(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

In a festive ceremony held Thursday at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv, four bulletproof ambulances were donated by Mr. Sheldon and Dr. Miriam Adelson.

The bulletproof ambulances are expected to save lives in Yehuda and Shomron; in Hebron, Efrat., Ofra and Karnei Shomron. A fifth ambulance that the family donated is still being manufactured and it will join the others in service soon.

Taking part in the ceremony was MDA Chief Eli Bin, who also noted the organization’s new National Headquarters being completed in Ramle, will be named after the Adelson family as well. In addition, the Center for Paramedic Certification, which is going to be a part of the new national headquarters, will be named in the memory of Dr. Miriam Adelson’s parents, Simcha and Menucha Farberstein Z”L. Menucha, Dr. Adelson’s mother, was among the first volunteers serving in MDA.

The first bullet-proof ambulance went into service in 2009, and today, with the additional of these new ones, there are 48 operating nationwide. These units are Chevrolet vans manufactured in the USA and may be used as regular basic care of advanced care paramedic ambulances. The bullet-proofing is done in line with the specifications of the IDF’s Homefront Command. The armor-plating adds considerable weight to the vehicles, compelling drivers undergo special certification. In addition to Yehuda and Shomron, these units operate along the northern border and along the Gaza border. They are also used to evacuated victims from an attack scene that has still not been declared ‘safe’.

Dr. Adelstein added, “In my past I worked as a doctor right here in Tel Aviv, so MDA ambulances are a familiar sight to me as well as the wonderful and glamorous faces of drivers and paramedics.It shows that Israeli society is in a very good position. Magen David Adom, we are proud of you, it is a great honor for us, to help you.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)