Community Magazine August 2012

THAT NEVER SLEEP The Right Stuff All Hatzalah volunteers undergo an intensive selection process. Some are actively recruited, whereas others join through their own initiative. As the first Syrian-Jewish volunteer, 22 years ago, Morris Abraham recalls his decision to join the Flatbush Hatzalah “We all saw the tremendous work Hatzalah was doing for the community and I wanted to be part of the hesed work too. At that time, there were no Syrian-Jewish volunteers working for Hatzalah. I felt that we needed representation, not just funding with money but to also to have Syrians volunteer.” Rabbi Aaron Seruya, from the initial group of volunteers on the Jersey Shore Hatzalah, 11 years ago, saw it as an opportunity to do hesed in a field in which he had much background knowledge. As a Lifeguard instructor and CPR instructor, Rabbi Seruya used his expertise in health and safety to benefit the community. In order to become an EMT (emergency medical technician), each of these volunteers must put in 120 hours of classroom time and ten hours of clinical time (riding along on calls in an ambulance). The three-and-a-half-month course meets twice a week for three hours a night, and is followed by a statewide EVA KAIREY They are your neighbors, fellow synagogue members, or perhaps your son’s rebbe. They seem like your average person, but they are anything but. These selfless volunteers are like angels in disguise, generously giving of their time, energy and emotions to save lives, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They might miss Shabbat meals, holiday get-togethers and family semahot (celebrations), as they run off to handle emergencies with incredible speed. Activities like sleeping and eating are secondary to their duty and regardless of the weather, time of day or sensitivity of the situation, they are always there. They are the Hatzalah members of our community. THE VOLUNTEERS 54 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

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