Sportscaster Emily Austin and political commentator Douglas Murray at the Nov. 9 gala. (Photo credit: Jordan Cassway)
American Friends of Magen David Adom held a gala event on Nov. 9 that featured an array of interesting speakers while honoring those who give Israeli first responders one of their biggest tools for saving lives: ambulances.
The dinner in Center City honored Bruce and Sue Epstein of Margate City, New Jersey, for donating the money to purchase an ambulance. For Sue, it was about honoring her in-laws who had recently passed away. For Bruce, it was a phone call from an old friend asking for help. This led him to approach his friends to urge them to participate. “I called all my friends, and I twisted their arm, which I really didn’t have to, because … they were all very generous,” he told Philadelphia Jewish Exponent.
Dinner attendees expressed the hope that MDA would receive further such donations. Raphael and Noa Nidam, whose daughter is serving in the Israel Defense Forces, said that at the last MDA fundraiser they attended, their community donated two ambulances. “I hope this time [it] is going to be two more,” Raphael said.
Steve Katz had previously donated an ambulance in memory of his son. “We visited the [MDA] facility in Israel a couple months ago, and I was blown away by it,” he said.
For Gershon Trimpol, chairman of the International Magen David Adom Committee and vice chairman of AFMDA his involvement with the organization began 30 years ago when he donated an ambulance in memory of his parents, who were involved in MDA. He has carried forward the torch in his leadership role.
The gala featured an all-star cast of speakers, including Trimpol; Emily Austin, a sports newscaster and popular Israel advocate who emceed the event; Gilad Erdan, former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations and current global president of MDA; Aryeh Myers, an MDA paramedic; and Douglas Murray, a renowned conservative political commentator, author and journalist.
The speakers stressed the uniqueness of MDA. “They’re not just an organization,” Austin said in her introductory remarks. “They’re the leading part of Israel’s resilience.”
MDA not only sends out rescue missions around the world, but also trains paramedics in other countries, a program in which Myers has participated. “What I have done overseas — and we do this quite a lot — are training sessions in different communities,” he said. He’s trained paramedics in Europe, Australia, the United States and Canada.
What’s more, MDA brings together all sectors of Israeli society. “You will see people from every religion and no religion,” Myers said. “You’ll find religious people and irreligious people. You’ll find a whole mix … [sometimes] literally on the same ambulance. … Everybody puts politics and religion to one side, because we are there for one mission: to save lives.”
“It’s non-political, it’s non-denominational, and it’s just a lifesaving organization,” Trimpol said.
From left to right: Former Israeli ambasador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan, sportscaster Emily Austin and political commentator Douglas Murray at the Nov. 9 gala.
Honorees Bruce and Sue Epstein (center) receive their awards. (Photo credit: Jordan Cassway)
Myers said that people assume the Israeli government funds the organization. In reality, MDA receives little government funding and instead relies on private donations for vehicles, supplies and training. “We are heavily reliant on people from around the world and from within Israel [to] donate ambulances, equipment, stations, buildings, etc., just to make sure that Magen David Adom can continue providing this incredible service,” he said.
“I can remember back to when I first heard and understood how Magen David Adom works,” Barbara Flacker, an attendee, said. “They’re not supported by the government. Magen David Adom is supported by the community, by us, and they function because of the support of Jews in the diaspora.”
In his remarks, Erdan spoke about the courage and heroism of the volunteers who staff the lifesaving organization. He recounted his firsthand experience seeing paramedics “driving into hell,” braving missiles to pull people out of rubble to administer emergency aid.
“Bravery isn’t what they do,” he said, “it’s who they are.”
Some of the attendees talked about why they were inspired to help. Susan Elfand said she and her husband Alvin attended the dinner to be there for their friends, the Epsteins, but were “so moved that my husband took the [donation form to fill out] and said, he’s definitely making a donation.”
“[MDA] inspires me to want to go to Israel and volunteer my time and help this organization,” said Marvin Ostroff, another attendee.
“The integrity and the safety of Jews worldwide relies on the safety of Israel,” said another guest, Monique Hofkin, “and I think that everybody who has the means to donate and help contribute to keep Israel safe and strong [should do so].”
Myers stressed the importance of Jews taking responsibility for each other. “We are one big family wherever you are involved, whether you’re living in the diaspora, whether you’re living in Israel, and that is the vital thing for all of us to remember,” he said.
Austin wants to see more Jews with more backbone speak up for the Jewish people. Her solution? “Have a lot of kids. We need more of us. Raise them to be strong and loudmouth!”
But Trimpol underscored the purpose of the gala. “Please support Magen David Adom,” he urged. “It’s the most wonderful, lifesaving humanitarian organization in the diaspora, and we save lives every day, 24/7.”
Dinah Bucholz is a freelance writer.