What rule is so important you can even break other rules to follow it? It’s pikuach nefesh, Hebrew for “saving a life.” This mitzvah (Hebrew for “commandment”) is so deeply valued that following it takes precedence over other Jewish laws. The Talmud (the core collection of rabbinic writings) says, “If you save a life, it is as if you saved the entire world.” (Sanhedrin 37a)
In Israel, 101 is the phone number to call Magen David Adom (“Red Star of David”) or MDA. That’s Israel’s national ambulance, blood services, and disaster relief organization. The Magen David, the emblem on the side of all rescue and first responder vehicles in Israel, is in the shape of a star, but magen actually means “shield.” It’s the perfect symbol for an ambulance, since shielding people from injury and danger is what MDA does. While MDA’s mission to protect lives is guided by the Jewish value of pikuach nefesh, they pledge to provide this protection to anyone, regardless of religion, nationality, or any other factor besides medical need.
But you don’t have to be a paramedic or other emergency rescue worker to be a protector of life. We can all look around and see what small things we can do to help others stay healthy and safe.
Do
How can children help save a life? What actions can they take to protect others? Here are a few simple tips:
- Stay home when sick. Resting can help you get better sooner, and you won’t be spreading germs to friends and neighbors.
- Wash your hands before eating, after shaking hands, before greeting a new baby cousin, after playing with toys, etc.
- Bring only “safe” snacks to school. Having that treat at home may seem like a small thing, but it’s a pretty big act of protection for classmates who have serious allergies.
- Help make an emergency plan as a family. Parents can get step-by-step planning help from ready.gov/plan.
Learn
Magen David Adom (MDA) was founded on June 7, 1930, in Tel Aviv when a small team of seven doctors set up a one-room emergency medical service in a dilapidated hut. Ten years later, a group of American citizens organized what is now known as American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA), a dedicated group that works to fundraise and support the work of MDA in Israel.
Check out photos from Magen David Adom’s historical archives:
All photos provided by American Friends of Magen David Adom
MDA Has Been Saving Lives in Israel for a Century
Read
About the Author
In the United States, disaster relief, ambulance, and blood services are handled by an array of organizations. In Israel, there’s one organization that does it all — Magen David Adom.
To learn more about Magen David Adom’s lifesaving work and impact across Israel, visit AFMDA.org
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