United Hatzalah

United Hatzalah: Origins and Mission

• Founder: Eli Beer, motivated by a childhood experience involving delayed ambulance response, began as a teenage EMT and developed a rapid-response volunteer network.
• Growth: From a small group of friends, the organization now has over 8,000 active volunteers across Israel.
• Core Principle: “People save lives”—the goal is to have trained responders available on every street.
• Free Service: All emergency care is provided at no cost to patients.

Operations and Technology

• Dispatch System: GPS-based technology connects emergencies to the five nearest volunteers, targeting response times of 90 seconds in cities and around three minutes in rural areas.
• Fleet: Includes ambulances, “ambucycles” (motorcycles equipped as mini-ambulances), e-bikes, boats, drones, helicopters, and specialized vehicles for doctors.
• Training: Volunteers receive over 200 hours of initial training, with ongoing refreshers and psychotrauma modules.
• Funding: Entirely donation-based; receives no government funding.

Psychotrauma Unit

• Purpose: Provides immediate psychological first aid to victims, witnesses, and responders at traumatic scenes.
• Team: Comprises 750–800 licensed professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers) plus 30–50 medics trained annually in psychotrauma.
• Example: On October 7th, a social worker stayed on the phone for 12 hours with two children hiding after their parents were killed—offering vital support until rescue.

Rachel Feld’s Volunteer Experience

• Background: Made aliyah from New Jersey in 2016; lives in Jerusalem with her husband and four children.
• Role: EMT for four years; member of her community’s trauma response team; has delivered 18 babies in the field.
• Post-October 7th: Completed 50–60 shifts in southern Israel after the attacks, providing medical care and emotional support.
• Personal Stories: Includes responding to trauma scenes, delivering a baby for a displaced family, and being supported by the psychotrauma team herself.

Volunteer Logistics and Community Impact

• On-Call System: Volunteers respond to radio alerts and have flexible scheduling (except for ambulance shifts or religious-area Sabbath coverage).
• Coordination with MADA: While United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom (MADA) share dispatch information, they operate independently. MADA is government-funded and charges for services.
• Community Dynamics: Volunteers often respond to emergencies involving neighbors, requiring discretion and confidentiality.
• Family Life: Balancing emergency duties with parenting and family commitments is challenging but manageable; the organization emphasizes “family comes first.”

Emotional and Social Dimensions

• Cultural Disconnect: Rachel shares the emotional distance she feels from American friends and family during crises in Israel.
• Support Systems: Volunteers rely heavily on emotional support from family, community, and the organization to cope with stress and trauma.

Q&A Highlights

• Volunteer Expectations: No obligation to respond unless on a scheduled shift.
• Agency Coordination: Automatic call-sharing; limited real-time collaboration in the field.
• Confidentiality: Volunteers are trained to maintain strict privacy, even in familiar or community-based cases.
• Family Support: A supportive home environment is essential for long-term volunteer engagement.

Closing

• Invitation: Participants are encouraged to visit United Hatzalah’s Jerusalem headquarters.
• Gratitude: Deep appreciation expressed for Rachel Feld’s service and for the organization’s critical impact on Israeli society.

United Hatzalah offers a uniquely effective, community-driven emergency medical response model in Israel—powered by volunteers, cutting-edge technology, trauma-informed care, and a culture of mutual responsibility, all sustained by private donations and profound personal dedication.

Resources

• Zoom Presentation by Rachel Feld to Israel Trauma Mission Group 2025-06-18
• Video: On October 7, United Hatzalah Psychotrauma specialist Dr. Tamar Schlezinger stayed on the phone for 12 hours with two young siblings hiding in a closet after their parents were murdered in Kfar Aza, helping them stay calm until IDF rescue.

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Bio

Originally from Edison, New Jersey, Rachel Feld made Aliyah in 2016, and now lives in Jerusalem with her husband and four children (ages 8, 6, 4, and 2). She has been a dedicated volunteer first responder with United Hatzalah for the past four years, responding to hundreds of emergencies across Israel.

In the aftermath of the October 7th attacks, Rachel served multiple shifts in Israel’s south, and currently serves on her community’s Trauma Response Team. In light of the ongoing security situation, her team is equipped and ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Rachel recently delivered her 18th baby in the field, and feels deeply privileged to be part of the United Hatzalah family.