NEWSZAK A April 2011 / Tevet 5771 / No.19

MICHAEL MIRILASVILI, Chairman, ZAKA International Board Of Directors

RAFAEL AHARONI President, ZAKA, Hong Kong Macau and China

YAACOV PERI Chairman, ZAKA Board of Trustees

CHIEF RABBI LORD Jonathan Sacks Patron of British Friends of ZAKA

YEHUDA MESHI ZAHAV ZAKA Chairman and Founder

FROM TO

To donate: http://www.zaka.us/Donations.asp Dear Friends of ZAKA, Welcome to another edition of NewsZAKA, bringing you up to date with some of the latest activities in the organization. Tragically, this period saw the first terror attack in Jerusalem in years, as well as the brutal murder of the Fogel family and a natural disaster of cata- strophic proportions in Japan – ZAKA was there, offering assistance and our unique experience. We continue to expand internationally, with more trained units in Russia and America. Thank you in advance for your generosity which allows ZAKA to continue its operations. Secure donations can be made via our websites www.zaka.us (dollars); www.zaka.org.uk (sterling) or www.zaka-fr.org (euros). Please forward this e-newsletter to family and friends.

Yehuda Meshi-Zahav ZAKA Chairman

www.zaka.org.il Main Office: 234 Jaffo St. P.O. Box 36060 Jerusalem 91360 | Tel. 972-2-5015120 | Fax. 972-2-5015121 Email: [email protected] USA: 1303 53rd st. #170 Brooklyn N.Y. 11219 USA | Tel: 1718-676-0039 | Fax: 1718-865-0948 Email: [email protected] France: 20 bis rue Louis Philippe 92200 Neuilly sur Seine | Tel. 01-74-900-600 | Fax. 01-73-049-207 Email: [email protected] England: 233a Golders Green Road London NW11 9ES Registered Charity No. 1099639 | Tel: 020 8458 5391 Email: [email protected] Canada: Suite 92, 2190 W. Broadway Vancouver B.C V6K 2C8 Canada Email: [email protected] HK, Macao & China c/o The Jewish Community Centre One Robinson Place 70 Robinson Road Mid Levels Hong Kong E-mail [email protected]

NEWSZAK A 2 FROM ISRAEL TO NEW YORK TO AND BACK AGAIN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, ZAKA-STYLE

In late January, ZAKA signed a who passed away in Chennai, cooperation agreement with with no known family. The the American organization local coroner’s office refused to Chesed Shel Emes, which will release the body without the now operate under the umbrella consent of the next-of-kin, and of the U.N.-recognized ZAKA therefore ZAKA’s assistance was International Rescue Unit in all required in finding the next-of- their dealings with international kin in Israel. entities and the government in ZAKA activated their resources Washington. in Israel, pulled all strings but to no avail. After Hardly a week later, the first fruits of this joint further researching the matter ZAKA discovered זק"א ו'U.S. - citizenship.CSE חסד של carried אמת' also ארה"ב deceased בהסכםthe של thatשיתוף פעולה .effort already came to light Sunday morning (Israeli time) the phones in The ZAKA representative on the case contacted ארגון 'Shel - Emes CSE חסד של at Chesedאמת ' ארה"בpartners יעבוד American תחת their newהמטרייה the phoneהבינלאומית onשל the ZAKA headquarters rang and was a Chabad shaliach from Chennai, India who for help. U.S. time) when Chesed) זק"א reported the death of a 56 year old Israeli citizen On Sunday morning במפגש שנערך השבוע בניו יורק בין יו"ר ארגון זק"א יהודה משי זהב לבין הנהלת 'חסד של אמת' 3 בארה"ב ZAK Aבנשיאותו של הרב NEWSמנדל רוזנברג, הוחלט על שיתוף פעולה בין שני הארגונים בפעילות 'חסד של אמת' ברחבי ארה"ב ובעולם.

ארגון 'CSE - חסד של אמת' בארה"ב בנשיאותו של הרב מנדל רוזנברג, מונה כחמש מאות מתנדבים מסורים המטפלים בכל אירוע של 'חסד של אמת' ברחבי ארה"ב, החל מטיפול ביהודים גלמודים הנפטרים בבתי חולים לא יהודים, ודואגים להם לכל הנצרך, טהרה, הלוויה, וקבורה יהודית. ועד לעמידה על המשמר בכל נושא של כבוד המת, בתאונות דרכים, אסונות, ומניעת נתיחת ושריפת גופות. ארגון 'חסד של אמת' הינו בעל נסיון רב המוערך על ידי כל רבני ארה"ב מכל החוגים, כמו גם על ידי השלטונות בארה"ב על מקצועיותם ורצינותם הרבה.

