ZAKA

Overview

Detailed testimony and conversation with two ZAKA volunteers, Simcha Yaffa and Yisrael Chasid, discussing their experiences, challenges, and the Jewish values underpinning their work—particularly during and after the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. The discussion covers their roles in handling the deceased, the trauma involved, coping mechanisms, religious context, and ZAKA‘s broader operations in Israel and abroad.

About ZAKA and the Speakers

• ZAKA: An Israeli volunteer organization dedicated to honoring the dead, providing respectful recovery and identification of bodies—including in cases of natural death, accidents, terror attacks, and war.
• Simcha Yaffa: School teacher (ages 14–15), ZAKA volunteer for nearly 15 years; comes from a family with a tradition in the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial society). Teaches at a yeshiva.
• Yisrael Hasid: ZAKA spokesperson; volunteer since age 20; became spokesperson at 21; also works in lighting systems.

ZAKA‘s Work and Challenges

Scope of Work

• Responds to deaths at home, suicides, accidents, and mass casualty events.
• Handles both Jewish and non-Jewish deceased, including foreign workers and, in war, enemy combatants.
• Ensures that all body parts and blood are collected and buried according to Jewish law.

October 7th and War-Related Experiences

• Volunteers faced unprecedented trauma due to the scale and brutality of the attacks.
• Described mass casualties, difficulties in identification (burned bodies, body parts, lack of documentation).
• Used refrigerated trucks for body transport due to volume; storage facilities were overwhelmed.
• Identification methods: fingerprints, DNA, dental records, tattoos, clothing, and unique items.
• Emotional stories: families searching for loved ones, parents identifying children by shoes, entire families killed.

International Operations

• ZAKA teams travel abroad for Jewish burial needs, disaster recovery (e.g., Romania cemetery, Thailand tsunami), and repatriation of bodies.

Coping with Trauma

Personal and Organizational Strategies

• Emotional detachment at work; feelings often surface afterward.
• Support systems: group therapy, outings, acupuncture, animal therapy (horses, dogs), and peer support.
• Some volunteers, including Simcha, prefer not to participate in therapy, relying on compartmentalization and family separation.
• Trauma can deeply affect family life; some volunteers’ families have been impacted or broken by the stress.

Faith and Mission

• Strong sense of religious purpose (shlichut, or mission) and faith help volunteers endure trauma.
• Jewish values of honoring the dead (kavod ha-met), rooted in tradition and law, provide meaning.
• Volunteers come from both religious and secular backgrounds; their motivation is a shared commitment to chesed (kindness).
• Community support and recognition bolster morale.

Jewish Legal and Ethical Context

Halakhic Principles

• The body is considered holy, deserving of maximum respect, and must be buried whole.
• Special procedures are used for murder victims (bodies are left as found to “testify” in the afterlife).
• Blood and amputated parts are collected and buried with the deceased.
• Chevra Kadisha and ZAKA are seen as performing chesed shel emet—the truest form of kindness.

Inclusivity

• Women also volunteer in Zaka, especially for the preparation of deceased women.
• Volunteers receive specialized training in respectful handling and legal/forensic procedures.

Organizational Structure and Broader Impact

Volunteer Culture in Israel

• ZAKA is part of a wider culture of volunteer organizations (ambulance services, aid groups, etc.), reflecting the Jewish value of communal responsibility (Kol Yisrael arevim zeh lazeh).

Forensic and Legal Cooperation

• ZAKA works closely with police and forensic authorities, adhering to legal requirements at accident and crime scenes.

Equipment and Tools

• Volunteers carry gloves, tools for collecting remains, and sometimes weapons for dangerous sites.

Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Personal Impact

• Volunteers struggle with the emotional toll; compartmentalization and a sense of mission are crucial.
• Family support varies; many families are unaware of the full extent of the work.

Hope and Resilience

• Despite ongoing trauma and renewed violence, faith and the hope for better times sustain the volunteers.
• The work is seen as a sacred duty, with the community and religious tradition providing strength.

Notable Incidents and Stories

• October 7th: Overwhelming casualties; entire families killed; bodies burned and mutilated.
• International Missions: Recovery of Jewish remains in Romania, disaster response in Thailand, repatriation missions.
• Miracles and Survival: Occasional stories of miraculous survival amid tragedy.
• Symbolic Finds: Recovery of a hanukiah (menorah) in a burned house, later lit with the survivors’ family.

Summary

Conclusion

ZAKA volunteers perform emotionally and physically demanding work rooted in Jewish values of respect for the dead and communal responsibility. The trauma is significant, but a strong sense of mission, faith, and support networks helps them persevere. Their work extends beyond Israel, reflecting both a deep commitment to tradition and adaptability to modern crises.

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Bios

Simcha Yaffa: School teacher (ages 14–15), ZAKA volunteer for nearly 15 years; comes from a family with a long tradition in the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial society). Grandfather made coffins. Born in London.

Yisrael Chasid: ZAKA spokesperson; volunteer since age 20; became spokesperson at 21; also works in lighting systems.