“I want to say something to everyone who is watching me right now. Among us now are many people whose lives will one day be saved because of United Hatzalah. They don’t know this yet. Right now they are sitting and watching me on their TVs, they look like they normally do, and they feel like they normally would, but their lives will be saved.”

These are the words of Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid who spoke this morning, Thursday 8 Tishrei, as part of a national day that has been set aside to saluting and support the dedication and selfless devotion of EMS volunteers who work with United Hatzalah, Israel’s largest all-volunteer EMS organization.

Lapid continued to state that “Statistically it has been proven more than once that because of the 3,500 volunteers of United Hatzalah, because of their blessed work and their tremendous hearts, you who are watching TV right now, one day your lives may be saved at the last possible moment. Just for that, they all deserve a place in heaven and our support here on earth.”

The national day saluting and supporting United Hatzalah volunteers came accompanied by continuous coverage throughout the day by Channel 2 news interviewing volunteers, and rescued patients, hearing their stories and paying tribute to the lifesaving efforts that these everyday normal people undertake.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also posted a video praising the works of the organization’s volunteers. “He who saves a life it’s as if he saved an entire world and that is what United Hatzalah does – they save entire worlds. I wish to thank you, the medics, paramedics, volunteers, all of you including Eli Beer and Moshe Teitelbaum, the heads of the organization, and the 3,500 dedicated volunteers and their families.

I would like to wish you, in my name and in the name of all the citizens of Israel, be strong and courageous. I know, and we all know, that everything you do you do without intention to receive any reward. I ask of you to continue with the lifesaving work that you are doing and may that in of itself be your reward and your merit. Thank you and good luck. Have a happy New Year and may you be sealed in the book of life. Thank you all.”

The organization also received wishes from other high-profile political figures including Ministers Yaakov Litzman, Ayelet Shaked, Naftali Bennett, Ayoub Kara, Moshe Kahlon, Eli Cohen, Ze’ev Elkin, Miri Regev, Yisrael Katz and Deputy Minister Tzipi Hotevely. Numerous MKs sent greeting from all sides of the political spectrum. Included among these are Amir Peretz, Zahava Gal-On, Uri Maklev, Eitan Cabel, Nissan Slomiansky, Miki Zohar, Amir Ochana, Yoav Ben Tzur, Yehuda Glick, Oren Hazzan, Michael Oren, Rachel Azaria, David Bitan, Isaac Herzog and Avi Gabbai and Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein.

Cultural Icons, Rami Kleinstein, Miri Bohadana, Yishai Ribo, Lihi Lapid, David D’Or, Kobi Oz and Kobi Aflalo also sent greetings and well wishes as did the Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat and various Rabbinic figures including Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch the Rav of the Kosel and Holy Sites.

“This cross-section of support from people who represent all different streams of political, cultural and religious views across the country, thanking our volunteers for what we do, shows just how much of an impact our volunteers have made through their dedication to saving lives in Israel,” said Founder and President of United Hatzalah Eli Beer. “We will continue to give everything we have to the people of Israel, to go out and save lives even in the blistering heat of summer days or the cold and wet winter nights. Our volunteers deserve this day of recognition and I am thankful to all of the people who sent in videos saluting the work that they do.”

Photo: Channel 2 Television program “Toker” interviews 4 United Hatzalah volunteers and the CEO of Israelife as part of the National day long salute to United Hatzalah EMS volunteers

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: United Hatzalah)