DIASPORA AFFAIRS: One group, whose help has been invaluable since Oct. 7, is the team of medical professionals who flew over to shore up the Israeli healthcare system, in its hour of need.
Since the start of the war in Gaza, volunteering in Israel has become commonplace. Not just among Israelis who have flocked to the farms to help harvest the crops, for example, but among friends and supporters of Israel worldwide who have flown into the country to lend a hand in a number of different ways.
Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes; background, age, gender, skill set, and religion don’t matter if you want to come and help. There’s something for everyone.
One particular group, whose assistance has been invaluable since October 7, is the team of medical professionals who flew over to shore up the Israeli healthcare system, including Magen David Adom, in its hour of need.
A significant increase in casualties, coupled with a shortage of doctors, exacerbated by the deployment of medical professionals to the IDF reserve during the ongoing war, left Israel with a significant problem.
Creating a new group of volunteers from overseas
Although MDA was assisted by overseas volunteers through MDA International before October 7, a separate group, The IL-USDocAID Initiative, was created on that day to help the country through this critical time.
According to its website, the initiative was the brainchild of Israeli Doctors in America, “in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Health and in partnership with the Israel Economic Mission to the USA – East Coast,” with the aim of “enhancing the healthcare capabilities in Israel during challenging times.” A grant provided by the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, together with the support of Nefesh B’Nefesh, brought the initiative to life.
Magen David Adom, meaning “Red Shield of David,” is Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance, and blood bank service. This emergency service, which was stretched to the limit on October 7 and in the weeks following, has benefited enormously from the IL-USDocAID Initiative. Since the start of the war, over 170 medical professionals from the US and other countries have joined its ranks to provide emergency care in Israel.
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