Starting later this month, residents of Chicago’s far North Side, Skokie, and Lincolnwood will be able to get help in addition to 911 for medical emergencies. A team of local Orthodox Jews is launching a new emergency response service called Hatzalah Chicago to augment services in the areas where high concentrations Orthodox Jews live. Members hope the service will help resolve some unique religious tensions that can come up in emergency situations.
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13 Responses
The Chevrah Hatzolah in densely populated New York City was created in response to a clear need, i.e. the inefficient response time of the FDNY in NY. The great service they provide us, witnessed by their quick response time vs the FDNY, is invaluable.
I have heard from many in the Chicago community who silently question (silently, because no one wants to openly question the goodness of Motherhood, Apple Pie or good Samaritan volunteers) if the resources (time, money, etc) invested in a Chicago Hatzolah are truly justified.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends a total response time from dispatch to arrival at emergency of not more than 5 minutes and 30 seconds. The CFD average time is 4 minutes and 15 seconds (CFD, 2008). The response time in the primary Jewish neighborhood is much faster because the fire house is right in the center (of WRP).
In either case, the above article is a very poor argument for the need of Hatzolah and an extremely anemic representation of their raison d’etre.
For example: “Kompel says the mission is to prevent more stories like the example she gave. (person who 30 minutes to Dr.’s house instead of calling 911) Kompel says Jewish law allows people to break the Sabbath in life-or-death situations, but problems arise because, sometimes, people can’t tell the difference between what’s serious and what’s not.
Hatzalah’s emergency medical technicians are trained in both medicine and religious law. Kompel hopes they’ll help people make smarter decisions when it comes to the intersection of religious law and medical urgency.”
That is NOT the function of Hatzolah, that is the function of their Rabbonim to educate their kehilos re: Safek Pikuach Nefesh is obligated to be doche Shabbos!
Second example given: “But there are other things that Hatzalah can do that are unique to this religious community, things that other emergency response services may not consider — particularly on the Sabbath. So let’s say now Chicago Fire Department comes to the house on a Friday night, (and) they say we’re going to call your mother so they could come watch your kids,” said Frank. “You could call your mother from today ‘til tomorrow, they won’t answer the phone. So you actually have to physically go to the house, knock on the door, because they won’t answer the phone.””
Seriously?
Third: “Hatzalah responders can also make sure that if someone goes to the hospital on the Sabbath, they bring along a couple of bags of grape juice, a pack that’s something like a goodie bag. This allows the patients to observe Kiddush”
Seriously??
Not one word in article mentions quick and efficient potentially life saving response time, the true raison d’etre of Hatzolah!
Barry Liss, Skokie’s deputy fire chief, said it like it is, he was surprised, when Hatzalah first approached him, because “We weren’t certain that there was a need.”
No offense Chicago Hatzolah – but at the very least you need better P.R. to validate your organization.
As a resident of one of those communities I can only wish for good things from this.
I just hope the people in charge are a bit more selective with who they take in order to keep out the cowboys and showoffs that we read so much about on other blogs and in the coffee room. Let’s hope that they only attract the real and sincere volunteers.
Also I hope that no one steps on the toes of the cities rescue services and police as the community in Rogers Park has built a great relationship with the Chicago Police Department, and I would hate to see all that goodwill fly out the window.
Hatlzacha Rabba
SORRY – please replace previous comment with this one. Thanks!
The Chevrah Hatzolah in densely populated New York City was created in response to a clear need, i.e. the inefficient response time of the FDNY in NY. The great service they provide us, witnessed by their quick response time vs the FDNY, is invaluable.
I have heard from many in the Chicago community who silently question (silently, because no one wants to openly question the goodness of Motherhood, Apple Pie or good Samaritan volunteers) if the resources (time, money, etc) invested in a Chicago Hatzolah are truly justified.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends a total response time from dispatch to arrival at emergency of not more than 5 minutes and 30 seconds. The CFD average time is 4 minutes and 15 seconds (CFD, 2008). The response time in the primary Jewish neighborhood is much faster because the fire house is right in the center (of WRP).
In either case, the above article is a very poor argument for the need of Hatzolah and an extremely anemic representation of their raison d’etre.
For example: “Kompel says the mission is to prevent more stories like the example she gave. (person who walks 30 minutes to Dr.’s house instead of calling 911) Kompel says Jewish law allows people to break the Sabbath in life-or-death situations, etc… Hatzalah’s emergency medical technicians are trained in both medicine and religious law…. ***they’ll help people make smarter decisions when it comes to the intersection of religious law and medical urgency.”***
That is NOT the function of Hatzolah, that is the function of their Rabbonim to educate their kehilos re: Safek Pikuach Nefesh is obligated to be doche Shabbos!
Second example given: “But there are other things that Hatzalah can do that are unique to this religious community, things that other emergency response services may not consider — particularly on the Sabbath. So let’s say now Chicago Fire Department comes to the house on a Friday night, (and) they say we’re going to call your mother so they could come watch your kids,” said Frank. “You could call your mother from today ‘til tomorrow, they won’t answer the phone. ***So you actually have to physically go to the house, knock on the door, because they won’t answer the phone.””***
Seriously?
Third: “Hatzalah responders can also make sure that if someone goes to the hospital on the Sabbath, ***they bring along a couple of bags of grape juice, a pack that’s something like a goodie bag.*** This allows the patients to observe Kiddush”
Seriously??
Not one word in article mentions quick and efficient potentially life saving response time, the true raison d’etre of Hatzolah!
Barry Liss, Skokie’s deputy fire chief, said it like it is, he was surprised, when Hatzalah first approached him, because “We weren’t certain that there was a need.”
