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12 Shevat 5763 - January 15, 2003 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
ZAKA's Jerusalem Headquarters -- A Center of Concern
By Menachem Lubinsky

It is a far cry from the "bunker" (Israelis pronounce it boonker), which still serves as a nerve center for the volunteers of ZAKA Rescue and Recovery. Unlike the cramped underground quarters of the bunker, ZAKA's main offices now operate out of a converted apartment in Jerusalem's Ramat Eshkol neighborhood.

The evidence of the organization's role in rescue and recovery is everywhere, even outside of the apartment building. A bright red scooter is parked outside, as are two vans that help speed the volunteers to the scene of a terrorist attack, traffic mishap or disaster.

What is remarkable is that the small group of administrators and volunteers in the ZAKA offices are not just biding their time, waiting for the next tragedy to strike. They are very much in a strategic planning mode, working very closely with Magen David Adom and governmental agencies to prepare for any eventuality. Rabbi Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, ZAKA's director, is busy checking on the progress of the smallpox immunization program that involved all of his 700 volunteers throughout the country.

Responding to a chemical and biological attack has become a real concern as the possibility of an Iraqi reaction to an American-led invasion increases, as does the growing threat of terrorists using such weapons. "Our main focus is preparedness," says Meshi-Zahav. That translates into obtaining more and more scooters so that volunteers can reach the scene of an incident quickly. ZAKA already uses more than two dozen of the scooters throughout the country, but needs well over 100 to offer coverage in Israel's cities. It also needs at least three armored ambulances to respond to attacks while under fire.

Preparedness also means being better equipped at the scene of an event. That is why ZAKA, in a collaborative effort with MDA, is installing first-aid boxes in institutions, businesses, malls and other areas with large concentrations of people. The "boxes" which will be installed by ZAKA and equipped by MDA, will include oxygen, band-aids and other emergency equipment and supplies. They also hope to train more people to use the equipment but most importantly they are designed to provide volunteers with quick access to the rescue materials they need.

ZAKA leaders say that they are in demand all over the country for first aid training and even in civil defense preparedness. "People recognize that being adequately prepared and equipped is a major priority in our current environment," the ZAKA head says. But he is modest about the fact that ZAKA has become the central address for all matters that relate to preparedness. "I believe that there is a great deal of trust in what we do," he says.

It was a relatively quiet day in Jerusalem, but you wouldn't know it from the level of activity at the ZAKA offices. Even when there is a welcome lull to the spade of suicide bombings, there are the casualties on the road and even ordinary emergencies that ZAKA volunteers tend to. Many double as Magen David volunteers, but there is nothing more shattering than the task of collecting blood and fluids at the scene of a terrorist attack.

Seasoned volunteers like Ben Zion Oiring admit that they never quite get used to the task, although they are admired for their professionalism and dedication. "Our main motivation is to save lives and to follow the Torah's admonition for kovod hameis. It is perhaps this dedication that has so intrigued the media of the world. They can't understand why we would spend hours and sometimes days just to bury a few bone fragments with the murdered."

No group has been more captivated by the work of ZAKA then secular Israelis. Government officials and private citizens praise the "angels" that perhaps help soften the blow of the trauma that ordinary Israelis have found themselves in. In the large stack of letters in the ZAKA offices are words of praise from rabbonim about the emphasis on kovod hameis, accolades from government officials about the role of the organization in coping with the nation's tragic experiences, and testimonials from law enforcement and rescue agencies about the professionalism of the volunteers.

There is no amount of praise that is sufficient to describe the dedication of the volunteers, who abandon their daily life pursuits to do this holy work. It isn't as if they can come home and discuss their day's work with spouses and children. Instead, they must muster all of their reserves to put their experiences in perspective. ZAKA helps by offering them professional counselling and respite in resorts. But, says, Yaakov, a young volunteer, "You always hope that this will be the last."

Just as terrorism has brought a new dimension to the lives of Israelis, so have these men. They have demonstrated to ordinary Israelis that good ultimately triumphs over evil and that hope for a brighter day is just around the corner. At the Ramat Eshkol headquarters of ZAKA, you can't help but feel that these extraordinary benevolent actions will lead to better times.

 

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