and save lives at any cost.
Young Leadership Group meets MDA medics.
During their visit to Los Angeles, Zvi Tibber and Ronit Glaser addressed a large group of young professionals at Young Israel of North Beverly Hills. Attendees were moved by the medics’ stories and had the opportunity to ask questions. To learn more about the Young Leadership Group in Los Angeles, contact Dorin Esfahani, director of major gifts, at desfahani@afmda.org.
Felix Lotan, Magen David Adom senior paramedic and head of emergency preparedness, visited Los Angeles in early December. He addressed the Jewish Business Leaders (JBL) Group of the San Fernando Valley. He explained MDA’s vital role in Israel and its response and impact since October 7. JBL members were deeply engaged and made a gift to support the lifesaving work.
Los Angeles supporters are moved by inspiring work of MDA.
Felix Lotan spoke at an event at the home of Drs. Sally Frankl and Richard Wright in Los Angeles. MDA supporters came together to hear the latest from Magen David Adom and the war. Felix shared moving stories, the impact of vital vehicles, as well as the inspiring work of MDA heroes, in typical times as well as in wartime.
A Tribute to Our Heroes
June 23, 2024
San Diego
Carol and Mark Steingard want their commitment to Israel to outlive them.
Carol and Mark Steingard have been loyal AFMDA supporters for more than 11 years.
Through the years, they have grown from donors to philanthropic investors. Six years ago, they expanded their annual commitment by establishing an AFMDA charitable gift annuity, earning fixed payments today and ensuring their generosity will continue beyond their lifetimes.
The Steingards’ commitment to Israel and Magen David Adom began with their parents and grandparents, who set the example for giving back and instilled in them a love for the Jewish people and Eretz Yisrael. They have lived in more than 20 different homes in their 60-year-plus marriage, and are currently splitting their time between Reno, Nev., and Boca Raton, Fla. Wherever they are, family, Israel, and tzedakah have always been the backbone that unites them.
This past August, family members came together from across the country and Israel to celebrate their niece’s bat mitzvah. Carol and Mark honored the occasion and their family by sponsoring a Magen David Adom Life Support Ambulance.
“The world needs more people like you who are willing to help people in need,” their niece said. “Israel will be forever grateful for your wonderful mitzvah. I can’t thank you enough, Uncle Mark and Aunt Carol, for helping and saving one life at a time and being an inspiration to me.”
Through their gifts made today and tomorrow, the Steingards are honoring their family tradition and passing it on to the next generations.
Legacy Circle members are invited to join AFMDA’s quarterly online book club.
Next Zoom meeting: Tuesday, April 16, 7:30–9:00 p.m. ET
Book: “Genius & Anxiety: How Jews Changed the World, 1847-1947” by Norman Lebrecht
Facilitator: Lorraine Aronowitz Danzig
Register: afmda.org/april-book-club
OTHER EVENTS
Watch your inbox and mail for invitations to exclusive Legacy Circle Insider Webinars. Legacy Circle members are AFMDA supporters who make a planned gift commitment to support MDA beyond their lifetimes. Made a commitment but haven’t told us? Contact Marilyn Stern Emas, director of estate and planned giving, at msternemas@afmda.org or 646.388.7518.
Magen David Adom is Israel’s emergency medical services system. A leader in mass-casualty response and in EMS technology, Magen David Adom treats and transports nearly 1 million people to hospitals every year; collects, tests, and distributes nearly all the blood to Israel’s hospitals; and through its affiliation with the Red Cross movement, responds to disasters around the world.
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
20 West 36th Street, Suite 1100
New York, NY 10018
Toll-Free: 866.632.2763
Tel: 212.757.1627
info@afmda.org
NORTHEAST REGION
20 West 36th Street, Suite 1100
New York, NY 10018
Toll-Free: 866.632.2763
Tel: 212.757.1627
northeast@afmda.org
SOUTHEAST REGION
4371 Northlake Blvd., #361
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Toll-Free: 800.626.0046
Tel: 561.835.0510
southeast@afmda.org
MIDWEST REGION
3175 Commercial Avenue, Suite 101 Northbrook, IL 60062
Toll-Free: 888.674.4871
Tel: 847.509.9802
midwest@afmda.org
WESTERN REGION
6505 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 650
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Toll-Free: 800.323.2371
Tel: 323.655.4655
western@afmda.org
ESTATE AND PLANNED GIVING
American Friends of Magen David Adom
20 West 36th Street, Suite 1100
New York, NY 10018
Tel: 212.757.1627
msternemas@afmda.org
legacy.afmda.org
AFMDA NATIONAL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
National Chairman
Mark D. Lebow
Chief Executive Officer
Catherine L. Reed
Vice Chairs
Daniel Dobin
Gershon W. Trimpol
Treasurer
Neil Fox
Secretary
Barry S. Feldman
Audit Chair
Michael Goldman, z"l
Directors
Donna Fried Calcaterra
Jenna D. Calcaterra
Ann S. Deshe
Dave Dias
Herbert Donner
Annetta Weller Epstein
Jacqueline Goldman
Albert Kalimian
Fraeda Kopman
Ann Lesser
Ronit A.J. Neuman
Robert Picow
Isaac Pretter
Kurt N. Schwartz
Daniel Schwarzwalder
Kent M. Swig
Chairman of MDA Executive Board
Rabbi Avraham Manela
Director-General, Magen David Adom in Israel
Eli Bin
Advisory Board
Seymour Brief
Martin Cohen
Paula Blaine Cohen
afmda.org
facebook.com/afmda
twitter.com/afmda
vimeo.com/afmda
@magen_david_adom_america
linkedin.com/company/american-friends-of-magen-david-adom
Please remember AFMDA in your will.
But aren’t sure how to?
There are gifts you could make that will help lower your tax burden while still preserving assets for you and your family.
Fund an AFMDA gift annuity and receive an income tax deduction and fixed payments for life. Our rates are now the highest they've been in more than a decade.
Here are other gifts you could consider:
• Gifts From a Will or Trust
• Beneficiary Designations
• Life Insurance
• Appreciated Securities
• Property
• A Charitable Remainder Unitrust
• An IRA Rollover Contribution
• Business Interests, Closely Held Stock, and Partnerships DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HELP MORE?
For more information, visit legacy.afmda.org or call 646.388.7518.