Hatzalah

Funding

Across the world, Hatzalah organisations make money by fundraising, either by fundraising dinners, or via public matching funds.

Interaction with other agencies

At times, there have been difficulties in dealing with outside organizations, including other first-responders.

On February 20, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission granted Chevrah Hatzalah's request for a waiver to obtain calling party numbers (CPN), even when callers have caller ID blocking. In the United States, this type of CPN blocking waiver is normally only given to 911 call centers, but Chevrah Hatzalah does not receive calls through 911. Other Hatzalah dispatch numbers, including other New York State Hatzalah groups, do not have this waiver, but some are working on it.

In general, branches have excellent relations with state and local police and EMS.

An example of those operating in uneven, or otherwise especially challenging situations is Catskills Hatzolah, handling the swelling summer crowd.

Israel's United Hatzalah has shared its expertise with a group of Palestinian volunteers from East Jerusalem, to form an emergency first response unit called Nuran. The group has since been dismantled, and the volunteers were incorporated into United Hatzalah.

Magen David Adom

United Hatzalah's relationship with Magen David Adom, however, is strained, and MDA has banned its members and volunteers from also volunteering in other rescue organizations, including Hatzalah.

The Chevra NYC Central affiliates boast an excellent relationship with New York City and New York State agencies.

Ezras Nashim

Hatzalah was the subject of controversy as articles in the New York Post and JEMS Magazine criticize the organization for its practice of not allowing women to join. A group of Orthodox women founded an organization called Ezras Nashim, an all-female Orthodox Jewish volunteer EMT ambulance service. They cited the need for modesty and sensitivity to the needs of fellow Orthodox women, with the goal of preserving women's modesty in emergency medical situations, especially childbirth: "This is a woman's job. Historically, women have always delivered babies in traditional Jewish values, pointing to the Hebrew Bible Book of Exodus, where the first midwives were women, Shiphrah and Puah." "In our community, women also have a very strong motivation to seek female doctors", said their lawyer, Rachel Freier, a Brooklyn Civil Court Judge and Haredi Orthodox Jewish mother of six.

Notable field operations

Crown Heights riot

Lack of public understanding of Hatzalah operations played a key role in the 1991 Crown Heights riot in Brooklyn. To the general public observing a car crash, it appeared that Hatzalah was there to help the Jewish operator of the car and not the two small children who were severely injured by the car.

September 11 attacks

Hatzalah members were among the first responders at the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks on September 11, 2001. Alongside other rescue workers, Hatzalah volunteers rescued, treated, and transported victims.

Hatzalah was not dispatched by the city's 911 system, and a print-out of the 911 job from FDNY EMS does not list them as responding units. However, audio recordings exist of Hatzalah's own dispatch, including members calling for help during the collapse of the first tower. There are also well-known photos of destroyed Hatzalah ambulances and the destroyed cars of Hatzalah members, in the aftermath of the attack.

COVID-19 pandemic

Hatzalah chapters across the United States continued to service Jewish communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization saw a 250% increase in emergency calls during the pandemic. In addition to medical response, Hatzalah worked with rabbis and community leaders to communicate to Jewish communities the need for self-isolation and the implementation of safety precautions. Multiple Hatzalah chapters donated ventilators and masks, as well as other vital personal protective equipment, to local hospitals in need of the equipment.

Surfside building collapse

On 24 June 2021—ten days after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the law that would allow Hatzalah in Florida to operate HSF treated sixty patients on-site.

Chapters

Chapters of the organization exist in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Panama,England, Israel, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, and in the United States. The chapters in each neighborhood or city operate independently, though in many cases, affiliations and levels of co-operation do exist between neighboring chapters.

