Ichud Hatzalah & ZAKA Work Together to Train Ukrainian Jews

Responding to a request from the Jewish community in the Ukraine, United Hatzalah and ZAKA, in cooperation with the Israelife Foundation, have worked together to train Jewish volunteers of the local Kiev Hatzalah in the latest emergency, rescue and search techniques so they respond and provide aid to mass casualty emergencies should the crisis in the country escalate.

Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman, the Ukrainian Chief Rabbi, and Rabbi Hillel Cohen of the Ukrainian Hatzalah, made the request jointly to ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi Zahav and Ichud (United) Hatzalah President Eli Beer, as the crisis in the country rose. The men mobilized their organizations to work together to train the local team in only a matter of days.

The participants have been trained to provide first aid in mass casualty emergency situations, and include protocols for CPR, treating suffocation, injuries and diseases. In addition to that the participants have studied the Chessed Shel Emmes protocol issued by ZAKA to be used in the event of fatal casualties. Finally, they participated in a massive drill simulating their operational capabilities to treat a large number of victims and report to the community and emergency services in a professional manner. The training was administered by Dov Maisel, head of international operations at the Isralife Foundation, and Mati Goldstein, head of ZAKA’s Magen division.

“We were pleased to come to the assistance of the Ukrainian community during their time of need and provide the emergency training their volunteers need to handle local emergencies in an efficient and timely manner,” said Beer. “Both ZAKA and United Hatzalah each offered unique services and perspectives on emergency response and we were happy we could work together to help our fellow Jews.”

“We are grateful to both organizations for responding so quickly and generously to help our community in this time of need. The events surrounding us require our community to be prepared with the latest training and techniques so we can respond to emergencies and help our people quickly in these dangerous times,” said Rabbis Azman and Cohen in a joint statement.