הרב מנדל רוזנברג העומד זה כחמש עשרה שנה בראש הארגון, הקדיש את חייו לנושא 'כבוד המת', ובדרכו המיוחדת הצליח לחולל מהפך של ממש בהתייחסות השלטונות למושג 'כבוד המת' לנפטרים היהודים. "המטרה של 'חסד של אמת' תמיד הייתה לכבד את הנפטרים ולתמוך במשפחותיהם בהתמודדות מול האסון, שת"פ בין הארגונים יעצים את היכולות של שני הארגונים בכל מקום בעולם"

בפגישה בין חברי הנהלת 'CSE - חסד של אמת' היו"ר הרב מנדל רוזנברג, הרב צבי גלוק, הרב מאיר ברגר, לבין יו"ר ארגון זק"א יהודה משי זהב, מפקד היחידה הבינלאומית של זק"א מתי גולדשטיין וקמב"צ היחידה דובי מייזל, סוכם שארגון 'חסד אל אמת' יעבוד מעתה תחת המטרייה של ארגון זק"א כארגון בינלאומי המוכר ע"י האו"ם, הן אל מול גופים בינלאומיים והן מול גורמי הממשל בוושינגטון. בהמשך מתוכננים קורסים משותפים למתנדבים חדשים בארה"ב, השתלמויות משותפות והעשרה הדדית בארץ ובארה"ב למתנדבים של שני הארגונים.

לארגון זק"א ו' CSE- חסד של אמת' יש נסיון רב של שיתוף פעולה בעבר, באירועים שהצריכו מעורבות בינלאומית ויכולת לוגיסטית ומבצעית רבה. יו"ר ארגון זק"א יהודה משי זהב אמר: שההתחברות ושיתוף הפעולה בין שני הארגונים יהווה שדרוג כוח משמעותי ליחידה הבינלאומית של זק"א, ויתרום רבות ליכולות של שני הארגונים בהגנה על כבוד המת ברחבי העולם בכלל ובארה"ב בפרט.

Shel Emes Headquarters received the call, Rabbi autopsy was successfully prevented, and we Zvi Gluck, Director of Government relations hereby express our deepest appreciation for their for Chesed shel Emes sprung into action and extraordinary efforts. immediately phoned his contacts in the U.S. State The next setback came when a close friend of his Dept. who, after receiving the proper approvals, in India tried to get the body donated for scientific provided valuable assistance in locating next purposes. However due to the great work of the of kin. Chesed Shel Emes then assigned two dedicated volunteers who located the blood relatives volunteers to work the phones. After several and legal next-of-kin, that request was overridden. hours of investigation, numerous phone calls, A Jew who would probably never have gotten a interviews spanning Oregon, Arizona, Illinois, kosher, Jewish and timely burial, received a timely Florida, and Hawaii, a first cousin was finally burial in India, kosher to the highest standards, all located in Hawaii. He then directed them to a made possible by the recent agreement between brother who lives in Florida. Chesed Shel Emes and ZAKA, and the amazing The conference call was made between Chesed work of the previously mentioned government Shel Emes, the brother, and the American agencies. Consulate in Chennai, documents were signed, TIME FOR TRAINING permission was given, and the body was to be As part of the cooperation agreement with CSE, released the next morning. ZAKA International Rescue Unit heads Mati The case looked all but settled when the setbacks Goldstein and Dovie Maisel ran a week-long began. The first setback was when the local training workshop for 45 active CSE volunteers in coroner’s office decided to do an autopsy. The New York during March. U.S. State Dept. was contacted again, and after Given their years of experience in handling numerous hours of work by their foreign affairs unnatural deaths in New York, the CSE volunteers office, the U.S. Consulate in Chennai, and the received training that focused on emergency Israeli Consulate in , who really showed first response and disaster management at mass respect, care and compassion for this cause, the casualty incidents.