No offense Chicago Hatzolah – but at the very least you need better P.R. to validate your organization.
The response times for the Chicago Fire Department are very good. And they have been educated about shabbos and yom tov (at least to some degree) – everything I have heard and experienced about CFD response in emergencies is positive. CFD is mandated to transport to the nearest/clearest hospital … sometimes people would like more of a choice in that. However, they could call a private ambulance company in the first place. There are many good ones here. People with chronic health issues often have such a company on their speed-dial, so they will be able to go to their preferred hospital.
As I heard from one Hatzolah trainee — they are trying to provide a more locally available service. For example, if there is an emergency in a shul, one of them is apt to be there. They have tried to get some geographical diversity, so that there is a hatzolah member within a few blocks of everyone. Truth is, there are many MDs also around, but an EMT may very well be better at evaluating an emergency than a dermatologist who has been practicing for a long time.
When all is said and done, though, I think poster #1 raised a lot of good issues. I’m not sure this is a prudent allocation of resources. CFD has been great to us … their response times are excellent … and our discretionary dollars have a lot of places to go.
I agree that Hatzola needs to have anava as a requirement for all their staff. The thirst for honor leads to disaster.
Its a sad day for any community, when Hatzolah needs to justify their existence. There is no feeling in the world that can compare to the feeling of a Hatzolah member walking through your door while a loved one needs their help. Communities across the world have started a Hatzolah division. Not one community, not Baltimore, Waterbury, Union City, Elizabeth, Philadelphia, or anywhere across the world, have regretted activating a Hatzolah Chapter. Its people like “Ploni Almoni” who cause the starting chapters thousands of dollars in extra expenses (lawyers etc…) So that the justify a working program. Did you read the article about a 2 year old in Lakewood that passed away? It was because the infant choked. Every second counts. Every single second. I’m proud to be a Hatzolah member in the US, and I’ll defend it against people who make it hard for us to halp others.
I totally agree with #1. The CFD and police, as well as all of the suburbs mentioned, have an excelent response time. I guess that some of the people in Chicago just want to pretend that they are in Boro Park.
To #6, First of all, you are right to be proud and right that every second counts. Hopefully we in Chicago will benefit from hatzolah!
However, I don’t see why questioning the necessity “cause the starting chapters thousands of dollars in extra expenses (lawyers etc…)” Ploni is clear, no one is challenging them here … we are quietly questioning and perhaps hesitating in donations. That doesn’t add to their expense at all.
re: #6 thecommissioner says:
:::”Its a sad day for any community, when Hatzolah needs to justify their existence.”
All I quireed is to please demonstrate the justification for Hatzolah Chicago. So, is this then your justification? Seems a bit circular does it not?
::”There is no feeling in the world that can compare to the feeling of a Hatzolah member walking through your door while a loved one needs their help.”
How about the feeling of a trained FD Paramedic, present on every CFD Ambulance AND Fire Truck?
::”Its people like “Ploni Almoni” who cause the starting chapters thousands of dollars in extra expenses (lawyers etc…) So that the justify a working program.”
(I am sure you can get volunteer lawyers too) but please explain how/why you need lawyers to justify a working program?
All I am pointing out is, the article does not in any way address a real time void that needs to be filled and justifies diverting your community’s funds from their Yeshivos, Day Schools and Tzeddakah v’Chessed needs.
re: “a 2 year old in Lakewood that passed away? It was because the infant choked.”
Certainly your point might have been made had this tragic event rmn”l had a different outcome. But it didnt – so what’s your point? Ad hominem responses appealing to peoples emotions and not reason or logic does not prove the need.
::”I’m proud to be a Hatzolah member in the US, and I’ll defend it against people who make it hard for us to halp others.”
Chazak v’Ematz!! Klal Yisroel is proud of you too! Keep up the great work – where ever you are – where ever you are NEEDED!
#7 nailed it!
Just because something is a necessity in those wonderful “In Town” communities, does not mean that everyone else needs one too!
All this is going to do is divert funds from truley necessary programs in exchange for some men from the community getting to feel like they are back in Brooklyn or some other place in the “holy land”
You know that some of us dont really feel the need to emulate our east coast brethern, nor do we want Chicago and it’s surrounding suburbs to be New York Jr when it comes to yiddishkeit.
Bottom line is that in every community that Hatzolah is started there always naysayers who question the need while citing statistics. Often enough those same naysayers come forward at a later date declaring that they now see the benefit. If you don’t believe its needed, don’t send your money. Perhaps the interviewee declined to state the obvious reasons for Hatzolah in a secular media publication for fear of insulting the local FD and EMS. Four minutes to respond to a choking or cardiac arrest call is not acceptable. Hatzolah can be there in under a minute.
May we never need Hatzolah’s serviced to understand it’s need in every community in which they serve.
@thecommissioner
“There is no feeling in the world that can compare to the feeling of a Hatzolah member walking through your door while a loved one needs their help. ”
That quote says it all, that it is worth it to start this unnecessary chapter of Hatzalah so that Jewish children never have to learn that the gentiles that work as police,fire,and EMT’s are worthy of our respect and grattitude.
Maybe I’m reading too much into it. But that comment really rubs me the wrong way.
@cleverjewishpun
“There is no feeling in the world that can compare to the feeling of a Hatzolah member walking through your door while a loved one needs their help.”
Maybe thecommissioner meant . . .
“There is no feeling in the world that can compare to the feeling a Hatzolah member has, walking through your door while your loved one needs their help.”
Maybe I’m reading too much into it. But that’s how that comment rubs me the wrong way.