American Friends of Magen David Adom

Here's to saving lives in times past and today! Happy Purim to the whole Magen David Adom family.

Last night's AFMDA Boca-Delray Event honoring Leon Cooperman and Toby Cooperman with the Amit Man Award of Courage was magical. With the dedication of a lifesaving vehicle and fascinating analysis by former Mossad director Yossi Cohen, it was a night to remember. Many thanks go to event chairs Lori and Gregg Gottsegen, and Becky and Michael Elrad. Our deep appreciation to all those who came out to support the heroic medics of?Magen David Adom in Israel?at a critical time. Video: Cindy Senderey

It's Magen David Adom in Israel's go-to lifesaver. If you have been to Israel, you have seen these everywhere. In the US or other countries, you may have helped fund or attended a dedication for one of these. Now, here's a closer look at the MDA Life Support Ambulance.

Shabbat Shalom to MDA medic Efrat Levy of Moshav Yashresh who divides her time between farming and saving lives. Some three years ago, Efrat began asking herself: “How can I do good for people?” She made the decision to start volunteering with MDA. Efrat and her husband know the value of volunteering as they founded a small organization for their son, who suffers from a rare disease. Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, when we honor the achievements of women all over the world. Thank you, Efrat, for using your talents, emergency medical skills, and loving spirit to make the world a better place.

Hope Gala in Phoenix benefiting?Magen David Adom in Israel?was a smash success! So much generosity and unity?in support of our brave medics. Thank you to guest of honor,?Ambassador Gilad Erdan, for your stirring, inspiring words?and special guest Jonathan Conricus, who brought so much meaning to the event. MC?Elon Gold?brought down the house. AFMDA leader:?Elana Michael Video: @coachtaylor Production: Gal Hayon Auctioneer: @subyn

Lior Raz is coming to the Big Apple! Join us for a spring reception downtown at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust to hear from the star of 'Fauda' and support the brave, dedicated Magen David Adom in Israel medics saving lives in Israel right now. To register: https://lnkd.in/eS_Snxab Photo: Noa Nir

Shabbat Shalom to married medics, Eyal and Idit Zahavi, of Efrat, who met years ago while saving lives with Magen David Adom. Today is Family Day in Israel, and the Zahavi family is famous for having “the MDA gene,” going way back to the late Leon, who volunteered in Jerusalem in the early days of the State of Israel. Grandma Liora followed suit and met her paramedic husband, Grandpa Ron, in 1970 while on the job. Their sons, Eyal and Adi, met the loves of their lives through MDA, and now, Danielle, 19, Adi's daughter, was just certified as a paramedic. "MDA is something that has always been a part of me and my family," says Eyal. “Our children see our love for MDA and saving lives and how much it is an integral part of our lives, and I am looking forward to seeing them volunteering.”

Aryeh Itzik, a Magen David Adom volunteer from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was part of the escort convoy for Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas yesterday. He described the experience in a social media post. These are his words. “Today I had the honor of being part of the Magen David Adom escort of Kfir, Ariel and Shiri Bibas. I call our convoy ‘Orange Tears.’ We were ambulance drivers, paramedics, EMTs and MDA volunteers, all driving in an ambulance dedicated to Ronen Engel, the EMT who was murdered in Kibbutz Nir Oz when he went out to treat the injured and whose body is still being held by murderers. We drove, too, on behalf of Dolev Yehud, an MDA medic who was also murdered in Nir Oz. We traveled the route to accompany our beloved family who had been taken hostage from Nir Oz and brutally murdered in captivity by murderers. The ambulance was draped in the flag of the kibbutz and was escorted in an exemplary fashion by the MDA Medicycle unit. The experience was powerful and meaningful. Along the route, I saw the Israeli people at their best. The Nation of Israel waving flags. The Nation of Israel praying. The Nation of Israel asking for forgiveness, singing the song of hope. The Nation of Israel saluting the convoy. The Nation of Israel releasing orange balloons. The Nation of Israel crying. I drove through and cried with the entire Nation of Israel, big tears, orange tears. In all my life, I have never seen a crowd supporting a procession on such a powerful scale. And since I have decided to write only good words in this post, I will write again that this was powerful, historic, and that there were a lot of orange tears.”

It's always exceptionally wonderful to see young people taking the initiative in making our upside-down world a more just and caring place. I owe today’s inspiration to Yonah Brown, who honored the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah by going the extra mile—leveraging his passion for cross-country running to rally family and friends around the sanctity of life through supporting the American Friends of Magen David Adom. “[Magen David Adom first responders] help people no matter their religion, political affiliation, anything like that,” Yonah said. “They’re doing really good things for Israel, especially now when they need it.” Mazal Tov as well to Rabbi Randy Brown and Adas Israel Congregation's Hazzan Arianne Brown, who are understandably the proudest of parents! You can read the full story in the Washington Jewish Week linked in this post.

Wearing orange in honor of the Bibas family, Congressman Ritchie Torres spoke powerfully about the importance of showing support for Israel as the Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership dedicated a Magen David Adom in Israel ambulance on Sunday. The community raised $120,000 since October 7th to fund the lifesaving vehicle. Office of The Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and Riverdale Y CEO Melissa Sigmond also inspired those gathered with their remarks. "The presence of elected officials further emphasizes the significance of this contribution," said AFMDA's Samuel Konig. Our deep appreciation to the Riverdale Jewish community for their "gift of hope" and to Rep. Torres for his friendship and moving words.