Eyal Radami grabbed the cables to jumpstart the ambulance again.
An IDF reservist and volunteer medic ambulance driver in Beit Haggai in Yehuda and Shomron (Yesha), he recalled how he’d turned back: The ambulance had been crawling at 20 kph, not nearly fast enough; in attempting to save someone else’s life, he would endanger his own.
A new, fast ambulance was critically needed: The Magen David Adom (MDA) cast-off donated years ago by the Israeli state ambulance corps was often at the mechanic. Every drive, Eyal prayed for his safety; he knew several medics killed by terrorists. Recently, Eyal was forced to transfer a patient to another ambulance mid-drive, endangering both team and patient on the terror ridden road. Eyal’s wife, my sister Ilana, asked me to get a new ambulance.
I turned to Rescuers Without Borders (RWB).
RWB, originally Yekirei Hatzalah Yehuda and Shomron, from its inception in 2000 the main supporter of Yesha volunteer medics and ambulance drivers, was formed because there was no ambulance when two teachers, driving home from work, bled to death in the street after a terror attack. MDA didn’t serve the area and United Hatzalah (whose paid medics aren’t MDA trained) hadn’t yet been formed. Yekirei Hatzalah Yesha formed at the behest of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, z”l upon learning of the deaths of these two women.
Today there’s great need for new ambulances in Yesha. During the first half of this year alone, Natalie Sopinsky, Rescuers without Borders (RWB) director of development, reported there were 3,272 terror attacks, including many to ambush and kill drivers on the road: 1,868 rock throwing incidents; 456 fire bombings; 299 attempted bombings; 109 shooting attacks; 150 burning tires/firecrackers; 371 laser attacks aimed into drivers’ eyes; and 19 paint bottle attacks.
At the home of Charlie and Silvio Taranda in Edison on Thursday, Sept. 26, Sopinsky presented me with a token of appreciation for raising enough funds for a brand-new ambulance.
Now Yesha residents have renewed hope; they’re less likely to be stranded without an ambulance and won’t have to wait until proper “permissions” are secured for an MDA ambulance.
Yekirei Hatzala of Yesha began doing business as RWB after medics at a rescue were asked by CNN reporters about their jacket patches. When Judea and Samaria was mentioned, the cameras were turned off, reporters striding away.
Without CNN fanfare, RWB medics, renowned for their fast response time, is now an international organization partnering with Sauveteurs Sans Frontiers (SSF), accepting tax- deductible donations in the U.S. as well as Israel and Europe. Responding to disasters worldwide, RWB medics consider it their mission to save lives.
Funded by donations, RWB has trained over 6,000 volunteers worldwide and formed medical teams in 14 countries. RWB fields 250 calls daily, caring for at-risk youth, the elderly, traumatized children and those affected by natural disasters.
RWB opened a therapeutic center in Israel that became mobile since Oct. 7, traveling to treat traumatized children who were forced to flee their homes. This now mobile “farm” provides much needed relief with therapeutic animals. RWB also provides trained volunteers with both medical and state-of-the-art communication equipment as well as protective gear such as bulletproof vests.
Because my brother-in-law Eyal has benefitted from their training equipment, I chose to buy the ambulance through RWB.
The new ambulance is l’iluy nishmat my daughter, Lieba, z’l, with almost 500 donations made by community members, family and friends around the world.
To ensure that no donations for this ambulance were lost at the organization’s main website because donors neglected to earmark their donation for this campaign, I set up a dedicated campaign page at www.causematch.com/rwb, connecting RWB to the campaign page so donations would be deposited directly in the charity’s account for this ambulance.
To raise funds, I contacted synagogues and pro-Israel churches, celebrities, friends and family, and those who had interacted with Lieba, including medical professionals, teachers and classmates. With generous matching, I had to raise half the cost of the ambulance.
Friends suggested a Chinese auction would help raise funds and awareness of this worthy organization, and the auction, held at Cong. Ohav Emeth in Highland Park and online, raised funds for the ambulance as well as global exposure for the vendors who generously donated. I couldn’t have done all the work without encouragement and help from friends!
A new ambulance so no one is neglected and left to die will be a fitting tribute to Lieba, who helped and defended others from the time she was very small and stood on a chair at a friend’s house, rebuking an older sister who was bullying her young friend. Lieba, who helped and defended others, despite being bullied and misunderstood by the children and adults in the schools she attended, where she quietly outperformed her peers, who only wanted to learn, reading chapter books from age 2 ½ — who only wanted to make friends, to connect! — will live on with the lives saved and brought into this world through this new ambulance in Beit Haggai.
May Lieba’s leaving this world be a stark reminder of the importance to treat others with kindness, acceptance — and help when needed. Yehi zichra baruch.
Yisroela Joran lives in Edison with her family, where she founded and manages a community clothing gemach with clothing free by donation to RWB through www.causematch.com/rwb. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Rutgers-Newark as well as a certificate in gifted education, and is involved with several other projects. She is a Republican committee member for the 49th District of Edison.
