1:00PM EST: Misaskim. It has become a household name. An organizational name people use when tragedy R”L strikes. They are reached out to whether it’s to prevent an autopsy, services needed to provide their “avodas hakodesh” at the scene of a tragedy, for their volunteers to “set up” a house for a family sitting Shiva, crisis intervention, Chevra Kadisha, or anything else a family might require in their time of need.
Although no one wishes it ever happens, the reality is that tragedy does indeed strike, and as history has proved, tragedy strikes unexpectedly, and unpredictably.
Based on that reality, Misaskim is constantly striving to perfect their organization, and has proven themselves over and over to be the foremost organization which people reach out to when needed. From California, to Florida, from New York to Canada, Misaskim has been there for fatal car accidents, airplane crashes, helicopter crashes, people hit by trains, cars and buses, fatal fires etc.
This past Tuesday, a delegation of Misaskim personnel travelled to meet with high-ranking Federal law-enforcement government agencies in their Washington DC offices.
Attending the meeting were representatives of the NTSB, the FBI, and the National American Red Cross – who are the lead organizations who would be in charge of a crisis, should a disaster strike the country.
The agencies were eager to build a bridge between their agencies and the Jewish Community Organizations, and look forward to using Misaskim as a platform of communication should Chas Veshalom a major tragedy strike a Jewish neighborhood.
Government officials on a Federal level, fully understand the needs and sensitivities of the Jewish Communities across the United States.
During the meeting, time was devoted to discuss what procedures should be taken if there are Jewish victims involved in an aircraft collision / terrorist attack. It’s important to note, that in the Continental Airlines crash of 2009, and in the mid-air collision between a chopper and a small airplane over the Hudson River in the summer of 2009, the above government agencies were overly accommodating towards the sensitivity and needs of the Jewish victims, and worked together with Misaskim & various other volunteer Jewish organizations as well.
The agencies were highly-impressed that a volunteer organization like Misaskim, is so well-established, with mobile command centers, numerous rapid-response vehicles – all outfitted for any type of tragedy, and have hundreds of highly-trained volunteers ready to be mobilized at a moments notice.
Misaskim and the attending agencies committed to keep in touch with each other, and although everyone hopes their services are never needed, should tragedy R”L strike, pledged to work closely with each other if disaster strikes.
(Shmuel Greene – YWN)
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21 Responses
A BIG KIDDUSH HASHEM
I saw them in action by the fatal fire in Williamsburg last year. They have what to be proud about.
Kavod hames in a professional way.
y didnt the feds meet with hatzulah?
Misaskim has been going to training for El Al crash drills for years at the NYC airports.
misaskim helped my family this past summer in an indescribable, discreet situation.
i don’t want to mention names, but they know who they are.
may hashem bless you with only the best
This chesed group is amazing. The agencies chose the correct people to deal with!
They prevented so many autopsies, its incredible.
Hi Fishel Feldman. Glad you could make it over.
Stay put! The worst is almost over.
a true kidush hashem for washington dc gov people to see how us jews care about the dead.
Professional, clean, community organization.
Ashrecha.
Why wasn’t Homeland Security at this meeting?
“Government officials on a Federal level, fully understand the needs and sensitivities of the Jewish Communities across the United States.”
OH REALLY??????!!!!! PERHAPS YOU CAN TEACH THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WHAT A PAIR OF TEFILLIN ARE!
HELLLLLO?
after 9/11 back when there was no such thing as misaskim
it was us yu students who were doing shmira round the clock 24/7 at the medical examiners tent with all the body parts
I was there right before Rosh Hashana, it is something that I have not forgoten to this day.
They were around before 9/11, just not as big. Reb Yanky Mayer has been doing this for 20+ years. I remember him cleaning scenes himself at 3am with noone helping him.
Tzadik gamor
Nothing is done in the organziation withiout the direct guidence and psak of hagoean reb yechezkal roth. that is what is what i like to hear.
no zaka phony baloniey stories running to mexico 3 days after a helicopter crash at the donors expens.
mekadesh shem shomayim borabim
Anyone know how I can volunteer for Misaskim? What type of training is required?
I saw their wearhouse in boro park. Youve got to see the amount of items are coming and going to the homes of aveilim each day.
incredible
Let’s hope services are never needed, and we just sing maos tzur.
Hamayvin yavin.
#6, If it is as you claim that they helped you discreetly then I can imagine that they equally assisted perhaps hundreds of others in the same discreet way, so how would you expect them to know who you are?
#14, If I remember correctly, I once read someplace (maybe Mishpacha magazine or Hamodia), that the Misaskim group was indeed instrumental in bringing the 9/11 victims to Kever Yisroel. I am not sure, but I think that the organization is quite old and just the Shiva services is fairly new.
However, may we never need their services…
I happen to be hevily involved in Misaskim, and you failed to mention that this is just one of dozens of meetings that the leadership has had in Washington DC in the past year alone!
I know it’s tough for some people to swallow, but face it.
Miaskim has grown into an amazing organization which I am proud to be a part of.