Three Magen David Adom (MDA) Life Support Ambulances donated by Wilshire Boulevard Temple (WBT) congregants made a stop in Beverly Hills on Oct. 7 before departing for Israel. The ambulances were three out of seven donated by the WBT Community immediately following the Oct. 7 attacks.
The ambulances drove throughout Los Angeles, visiting all three WBT campuses for hundreds of children to explore and learn. They also made a stop at the October 7th Memorial Square in Beverly Hills. In the evening, approximately 300 community members attended an evening commemoration, which featured songs and prayers as well as remarks by WBT Senior Rabbi Joel Nickerson, MDA Director of International Relations Yoni Yagodovsky, actress Ginnifer Goodwin and congregants.
Yagodovsky shared insight into the work of Magen David Adom and first responders in Israel immediately following the attacks and in the year since then.
“Magen David Adom ambulances are the most important platform for us, not only to reach patients, but to also assess their medical condition, provide the necessary treatment, and rapidly evacuate them to hospitals while simultaneously informing the hospital of the patients’ condition, ensuring continuity of care during a short yet critical period. The fact that these ambulances are donated by American donors creates a human bond; it’s a unique relationship, because people in Los Angeles are thinking about the welfare and needs of the people in Israel. We are the messengers; donors provide the means through which we lend a helping hand and reach out to assist those in need. We are able to transform the positive intentions of the donors into life-saving action,” said Yagodovsky.
Nickerson added, “In such a challenging time for the Jewish people and for our brothers and sisters in Israel, it was important for us to mark the one year anniversary with opportunities for people to come together, find comfort in their connection to the Jewish community, and highlight the tangible ways we can show our support for Israelis who have suffered the consequences of the horrific attack on Oct. 7. We also wanted to remind our community that despite the challenges we face, we never give up on hope and prayers for peace.”
