SAVING THOSE WHO CAN SAVING BE THOSE SAVED WHO CAN HONORINGBE SAVED THOSEHONORING WHO THOSE WHO CANNOTCANNOT ZAKA – WHO, WHAT AND WHY?

Who are the men in yellow vests? And why do they spend hours sifting through the devastation?

These are the men of ZAKA; 1500 volunteers and paramedics spread around , on call 24/7, to respond immediately to any terror attack or mass tragedy in Israel and overseas. Founded in 1995, ZAKA today is Israel’s dominant non- governmental lifesaving, rescue and recovery organization. Often the first to arrive on the scene, ZAKA volunteers work to save lives, where possible. Always the last to leave, they honor the dead by collecting all human remains to ensure a full Jewish burial for the victims.

1,250,000 volunteering hours

2008 President's Award for Volunteering Chesed Shel Emet (True Virtue)

All ZAKA volunteers are trained in the practical and halachic aspects of recovering human remains, honoring the dead and forensic identification. The only Israeli organization handling incidents of sudden and unnatural death, ZAKA also assists in all bureaucratic and legal aspects related to honoring the dead. This is chesed shel emet or true virtue - doing something that has no reward. ZAKA's sacred work may be thankless, but it has to be done.

1,500 volunteers

2,089 incidents a year Rapid Rescue Motorcycle Unit

Founded in 2001, the Rapid Rescue Motorcycle Unit enables ZAKA volunteers to weave through traffic, arrive at the scene and immediately begin treating the injured with emergency medical supplies carried on the bike. Time is of the essence, as the first four minutes of any incident can be the difference between life and death. Thanks to this unit, hundreds of lives have been saved.

830 volunteers

16,140 incidents a year Units

Dealing with search and rescue of missing persons, the Search and Rescue Unit includes specialist units such as the Climbing and Rappelling Unit, the Divers Unit, Jet Ski Unit and the Canine Search and Rescue Unit. Dispersed throughout the country and with specialist search equipment for land and sea, the highly trained volunteers are quickly mobilized, ready to help the emergency forces.

612 volunteers

1,887 incidents a year Accident Prevention

Throughout the year, ZAKA volunteers work in conjunction with various road safety organizations and the to prevent accidents on the road, at school and in the home. The organization launches accident prevention initiatives and develops information campaigns aimed at different sectors of the community, including school children, parents, hikers and even families at the traditional Lag Ba'Omer celebrations on Mount Meron.

80 volunteers

18 events a year We can provide you with the key to enter this world so you can take an active part in preparedness and response. Arica, Chile Windhoek, Namibia Buffalo, USA

Mumbai, Istanbul, Turkey

Phuket, Taba, Egypt New Orleans, USA Tsunami, Thailand emergencies, terror attacks or natural disasters if and when they occur in their local and neighboring communities. ZAKA International The training will take place either at ZAKA headquarters in Israel or back in the local community (for groups of 10-15 with training given by ZAKA personnel RescueZAKA International Unit from Israel). Rescue Unit The different programs include: • Emergency ZAKA responder training • Advanced coordinator training • Security concept solutions for Jewish communities After years of experience in dealing with mass casualty incidents in Israel and • And more… around the world, ZAKA, the Israel-based, UN-recognized volunteer rescue and recovery organization, is expanding the ZAKA International Rescue Unit. Against the background of international terror and increasing anti-Semitic The International Rescue Unit network attacks, ZAKA will recruit and train teams of volunteers worldwide to act as A 24/7, 365 days a year manned communication center based in the emergency first responders, able to assist the local emergency services. ZAKA headquarters and equipped with state of the art technology will coordinate all international operations. The center will update ZAKA From Mombasa to , from Turkey and Taba to the Tsunami in south East International Rescue Unit members in their local communities as and when Asia and hurricane Katrina, the ZAKA International Rescue Unit has gained the need arises to dispatch a unit and to keep them informed of relevant significant experience, expertise and reputation in international rescue and incidents worldwide. recovery field.

ZAKA Israel's assistance at major international terror attacks led the United Any international alerts, activities and incidents will then be monitored and Nations in 2005 to recognize ZAKA as an international volunteer humanitarian controlled by ZAKA's International Rescue Unit command and control center organization. This UN recognition enables ZAKA to offer emergency assistance in full collaboration with the Israeli Foreign Ministry situation room. even before the official delegation has left Israel, or the host country has Important updates and debriefings of worldwide events as well as different formally asked for help or even when the country has no diplomatic ties with security and medical alerts will be sent regularly to all members of the unit Israel. world wide. Rescue unit training

As part of our unprecedented International Rescue Unit, volunteers from communities all over the world will be able to participate in the different training programs that will include certification as emergency medical first In today's world, we must stand united responders; security preparedness and response; dealing with mass casualty against global threats. incidents, honoring the dead , working with forensics and hands-on emergency drills or simulation. We must learn, teach and help each other in the Successful course participants will then be on call to respond to medical challenge of dealing with terror and disasters... Official International Rescue Unit endorsements

Dear Friends,

Shimon Peres, President of Israel In today's volatile world and due to the increase in anti-Semitic threats, once again the Jewish "I have closely watched the strength and dedication of communities stand as a target for ongoing threats the ZAKA volunteers. With total dedication, you have and attacks. taken upon yourselves this enormous task – to treat, assist and offer a shoulder at this difficult hour, for the The most famous of recent times was the horrific wounded and their families and for the entire people." premeditated terrorist attack on the Mumbai Chabad house, when six innocent were slaughtered just for being Jews.

ZAKA has launched an unprecedented project to train Jewish communities in how to deal with disaster situations as a result of a terror or anti Semitic attack. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu: Even before the recognized ZAKA as an international volunteer "To help the Jewish people help others…ZAKA does this humanitarian organization, members of the ZAKA International Rescue Unit, in full willingly and in an awe-inspiring manner, in Israel and now in collaboration with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and security services, have been present the international community. I congratulate you on establishing internationally at terror attacks and natural disasters. an international arm. I hope that you will be without work here The ZAKA International Rescue Unit assumes significant responsibility by immediately and overseas but, unfortunately, for the near future, there is little sending out a highly trained team of paramedics and rescue and recovery specialists . expectation in this hope. Therefore, I wish to strengthen you in On arrival, the unit remains in contact with the Foreign Ministry situation room and this important endeavor that you do in Israel and around the the ZAKA rabbinical authorities. world." , anti-Semitism and even natural disaster could strike your community or neighborhood tomorrow. We are required by the Torah to prepare and protect ourselves.

Are you prepared?

Former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert: Now your community can benefit from the knowledge that we have "learned in blood" over the years. "There can be no doubt that the establishment of the ZAKA International Rescue Unit is an almost inevitable part of ZAKA's Join us and train with the ZAKA International Rescue Unit instructors and become a natural development. The ZAKA name has spread far and wide. You member of the international network. are known in every place, from the north to the south of Israel and around the world….No-one else can do what you do." Yehuda Meshi-Zahav Chairman, ZAKA ZAKA - Rescue and Recovery 234 Yaffo St. P.O. Box 36060 Jerusalem 91360 Tel: +972-2-6255444 Tel USA: 1-718-989-8627 Tel UK: 44-2033-181-588 E-mail: [email protected] www.zaka.us