Heshy Jacobs, the long-time president of Chevra Hatzolah of New York visited United Hatzalah of Israel today.
Younger medics were regaled with Hatzolah stories from thousands of calls spanning decades of activity. Heshy described how Hatzolah began and the technical challenges that were surmounted. Whether it be the shlepping the old steel oxygen tanks, or the dimes attached to the pagers used to call the dispatcher to find out what and where the call is.
Heshy shared with the medics the last words of Rav Moshe Feinstein ZATZAL, and the special sensitivity that Hatzolah medics around the world have when dealing with the unique needs of the frum community. He described the amazing work of Hatzolah in events as dramatic as 9-11 and the recent blizzard.
The common denominator in Hatzolah organizations around the world is the commitment to lifesaving according to Halacha. Heshy was impressed with the high-tech GPS-based Moskowitz LifeComapss Dispatch center and its live traffic and security cam video feeds.
While commenting that the United Hatzalah style ambucycle may not have a place in NY he was impressed by its ability to shave critical lifesaving
minutes off any response time.
In a phone call to Eli Beer, President of United Hatzalah, currently in New York, Heshy offered to advance professional cooperation between Chevra Hatzolah of New York and United Hatzalah of Israel.
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5 Responses
Hatzolah of New York is the first and original frum Hatzolah anywhere.
Hey YW editor,
It’s “Heshy Jacob”, not “Jacobs”.
😉
1, maybe the best, but not the first nor original. Shimon and Levi, and David Hamelech were famous for extrications, The concept of a standing rescue squad is mentioned in the writings of Geonim, late rishonim, and there was the first motor vehicle based outfit in Byaolostok at the advent of motorized trucking (as in wood spoked wheels). The Chassam Sofer lamented the lack of Jewish medical universities.
In more recent times – I believe Montreal had a Hatzolah of sorts before the idea took off everywhere else. It was a special phone line in someone’s house, who had a car, and who’s daughter was a nurse.
Don’t know the details though.
here’s no doubt that Hatzolah was founded in Williamsburg by Reb Herschel Weber, in the 60s. Others may have tried to organize various medical services, but his was the first to offer a large, organized, modern response to medical emergencies in the Jewish community. That’s not to take away from anyone who may have done klal emergency medical work in the past. But let’s give him a huge yasher koiach for creating Haztolah in Williamsburg… which then spread throughout New York City… which then spread further around the US, Canada, Israel, Europe, Mexico, Australia, Russia, and South Africa. All Hatzolahs today follow the ideas and procedures he originated.