The biggest entirely volunteer emergency medical service (EMS) organization in the world, United Hatzalah of Israel, was supported by approximately 1,500 individuals on Tuesday night at Cipriani Wall Street.
Prominent members of the Jewish community gathered keynote speaker Robert Kraft, CEO and Chairman of the Kraft Group and Founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, to support United Hatzalah’s life-saving work and to fight antisemitism worldwide.
The guests contributed $11 to the cause.
OSupporters gave throughout the evening, and the money will directly benefit the roughly 7,000 volunteers in Israel who, regardless of their age, gender, or ethnicity, provide free medical care to the injured and unwell for an average of 90 seconds.
Robert Kraft supported United Hatzalah’s life-saving emergency medical services in Israel as part of his ongoing anti-antisemitism campaign. David Blitzer, the Gala Chair, a private equity investor, and the owner of a sports franchise, brought Kraft on stage.
Kraft has been a supporter for a while.
“I had the experience of visiting United Hatzalah when I was in Jerusalem last year and I saw in real time how United Hatzalah is able to use technology and innovation to respond faster and more effectively to emergencies across Israel, and to save lives every single day,” said Robert Kraft, CEO and Chairman of Kraft Group, Founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, and Keynote Speaker for the Gala.
“United Hatzalah is likewise dealing with a fractured, fragmented, and hate-filled world.
However, it is possible to improve a complex environment, one person and one connection at a time.
A United Hatzalah ambulance will arrive within 90 seconds if someone is in danger.
Arabs are spared by Jews. Jews are saved by Arabs.
The lives of the religious are preserved by the secular.
The lives of the secular are saved by religious individuals.
People are drawn to and respond to the divine spark that is inside each of us.
That prevents death.
That affects the hearts.
And that enhances Eretz Yisrael, our dear country’s dignity.
The celebration also recognized two couples who are all first responders.
Muslims Karima and Nazir are one couple.
To honor the organization’s varied and multicultural volunteer base, the couples took the stage together.
Nazir Aweida, an Israeli Muslim volunteer, said, “A life is a life. Every Israeli, whether Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or Druze, is helped by our efforts.
Knowing that my other volunteers share the same sentiment makes me proud.
We are a single company. United Hatzalah’s mission is to save everyone since all life has worth.
There are a lot of people in downtown New York on this lovely evening to commemorate the most cutting-edge and successful life-saving organization in the world.
Chairman of the United Hatzalah International Committee Mark Gerson said, “I am just so thrilled and grateful that this cause and all the lives being saved have attracted individuals who are all here with their time and their money.
With 1,500 people present throughout the whole night, this year’s Gala had the highest attendance.
A sizable audience attended the United Hatzalah Young Leadership’s afterparty, which was also sponsored and attended by some of the most prominent and charitable Jews in New York.
“I am so honored to have been able to celebrate the lifesaving work of our volunteers with our most ardent supporters in New York.
I cannot put into words how thankful I am for the continued support of all of the people that donate to support our volunteers,” said the President and Founder of United Hatzalah Eli Beer.
“I am also thankful to be a partner in Robert Kraft’s fight to combat antisemitism.
It is so powerful to be a part of this movement. Everyone in the room was able to unite against hate and rally around a good cause to raise money to support the lifesaving work our volunteers do with Robert Kraft.
I wish to thank each and every one of the attendees who enable us to continue to save lives in Israel, you are true partners in life-saving.”
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