(PHOTO LINK AT END OF ARTICLE) Most people vacationing Upstate New York only think of Sullivan County when thinking of the Catskills, but not many folks are aware that there are many Jewish camps in Ulster County as well.

In keeping with their constant “communication meetings”, to ensure a smooth summer of emergency operations, the Catskills Hatzolah Coordinators met with personnel from various agencies in Ulster County on Monday morning.

As the Special Assistant to the Superintendent of the New York State Police Rabbi Bernard Freilich put it at the opening of the meeting, “Hatzolah’s great relationships with law enforcement, local FD and EMS personnel, come from three things – communication, communication, and communication”.

This summer has Boruch Hashem so far been uneventful, and the few incidents which Catskills Hatzolah did respond to in Ulster County, saw Hatzolah working hand-in-hand with the local authorities. Just last week a child fell off of a truck on Dairyland Road near Route 52, and a Medevac was needed. The Ellenville Fire Chief stressed his amazement at the speed of Hatzolah’s response in that particular incident. “Working hand in hand, we save lives together”, the Ellenville Fire Chief said.

Ellenville Police Chief Philip S. Mattracion spoke about the importance of “education” and how imperative it is to work together. Also publicly noted by the Chief was the very useful Liaison Rabbi Joel Gold, who also serves as the Chaplain of the Ulster County Sheriff Department. “Thanks to the devotion and dedication of Joel Gold, any issues related to the Jewish Community in Ulster County which arise, are quickly dealt with,” the Chief said

The Ellenville Hospital thanked Rabbi Yankel Richter, one of the Catskills Hatzolah Coordinators, for all his years of making sure that things run smoothly between the hospital staff and the Jewish Community.

Also attending the meeting were representatives from the NYSP Ellenville Barracks, Ulster County Sheriff Department, Ellenville Rescue Squad and other officials.

Catskills Hatzolah Coordinators Rabbi Yehuda Frankel, R’ Bernie Gibs, R’ Yidel Feig, and R’ Yom Tov Malek thanked the local authorities for their overwhelming cooperation during the summer, and wished them all a safe ‘rest-of-the-summer’, and a quiet and safe winter.

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