NEWSZAK A 4 ZAKA VOLUNTEERS IN ANNUAL PURIM ACCIDENT PREVENTION CAMPAIGN

For the fourth consecutive year, the ZAKA Rescue and Recovery Organization launched a Purim accident prevention campaign, in cooperation with local municipalities and health funds. The campaign, which included explanatory material, advertisements and lectures by ZAKA volunteers in schools, was designed to raise awareness among parents and children of the safety precautions to be taken during the festive holiday period.

Motti Bukchin, ZAKA spokesman and volunteer who initiated the campaign, noted that most accidents that happen during Purim are a result of lack of understanding of safety needs. “We have seen a significant reduction in the number of burns and other accidents related to the holiday, as a result of this accident prevention campaign. For ZAKA, it is of the utmost importance to reach as many children as possible with this information campaign”

NEWSZAK A 5 RUSSIA JOINS GROWING GLOBAL NETWORK OF ZAKA INTERNATIONAL RESCUE UNIT

As part of its global initiative to train local International Rescue Unit. The 25-member Russia volunteers in emergency preparedness and unit joins a growing global network of ZAKA- disaster management, the Israel-based, ZAKA trained volunteers in major Jewish communities volunteer rescue and recovery organization in the USA, Mexico, Argentina, Europe and the Far completed intensive training during February East, all trained and equipped to deal with any in Moscow of a local branch of the ZAKA disaster or mass casualty incident in their region.

NEWSZAK A 6 The intensive week-long training workshop was sponsored by the Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and Chairman of the ZAKA International Board of Directors Michael Mirilashvili. Mati Goldstein and Dovie Maisel, the veteran co- directors of the Israel-based ZAKA International Rescue Unit with experience of international disasters that includes, among others, , Mumbai, the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, led the workshop which included training in emergency medical response, mass casualty the participants received certificates, the yellow triage and management, honoring the dead and ZAKA vest and emergency medical equipment. basic forensics in accordance with Jewish law. Speaking at the event, Rabbi Lazar noted The Deputy Director of the National Institute of that “Unfortunately, terror today is a global Forensic Medicine in Israel Dr. Nachman Ricardo phenomenon and therefore it is important to and Chairman of the ZAKA Rabbinical Committee learn from ZAKA’s extensive experience. These Rabbi Ya’acov Roget also gave lectures to the newly-trained ZAKA volunteers will now be able participants. The course ended with a mass to offer professional help at any disaster or terror casualty drill, simulating a during a attack, not just among the Jewish community Friday night service in a synagogue. but for anyone in need of assistance, regardless At a festive graduation ceremony hosted by the of religion, race or creed.” Moscow Jewish Community Center with the ZAKA Chairman and Founder Yehuda Meshi participation of Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, Israel Zahav: “ZAKA, which is recognized by the Ambassador to Russia Dorit Golender, Rabbi Aaron as an international volunteer Gurevich, the head of FJC Russia’s Department humanitarian organization, wishes to share its for Cooperating with the Military, the Ministry expertise with the global Jewish community of Emergency Affairs and Law Enforcement so that we are able to better equip and prepare Agencies and other local emergency personnel, ourselves for any eventuality.”

NEWSZAK A 7 HUNDREDS OF ZAKA VOLUNTEERS RECHARGE THEIR BATTERIES AT THE ORGANIZATION’S ANNUAL SHABBATON RETREAT.

Hundreds of ZAKA volunteers, accompanied Mirilashvili. by their families, recently enjoyed the annual On call 24/7, always ready and equipped to ZAKA Shabbaton retreat on the shores of the answer emergency calls, the volunteers in the Sea of , as guests of the President of the ZAKA Rescue and Recovery Organization have to ZAKA International Board of Directors Michael contend with distressing scenes on a daily basis.

