MDA AMBULANCES IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA

Operating from 119 Emergency Medical Stations throughout Israel, from the northernmost city of Metulla to Eilat, and including 14 MDA Stations in West Bank communities, Magen David Adom ambulances continue to proudly display the “Red Star of David” or “Magen David Adom.”  There has been no change in this policy.  MDA ambulances have displayed the “Red Star of David” since the organization’s founding in 1930 and any rumors or allegations to the contrary are simply not true.

Recently, on “Shabbat Hevron” (“Hayei Sara,” the parasha read on November 19), Magen David Adom had a medical tent near Machpela (Tomb of the Patriarchs) in Hevron, further proving that MDA provides service on both sides of the “Green Line.”

In addition to its large national fleet of emergency vehicles, there are a number of small kibbutzim, moshavim, factories and communities on both sides of the “Green Line” that are operating older ambulances which were provided by MDA after they were taken out of active duty.  Crews manning these lifesaving vehicles are trained and certified by Magen David Adom, work under the supervision of MDA’s “Community Unit” and are in regular communication with the MDA National Dispatch Center, but are not MDA staff. These ambulances also carry the “Magen David” shield, however because they are operated by individual communities and municipalities this emblem is blue and the vehicles also bear the names of their home base communities.  This ensures that there is no confusion regarding the level of operational capabilities.

All the policies and procedures regarding community ambulances have been fully endorsed by the Israeli Government and in consultation with Danny Dayan, Chairman of the Judea and Samaria Council who requested that these adjustments to “community ambulances” first take place on the other side of the “Green Line” and only afterwards in Judea and Samaria.  MDA agreed to this request.

However, as important as all of these points are, the following is, for us, the most important issue:

Every day, throughout Israel, Magen David Adom medical teams are on alert, operating nearly 900 ambulances that travel 10 million miles to care for 600,000 patients.  Heart attacks, strokes, work, home and road accidents, illnesses, pregnancies and so on, in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Nahariya, Metulla, Tzfat, Jerusalem, Rehovot, Sderot, Ashdod, Be’er Sheva, Eilat, Dimona, as well as Efrat, Kiryat Arba and Ofra, MDA is SAVING LIVES IN ISRAEL.

When terrorists in Gaza fire the next barrage of rockets at Sderot, Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva, when another round of missiles aimed at Israel are launched from southern Lebanon (as they were on November 28), MDA will be there to treat, stabilize and rush Israeli civilians to the hospital.  Furthermore, MDA collects, tests and stores the nation’s blood, supplying 100% of the needs of the IDF and 95% of the rest used in Israel.  These urgent and essential human needs, served by Magen David Adom and supported by American Friends of Magen David Adom, are crucial and compelling reasons to donate funds to AFMDA now.

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The mayor and his sister at the Dedication

JERUSALEM (October 23, 2011) – American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) celebrated the dedication of the William H. Bloomberg MDA Jerusalem Station in Jerusalem today in the presence of many dignitaries including New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.  Mayor Bloomberg was responsible for donating the lead gift to dedicate the new, landmark Magen David Adom Station in Israel’s capital in memory of his father.  In the nearly five decades since William Henry Bloomberg passed away, the same year in which the previous MDA station in Jerusalem was opened, Jerusalem’s population has grown and diversified many fold, and Magen David Adom’s Jerusalem Region has become the busiest of all MDA regions. 

In his comments at the dedication ceremony the Mayor said, “My family was attracted to Magen David Adom because of its spirit of volunteerism and its unwavering commitment to treat all people equally regardless of race or religion,” he said.  “Today is a great day for Magen David Adom, its supporters, my family and the people of Jerusalem.”

“I have always thought that Israel is one of the great friends that America has and we are thrilled to be a part of this and will never forget everything that Israel does every day for the world,” Mayor Bloomberg added.

The Mayor fields a question during the press conference.

Some 1,700 MDA staff and volunteers serve Jerusalem and its surroundings, saving lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  More than 1.2 million people live in the region covered by the new William H. Bloomberg MDA Jerusalem Station, a number that increases vastly each day with an influx of government and other workers, tourists, and students.   MDA provides the region’s EMS and ambulance services and supplies Jerusalem-area hospitals with virtually all their blood needs.  Indeed, MDA is the lifeblood of the city and people of Jerusalem.

