The Fellowship is proud to be a longtime supporter of Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s foremost emergency and medical response service, supporting its mission and strengthening its lifesaving efforts. This year, The Fellowship has provided a new ambulance as well as 750 ballistic protective vests. Fellowship staff attended ceremonies at MDA’s headquarters to mark the donations.
MDA personnel are often the first responders to disasters and attacks. Every second counts when it comes to getting injured people to the hospital. The new ambulance will operate 24/7 and has an expected lifespan of 10 years.
The 750 protective vests are the latest addition to the thousands of pieces of protective gear The Fellowship has provided to MDA. Teams and volunteers risk so much when responding to emergencies, sometimes even working under fire as they rush to assess the situation and provide care. These special vests use ceramic plates to shield responders from gunfire, providing a much lighter alternative to other armor plates.
MDA VP of Operations Gil Moskovitch said at a ceremony, “The combination of The Fellowship and MDA is an amazing combination in my opinion. This partnership is very special and deep. We present our needs and know that Safwan [Fellowship director of emergency programs] faithfully represents those needs to The Fellowship. We hold common values. Among the volunteers who came today to receive a ceramic vest are also youth volunteers … They are the beautiful faces of MDA, this combination of volunteers from all religions.”
The Fellowship also met Afek, a 23-year-old paramedic who will be using the new ambulance. Afek has been volunteering since he was 15. What began as a school commitment became his calling to help others. When he was drafted into the IDF, he served as a paramedic in Gaza as a member of the Kfir Brigade.
In 2023, Afek’s friend Uriah was killed. Like Afek, Uriah was someone who loved doing good and helping others. His photo is displayed on the dashboard of the new ambulance so that he can be with Afek wherever he goes.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).