NEWSZAK A 8 This constant stress and exposure to tragedy Deutsch came to Israel specially for the event, takes its toll on the emotional and physical bringing with them a letter from the Chief Rabbi health of the volunteers – and their families. The of Russia Rabbi Berel Lazar in which he wrote: weekend retreat serves as both an expression of “The ZAKA organization is a symbol of love and gratitude for their selfless volunteering and also unity, an organization that is dedicated to acts of an opportunity for the men and their families to loving-kindness and helps all mankind, regardless relax and recharge their batteries. of religion, race or creed.” The organization also The volunteers and their families were warmly hosted Dudi Gotstein, the sole survivor from the received in the hotel, with every detail taken care fatal August 2010 Kiryat Gat train crash in which of to ensure a peaceful, enjoyable and spiritual ZAKA volunteer Arieh Bernstein and six members – from welcome packages of food and drink of his family were killed. in the rooms to special commemorative benchers. At the conclusion of Shabbat, two ZAKA During one Shabbat meal, the Rabbi of the ambulances donated by Michael Mirilashvili Georgian community Rav Yaacov Gagashvili in memory of his father Moses Gabriel were related the story of how his own life had been inaugurated in a festive ceremony. A special saved by ZAKA volunteers, who worked on him presentation was also made to Michael’s wife for twenty minutes until his heartbeat returned Leah Mirilashvili. after he suffered heart failure. “It is only because With this, the hundreds of volunteers set off of you that I am here and I would like to take this on their journey home, with renewed physical opportunity to thank you for saving my life.” energy and spiritual strength to continue their Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Rabbi Moshe Asman and sacred work in saving lives and honoring the ZAKA commander in Russia Rabbi Yehoshua dead.

NEWSZAK A 9 NOT AFRAID OF GETTING WET! BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL TESTS OUT A ZAKA UNDERWATER SCOOTER IN HIS POOL

Just two days after ZAKA volunteers attempted to save the life of Mary Jane Gardner, the British Bible student who was killed in the Jerusalem bomb attack on 23.3.11, the British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould presented ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi- Zahav and ZAKA Divers Unit head Haim Outmezgine with an underwater scooter to be used by the specialist ZAKA Divers Unit in life-saving missions at sea, in rivers and reservoirs. The presentation took place at the Ambassador’s residence in Ramat Gan, with a demonstration of the underwater scooter in the swimming pool by ZAKA volunteer diver Roi Rachamim. However, the Ambassador, who is a qualified diver, could not resist the opportunity to get into the pool and test out the underwater scooter for himself. After the official presentation and speeches were over, the Ambassador changed out of his business suit, donned swimming trunks, T-shirt and full diving gear and entered the still chilly waters of the pool.

NEWSZAK A 10 Asking the journalists present to turn off their cameras, the Ambassador swam underwater for several lengths of the pool, holding the underwater scooter between his legs. Emerging from the water to the evident delight of his heavily pregnant wife Celia (the only person present allowed to record the event for posterity), the Ambassador wrapped himself in a Union Jack towel and gave his seal of approval. The scooter – the third in the ZAKA Divers Unit - allows ZAKA volunteer divers to move swiftly through the water, hands free and without effort, carrying the necessary life-saving rescue equipment with them. British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould: “The British Embassy is glad to be supporting ZAKA. They do amazing work, helping people regardless of their background, race or religion. The awful events of this week have reminded us of the importance of what they do, and how necessary their work is.” ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav: “When we arranged the presentation of this generous gift from the British Embassy to the ZAKA Divers Unit, we never imagined that it would take place just 48 hours after ZAKA volunteers tried to save the life of a British national, at the scene of a terror attack in Jerusalem. This underwater scooter, which allows the ZAKA divers to move faster through the water, will certainly help us in our humanitarian mission to save lives.” The ZAKA Divers Unit is one of four specialist search and rescue units (Divers, Jet-Ski, Jeeps and Canine units), which provide the UN-recognized humanitarian volunteer organization with enhanced search and rescue abilities. Staffed by 268 professional and amateur divers split into four regional units, the volunteers receive specialist training, four times a year, in search and rescue and life-saving techniques. The mainly secular volunteers include ex- Navy commanders, 10 women and Israeli Arabs. ZAKA supplements the divers’ own equipment with specialist tools for search and rescue, including oxygen tanks, ropes, flares, underwater lights and the underwater scooter – all provided by donations from supporters around the world.

NEWSZAK A 11 ITAMAR TERROR ATTACK: ‘ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC.. . A SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENT CHILDREN IN THEIR HOME”

“Absolutely horrific”. With these words, the ZAKA volunteers described the shocking sight that greeted them Friday night (11.3.11) when they entered the home of the Fogel family in Itamar, shortly after the terror attack that killed five family members. “We saw toys lying next to pools of blood, Shabbat clothes covered in blood and everywhere the smell of death mixing with the aroma of the Shabbat meal.” Despite their constant exposure to difficult and tragic scenes during the course of their work, the ZAKA volunteers described these horrific sights as “among the worst we have ever seen’.