During his introduction of Mayor Bloomberg at the Jerusalem ceremony, AFMDA National Chair Mark Lebow said, "While your leadership in the business and civic realms are well known, today's dedication is proof that your legacy of giving and helping others, which was imparted to you by your father, extends far beyond New York and into the hearts of each and every person in Israel who will benefit from the services of Magen David Adom and this Station."

When opened in 1963, the original MDA Jerusalem station was located on the outskirts of a relatively small, divided city.  Jordanian snipers across the valley at the entrance to the city would shoot at the MDA station on a regular basis.  As such, the old building was built to prevent a sniper from hitting and wounding someone inside the station whose job was to save lives.  This is a paradox to which we hope to never return.

The new William H. Bloomberg MDA Jerusalem Station has been renovated and expanded to factor in the vast growth of the population, modern engineering standards in the event of an earthquake, threats of conventional and non-conventional war, and made the station, which is now THE landmark at the entrance of Jerusalem, a modern and spacious facility that will serve Jerusalem and its residents for generations to come by making it easier and more comfortable for MDA’s heroic staff and volunteers to do their job. 

In addition to upgrading and renovating the original building and adding a new five-story wing, the  William H. Bloomberg MDA Jerusalem Station sports many new features and improvements.

AFMDA Vice Chair of Fundraising Dan Dobin with Barbara Bass,

who dedicated the Emergency Shelter in memory of her late

husband, Dr. Joseph Carl Bass

An Emergency Shelter was dedicated by Barbara Bass of Palm Beach "to forever remember and honor the memory of Joseph Carl Bass, MD," her late husband.

The new David Mark Berger Chapter Blood Donation Center is inviting and will make blood donation not just a civic responsibility, but one that can be done in comfort and modernity.   The fleet of bloodmobiles that operate from the Jerusalem Station will now be able to do so easily and efficiently, loading and unloading supplies without the need to carry them up and down stairs, directly into a state- of-the-art Blood Bank.

Separate sheltered parking for dozens of ambulances exists in the three tier parking deck, protecting staff and the vehicles, and their equipment, from the elements of the former wide open parking lot.

Jacqueline Goldman speaking at the dedication of the new

MDA Training Center that bears her late husband's and

her names

The Nathan and Jacqueline Goldman Palm Beach Friends MDA Pre-Hospital Training Center features new modern facilities and infrastructure to make all training needs a reality, an essential pillar of every aspect of MDA’s life saving activities, keeping staff and volunteers always at the ready.

The newest aspect of the new William H. Bloomberg MDA Jerusalem Station is the Visitors Center, the heart of which will be permanent fixed and interactive exhibit about the history of Magen David Adom and its wide range of life saving activities.  The Morris W. and Nancy Offit Conference Center will allow for formal programs and educational films for Israelis and tourists alike.  Visitors will be treated to a magnificent view from an observation deck overlooking the panorama of the hills and valley at the entrance to Jerusalem.

The new state-of-the-art Jerusalem Dispatch Center (Moked) will be the most modern throughout Israel.  When Jerusalemites have a problem, MDA will always be there to answer the call.

A renovated floor of staff rooms, lounges, and offices will provide basic comforts for the limited down time MDA’s heroes have between life saving calls.  The staff and volunteers are the backbone of MDA’s work, and the new facility expresses our appreciation and recognition of all their tireless work. 

Mayor Michael Bloomberg with Sefardi Chief Rabbi of Israel

(Rishon LeZion Shlomo Moshe Amar, putting up the second

of two mezuzot at the entrance of the building.  Ashkenazi

Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger (pictured behind Rabbi Amar) put

up the other mezuza with the mayor and his sister

While we celebrated in the presence of Mayor Bloomberg and many other VIPs, none of this would be possible without the generosity of thousands of Americans who have made it possible to reach this milestone, and the hard work of the staff and board of AFMDA who have helped to realize this achievement.   We are proud to continue the tradition of more than seven decades of American support for Magen David Adom.

Mayor Bloomberg set the pace with his commitment and leadership gift to the new MDA Jerusalem station.  Over the decades, the name Bloomberg has become synonymous with business information and integrity, and good governance as Mayor of New York.  For decades to come, the name Bloomberg will also be synonymous with saving lives in Israel and an unbreakable commitment to Jerusalem.

Working 24/7 for the people of Israel, 800 MDA ambulances and other vehicles travel 9.775 million operational miles in an average year.