{{Short description|Jewish volunteer emergency medical service}} {{About|the emergency medical services organization|the Holocaust rescue organization|Vaad Hatzalah}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{use American English|date=October 2022}}[[File:Hatzalah.jpg|thumb|A Hatzalah ambulance in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City]] '''Hatzalah''', also spelled '''Hatzolah''' or '''Hatzola''' ({{IPAc-en|h|ə|t|ˈ|s|ʌ|l|ə}}; {{langx|he|הַצָּלָה}}, {{Literal translation|rescue|relief}}, {{IPA|he|hat͡saˈla|}}), is the title used by many Jewish volunteer emergency medical service (EMS) organizations serving mostly areas with Jewish communities around the world. Most local branches operate independently of each other, but use the common name.
== History == The original Hatzalah emergency medical services (EMS) was founded in Williamsburg, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, by Hershel Weber in the late 1960s.<ref name="Willie">{{cite web|url=http://www.hatzolahw.org/ourmission.html|title=Williamsburg Services|website=hatzolahw.org|access-date=16 September 2008|archive-date=2 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202112504/http://www.hatzolahw.org/ourmission.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> His aim was to improve rapid emergency medical response in the community, and to mitigate cultural concerns of a Yiddish-speaking, Hasidic community.<ref name="nyt-women">{{cite news |last1=Goldberg |first1=Emma |title=They Told Her Women Couldn't Join the Ambulance Corps. So She Started Her Own. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/us/ezras-nashim-womens-EMT.html |access-date=4 July 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=19 April 2021}}</ref> The idea spread to other Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in the New York City area, and eventually to other regions, countries, and continents.<ref>South Africa: {{cite book |title=The Director |page=153|quote=Attention all responders .. report of an MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident)|publisher=Artscroll |isbn=1-57819-734-1 |first=Aryeh B.|last=Taback|year=2003}}</ref> Hatzalah is believed to be the largest volunteer ambulance service in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view%3Bjsessionid%3Dw4xxP4MQs1mhdJ2J5PJxv1b4CNnJyfYlys71Bcp2GmjCtvSb0TY0!-1969853125!-1221852939%3Fid%3D7021905105 |title=Chevrah Hatzalah|work=Request to FCC regarding access to Blocked Telephone Numbers |first=E. C.|last=Cooper |date=30 March 2012|publisher=fcc.gov |format=PDF |access-date=27 December 2014 }} "Hatzalah is the only volunteer ambulance service licensed to serve the entire City of New York, and it is believed to be the largest volunteer ambulance service in the nation."</ref><ref>The Edhi Foundation, with more than 500 ambulances, has held the Guinness record for world's "largest volunteer ambulance organization" since 1997. *{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00vari |url-access=registration|quote=largest volunteer ambulance.|title=Guinness World Records 2010|editor-first=Craig |editor-last=Glenday|publisher=Bantam Books|year=2010|isbn=9780553593372 |page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00vari/page/237 237]}}</ref>
Hatzalah members were present at several operations such as the September 11 attacks<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.behrmanhouse.com/RL/answering-the-call-on-9-11|title=Answering the Call on 9-11|publisher=Behrman House Publishing}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=23347 |title=The Yeshiva World Audio Of Hatzolah Radio & Video: 7 Years Since 9/11 |publisher=Theyeshivaworld.com |date=2008-09-11 |access-date=2013-09-14}}</ref> and Surfside condominium collapse,<ref name="Hope">{{cite news|last= Morganbesser|first=Lauren|url=https://www.jpost.com/international/hatzalah-paramedics-at-florida-building-collapse-there-is-hope-672206 | title=Hatzalah Paramedics at Florida Building Collapse: There is Hope |date=28 June 2021|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=28 August 2024}}</ref> and provided medical equipment to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boigon |first1=Molly |title=Orthodox EMS' ventilator transfer solves hospital's conflict with Jewish patients — for now |url=https://forward.com/news/442940/maimonides-medical-center-boro-park-protest-ventilators-nurses-coronavirus/ |publisher=Forward |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=1 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Konkol |first1=Mark |title=Coronavirus: Jewish EMS Service Donates Masks To Suburban Police |url=https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/coronavirus-jewish-ems-service-donates-masks-suburban-police |publisher=Patch |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=23 March 2020}}</ref> In March 2026, four Hatzola ambulances were set on fire in London.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/23/jewish-hatzolah-charity-funded-ambulances|title='Not just a Jewish service': Hatzola ambulances serve whole community, say volunteers|first1=Chris|last1=Osuh|date=23 March 2026|work=The Guardian}}</ref>
== Operations == [[File:Hatzolah Ambulances (48236940816).jpg|thumb|right|Two Hatzolah ambulances on stand-by on the Upper East Side ]] Each volunteer is called a ''unit'' (as in, a crew of one) and is assigned a unit number that starts with a neighborhood code, followed by a serial number for that neighborhood (e.g., "Q-120" means "Queens unit number 120"<ref name="Madrich">{{cite book |title=Madrich L'Chevra Hatzalah |last=Handler |first=Mechel |author2=Rabbi Dovid Weinberger |publisher=Feldheim}}</ref>).