References

References

1. "Central Hatzalah - Hatzalah Homepage".
2. "Affiliates".
3. "Williamsburg Services".
4. Taback, Aryeh B.. (2003). "The Director". [[Artscroll]].
5. Cooper, E. C.. (30 March 2012). "Chevrah Hatzalah". fcc.gov.
6. "Boro Park Hatzolah Volunteer Ambulance".
7. "United Hatzalah Panama". United Hatzalah Panama.
8. (2004). "Emergency Response Service for Jews in Russia's Capital".
9. Ryan, Caroline. (2003-01-19). "Jewish health service offers local care". BBC News.
10. https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/2354787/hatzalah-cleveland-has-officially-launched-their-24-7-emergency-medical-services.html
11. Handler, Mechel. "Madrich L'Chevra Hatzalah". Feldheim.
12. (17 February 2016). "After blogs and Facebook, military censor sets sights on WhatsApp". [[The Times of Israel]].
13. (2001). "Volunteer Lifesavers". Jewish Journal.
14. "Frequently Asked Questions". United Hatzalah.
15. "Regional Locations - Central Coordination".
16. "Regional Branches".
17. Bloomberg, M.. (2005). "Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Announces Two Initiatives To Re-Develop Under-Utilized Land In The Culver El Section Of Borough Park, Brooklyn".
18. (13 March 2014). "High Court rules Hatzola paramedics breached traffic laws".
19. (27 July 2011). "NY Hatzolah Ambulances Can Now Use Blue Lights". Yeshiva World News.
20. (14 June 2021). "DeSantis Signs New Law Supporting Faith-based Volunteer Ambulance Services". [[WPLG-TV]].
21. (24 July 2014). "Highway Traffic Act". Ontario.
22. "Hatzolah Australia Fire Safety".
23. "Canadian Hatzoloh Chanukah Safety".
24. "NYC Haztalah Purim Drinking Campaign".
25. A brief description of their Two-Tier system can be found at [https://www.hatzalah.org/twotiered.php Chevra Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc.] {{Webarchive. link. (28 January 2013)
26. (19 April 2021). "They Told Her Women Couldn't Join the Ambulance Corps. So She Started Her Own.". The New York Times.
27. "Hatzolah LA When To Call Us". Hatzolah of Los Angeles.
28. "CrownHeights.info – Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News".
29. (2012-08-08). "BREAKING: Hatzolah Members Illegally Ticketed While Responding To Life-Threatening Emergency". Catskill Scoop.
30. "Petition of Chevrah Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps Inc. for Waiver of Section 1601(b) of the Commission's Rules – Blocked Telephone Numbers".
31. e. g., seasonal
32. Israel's [[United Hatzalah]], see below
33. (21 April 2004). "In the Catskills: A Century of the Jewish Experience". Columbia University Press.
34. Gilhar, Uri. (March 13, 2009). "Haredi Rescue Organizations Collapsing". [[Ynetnews]].
35. (14 May 2019). "MDA, Hatzalah battle over the nation's health". The Jerusalem Post.
36. "Fastest Response Times in the World".
37. Fenton, Reuven. (2011-09-26). "Jewish 'siren' ladies". [[New York Post]].
38. Fenton, Reuven. (2019-10-30). "Hasidic all-women EMT group faces backlash from Hatzaloh members". [[New York Post]].
39. (September 2011). "Jewish Female EMTs Plan to Join All-Male Ambulance Corps". Jems.com.
40. Weichselbaum, Simone. (February 27, 2012). "Jewish Women in Brooklyn Launch EMT Service". [[Daily News (New York).
41. Herzenberg, Michael. (May 28, 2012). "Woman Works To Form All-Female Hasidic Jewish EMT Service". [[NY1]].
42. Ramirez, Jeanine. (November 6, 2019). "Woman Works To Form All-Female Hasidic Jewish EMT Service". [[NY1]].
43. Levin, Joe. (2011-09-24). "T.O.T. Private consulting services: Orthodox Women Demand To Join Hatzalah Ambulances". Privateinvesigations.blogspot.com.
44. "Answering the Call on 9-11". Behrman House Publishing.
45. "Mike Hernandez' WTC 9/11 Footage (Enhanced Video/Audio & Doubled FPS)".
46. A number of Hatzoloh volunteers wearing "Flatbush Hatzoloh Paramedics" uniforms are featured in the documentary film ''[[102 Minutes That Changed America]]''.
47. FDNY Call 0727 MCI40P Aircraft Incident/ Crash PDJob#01225500590 Date 9/11/01
48. (2008-09-11). "The Yeshiva World Audio Of Hatzolah Radio & Video: 7 Years Since 9/11". Theyeshivaworld.com.
49. "Image: One of the Hatzolah ambulances destroyed on 9-11. Boro Park Hatzolah – Sept. 11 Album".
50. The Hatzalah ambulance donated by NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in memory of his parents protected early Hatzalah responders, but was subsequently destroyed by falling debris after they were evacuated. [http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/2011/09/my-911-a-new-york-united/ Sheldon Silver: My 9/11: A New York United – Thirteen]
51. "Image: Members cars piled up. Boro Park Hatzolah – Sept. 11 Album".
52. (1 April 2020). "On the Frontline Against Coronavirus". Ami Magazine.
53. (19 March 2020). "Boro Park Hatzolah Says Community Not Taking This Seriously". Yeshiva World News.
54. (16 March 2020). "Coronavirus Statement". Hatzoloh Toronto.
55. (1 April 2020). "Orthodox EMS' ventilator transfer solves hospital's conflict with Jewish patients — for now". Forward.
56. (23 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Jewish EMS Service Donates Masks To Suburban Police". Patch.
57. Rosen, Armin. (1 July 2021). "The IDF Arrives in Surfside". [[Tablet (magazine).
58. Morganbesser, Lauren. (28 June 2021). "Hatzalah Paramedics at Florida Building Collapse: There is Hope". The Jerusalem Post.
59. NYC Regional branches can be found at [https://www.hatzalah.org/localBranches.php Chevra Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc.] {{Webarchive. link. (28 January 2013)