Parents Ruth and Udi Fogel, aged 35 and 36 respectively, their three-month-old girl, Hadas, and two boys, Elad, three, and Yoav, 11, were brutally stabbed to death late Friday night by at least one suspected terrorist who infiltrated the Itamar settlement southeast of Nablus. The family’s oldest child, 12- year-old Tamar, discovered the horrific scene when she returned to her home later in the evening, rescued two other siblings – aged two and eight – who were in a side room but unharmed, and raised the alarm. The family previously lived in Gush Katif, moving to Ariel and then Itamar after the Gaza evacuation in 2005.

ZAKA volunteer and regional commander Gil Bismuth arrived at the scene within a short space of time on Friday evening with other

NEWSZAK A 12 ZAKA volunteers: “We discovered the family who had been murdered with such cruelty. The images were absolutely horrific – a slaughter of innocent children in their home. We did what we were able to do within the framework of the Sabbath. ZAKA volunteers watched over the bodies, which remained in the home through the Sabbath, in accordance with Jewish law.”

Immediately at the end of Shabbat, a large team of ZAKA volunteers from nearby Emanuel and the wider region were dispatched to the Fogel home, where they carried out their sacred work for many hours, clearing the terror scene and ensuring that all human remains were collected. In accordance with a request made by the ZAKA organization, the bodies were not removed to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute. Instead, the identification work was carried out at the scene of the attack by Abu Kabir Director Dr. Yehuda Hiss in the presence of the Head of the ZAKA Rabbinical Council Rabbi Ya’acov Roget. Thousands attended the funerals in Jerusalem.

NEWSZAK A 13 ZAKA AND IRAN MEET IN JAPAN

ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav and his political views to the side in order to carry out our fellow volunteers in the ZAKA delegation in shared humanitarian mission.” Japan are used to finding themselves in unusual The ZAKA volunteers are involved in heavy situations during times of emergency. However, physical work. “We strip the buildings, sometimes this time, it was particularly unusual. we use heavy machinery,” Meshi-Zahav explained. After helping Japanese and international search “The team gets reports from the Japanese and rescue teams search for bodies in the authorities about the missing, then goes from tsunami-devastated port city of Kamashi, the building to building looking for bodies. We are ZAKA volunteers were sent to help with food not talking about rescuing the living, but about distribution to the surviving residents. locating bodies and giving them a burial, in order “It was only while we were working that we to bring some relief to the bereaved families.” noticed the Iranian flag flying over the food Where crows hover station,” explains Meshi-Zahav. “After the initial In Kamaishi, ZAKA volunteers were able to rescue embarrassment on both sides, we all put our seven bodies belonging to one family that was

NEWSZAK A 14 buried under the rubble. They also assisted in the If at first you don’t succeed… identification of the dead. The Israeli team taught Immediately after the news of the massive the locals to spot crows and explained that, from earthquake and subsequent tsunami disaster in their experience, dead bodies can be found Japan broke in early March, a multi-national ZAKA where crows hover. team, headed by ZAKA International Rescue Unit "They took us to a hangar containing about 100 Director Mati Goldstein and Chief Operations unidentified bodies and requested that we help Director Dovie Maisel flew to Hong Kong. However, them. We've gained a lot of experience identifying due to the volatile nature of the radio-active threat, bodies after the tsunami in , and here the it was decided that the team, with members from bodies' condition was similar so we were able to Israel, UK and Hong Kong, would not to continue help out," Meshi-Zahav explained. on to Japan for safety reasons. Israel’s good side In Hong Kong, the volunteers worked in close As a United Nations-recognized search and rescue cooperation with Chabad representatives in Hong organization, ZAKA is on the scene to provide Kong and Japan, assisting with humanitarian any assistance required. “ZAKA benefits from the efforts related to the provision and distribution of help it gives as well. We learn how to respond food and other basic needs for the communities to disasters of this scale, in case, G-d forbid, one in Japan, as well as the evacuees who arrived in were to happen to us.” Hong Kong. Israel also benefits, according to Meshi-Zahav. Mati Goldstein: “Although we were unable to “There are people in Japan who never heard of continue to Japan, this exercise only served to Israel before, or who heard of Israel and when they underline the value of establishing a network see us, come to learn more. This is a tremendous of trained and equipped go-to teams, with Kiddush Hashem [sanctification of G-d's name]... volunteers ready to assist in mass casualty We show Israel's good side.” incidents, wherever they take place.”

NEWSZAK A 15