PHOTOS: The UN Salutes ZAKA In An Event Held In Park East Synagogue

[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

A festive ceremony was hosted by Rabbi Arthur Schneier and the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan last week to mark the consultative status recently awarded to ZAKA by the United Nations. Among the participants were outgoing United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power and Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, who saluted the Israel-based international volunteer humanitarian organization for its humanitarian search and rescue missions at mass casualty incidents around the world.

ZAKA Chairman and Founder Yehuda Meshi-Zahav presented ZAKA Shield of Humanity awards to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power and Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon in recognition and gratitude for their tireless efforts in helping ZAKA receive consultative status as an official body at the UN. In addition, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Senior Rabbi of Park East Synagogue and President and founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, who hosted the evening in his Manhattan synagogue.

In January 2016, ZAKA was granted consultative status as an official body at the UN, one of only three Israeli NGOs to receive this coveted status. This, after a four year diplomatic struggle spearheaded by US Ambassador Power and Israel Ambassador Danon, and the final acknowledgment by the committee that ZAKA operates wherever and whenever help is needed, regardless of religion, race, creed or gender. In 2005, ZAKA was recognized by the UN as an international humanitarian volunteer organization.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon: ” ZAKA has shown through partnerships with Palestinians the great value of people-to-people activities in bringing people together even at times of sharp disagreements.” The Secretary-General noted that ZAKA’s “commitment to treating all victims, regardless of religion, race or ethnicity, also sends a powerful message. The United Nations is pleased to have you as a partner in our humanitarian operations and in our wider efforts to reduce disaster risk and improve disaster preparedness.”

In an emotional speech that referred to the anti-Israel bias at the UN, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power recounted how ZAKA denied accreditation “for one reason, and that is because ZAKA is an Israeli organization… We resolved we were going to fight for ZAKA, together with our partners at the Israeli mission… And we just said to folks: Look at the facts. Look at what ZAKA does. Tell us what there is to oppose. What was amazing is almost nobody who opposed ZAKA’s membership was even a little bit familiar with what ZAKA did. It was just reflexive. And after all of that, in January of this year, ZAKA was finally accredited – as it should have been long ago.”

The Ambassador concluded her remarks with a reflection on a previous conversation with Yehuda Meshi Zahav: “He said, “Everyone is made in the image of God. So it does not matter to us someone’s religion or gender or race when they need help. We save anyone who needs to be saved, and honor all people equally. I can think of few more profound ways to define the mission not only of humanitarians, but of anyone who believes in the principles of equality, human rights, and dignity, that the UN was created to uphold.”

Israel Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon: ” No organization better represents the ideals of the UN than ZAKA but time after time ZAKA was rejected at the UN. There was one reason and one reason only. ZAKA was rejected because this dedicated group of life-saving search and rescue professionals were from the Jewish state, operating in the name of Jewish values…. We told them this is not about politics this is about saving lives. We won by standing up for the truth and staying strong to our values.”

Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Senior Rabbi of Park East Synagogue: ” Charity is one of Judaism’s highest pillars and what ZAKA does is sheer It is such an honor for me to host ZAKA and the UN representatives and to receive the ZAKA Shield of Humanity.”

ZAKA Chairman and Founder Yehuda Meshi-Zahav: ” For ZAKA to receive consultative status as an official body at the UN leverages our ability to operate in humanitarian search and rescue missions around the world. To date, we have trained 34 ZAKA International Rescue Units in communities around the world and we will continue to offer assistance in mass casualty incidents and terror attacks, whenever and wherever we are needed. We are indebted to the tireless efforts of Ambassador Power and Ambassador Danon in ensuring this recognition. They are truly partners with ZAKA in this holy work.”

Also attending the event, which attracted over 300 invited guests, were ZAKA Chairman and Founder Yehuda Meshi-Zahav; Head of ZAKA America Rabbi Tzvi Gluck, ZAKA International Rescue Unit Chief Operations Officer Mati Goldstein and ZAKA International Director David Rose.