The Answer to Jewish Life is Harmed, As It Was in Pittsburgh
By NURIT GREENGER
It was rather difficult for me to choose the article’s header. What can one name an article about people whose mission is to save life, to help the needy, to be first when the SOS call, the urgent appeal for help, was received?Variety of headers came to mind such as:It Is a Matter of Life;One Side Wants to Take a Life, the Other Side Saves It;MDA, the Life Line of Israel;(Photo credit: Nurit Greenger)All three are a possible headline that gives a clear indication what Magen David Adom (MDA) is all about. The name means “Red Shield of David.” It is Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service. Since June 2006, MDA has been officially recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross as the national aid society of the State of Israel under the Geneva Conventions, and is a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In Israel, MDA has a dedicated medical emergency phone number: 101.There is a saying in the Jewish culture: the one who saves one life as if he saved a whole world.Magen David Adom (MDA) is Israel’s comparable Red Cross or Red Crescent. With 2000 employees and 12,000 volunteers, totally funded by donations, MDA transfuses life and Jewish compassion in the land of Israel. The members of MDA see it a privilege to help others.Because America stands with Israel, the generosity to help MDA was noticeable at the Ball
The Red Star Ball, with Dina Leeds, AFMDA’s prolific President, and her husband Fred as Ball Co-Chairs, Adele and Beny Alagem event hosts, hosted several Israeli members of MDA and their saving life cases. The ball raised $7 million dollars. The evening gave stage to the performances of Israeli singer Ninet Tayeb and the Queen of Soul, Gladys Knight, and the Gypsy Kings group swept the 1,200 gala attendees off their feet.Because MDA’s needs are mostly funded from donations, as the tradition goes in Los Angeles, California, by end of each year, American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) hold its Red Star Ball in order to refill the coffers of MDA so it can perform its ultimate duty and efficiently save life in Israel.In Israel, a country that saw wars and lives with terrorism, emergency services are critical and thinking out of the box is essential. MDA answers emergency calls by using helicopters, sophisticatedly equipped ambulances, first-aid equipped bikes and bicycles that can arrive at the scene faster, as they can avoid traffic.Steven M. Mizel was awarded the Iron Dome Humanitarian of the Year Award; Jacqueline Goldman was awarded the Iron Dome Lifetime Achievement Award; Ruth and Elliott Kahn were awarded the Iron Dome Leadership Award – NeXt Generation.When Jewish life is abusedThe Gala that took place several days after the massacre of 11 Jews who were attending Sabbath prayers at their synagogue sanctuary in Pittsburgh, gave special emphasis to the importance of Jewish Life. When Jewish life is harmed, as it did in Pittsburgh, Jews double down on life.(Photo credit; Nurit Greenger)Jewish history proves that this special nation has the ability to lift its head and fight back in many ways. Each time some evil tries to bury the Jewish nation, all they do is plant a seed from which the children of Abraham grow stronger and more vibrant.I am proud to be able to tell the story of MDA from year to year.