Nine volunteers from three Rockland County firehouses left for Israel last night to relieve firefighters there who are involved in the fighting with Hamas militants in Gaza.
“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing,” Monsey Fire Chief Douglas Perry said of the way the local response was organized. “It is a good gesture.”
It was not immediately clear how long the volunteers will help out in Israel. They hope is to relieve those who left last night with a second wave of Rockland volunteers should the conflict carry into the coming weeks, Perry said.
Five of the volunteers come from the Monsey Fire Department. Two others each are from the Hillcrest and Spring Valley companies, Perry said.
The volunteers had a brief send-off last night at the Monsey firehouse before leaving for the airport.
A contingent of Rockland firefighters went to Israel on a similar relief mission in 2006 when Israel was warring with Hezbollah.
(Source: LoHud.com)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
9 Responses
Very nice who is paying for this??
It was a Kiddush Hashem last time and I’m sure of the same this time.
Now, that’s chesed! Olam chesed yiboneh – the world is built on acts of kindness.
There are jewish fire fighter companies? I didn’t know.
They are volunteers in Rockland County/Monsey
Yes, there are many Jewish Volunteer Firefighters in the Rockland County/Monsey area.
Both observant, and partially observant.
Mi K’Amcha Yisrael!
This is amazing! This shows our jewish “true” colors! Helping people all around the world!.
I with these guys success on their mission, and remember to stay safe.
From what I heard, they were sponsored to go.
Send us pictures!
Kol Hakavod!
i know one of the guys that went.. amazing person. may he, and all of them, return back safely.
For anyone that is interested, this group of firefighters was only 1 out of a few ready to go. You can sponsor a plane ticket and receive a donation receipt from a local Monsey synagogue. Send me an e-mail if interested. [email protected]