In some areas there may be periods where coverage is not strong enough, for example on a summer weekend. When this happens, coordinators may assign an on-call rotation. The rotation may still respond from their houses, or they may stay at the garage through their shift. In such periods, Hatzalah functions closer to a typical EMS crew setup, though the dispatchers may still seek non-on-call members to respond, and there will still often be a non-ambulance responder as first dispatched, even if that responder starts from the base.<ref name="Madrich"/>
In Israel, United Hatzalah relies upon mobile phone technologies which include an SOS app and a special emergency phone number, 1221, with messages to news organizations distributed by WhatsApp.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wootliff|first1=Raoul|title=After blogs and Facebook, military censor sets sights on WhatsApp|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/after-blogs-and-facebook-military-censor-sets-sights-on-whatsapp/|access-date=17 February 2016|work=The Times of Israel|date=17 February 2016}}</ref>
=== Response times === Hatzalah's model provides for rapid first responder response times. Each Hatzalah neighborhood's response time varies. For example, in Borough Park, Brooklyn, daytime response in life-threatening emergency are between 1–2 minutes, and nighttime response times are 5–6 minutes. However, following implementation of Truck-1 (night on-call crews) the nighttime response in Borough Park was shortened significantly.<ref name="Bloomberg"/> In the Beverly-La Brea neighborhood of Los Angeles, response times average at 60–90 seconds.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=7785 | title= Volunteer Lifesavers | work=Jewish Journal | year=2001 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011228020526/http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=7785 | archive-date=28 December 2001 }}</ref> In Israel, the response time is under 3 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://israelrescue.org/blog/faq/ |website=israelrescue.org |publisher=United Hatzalah |access-date=30 June 2019 |archive-date=24 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424183518/https://israelrescue.org/blog/faq/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=== Organization === Hatzalah is not a single organization. Each chapter operates autonomously, or, in some cases, with varying levels of affiliation with neighboring Hatzalah chapters and under a central association.<ref name="Affiliates">{{cite web|title=Affiliates|url=http://www.hatzalah.org/affiliates.php|website=hatzalah.org|access-date=16 September 2008|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401073919/https://www.hatzalah.org/affiliates.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In New York City, there are usually two or three members who are "coordinators",<ref name="NYC Struct">{{cite web|url=http://www.hatzalah.org/central.php|title=Regional Locations - Central Coordination|website=hatzalah.org|access-date=16 September 2008|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120028/http://www.hatzalah.org/central.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> managing all operational aspects of the chapter. The New York City-area Hatzalah is formally called Chevra Hatzalah of New York. It combines dispatch and some other functions for over a dozen neighborhood chapters, which each have their own fund-raising, management, garages, ambulances, and assigned members. Together, the combined New York State branches have grown to become the largest all-volunteer ambulance system in the United States.<ref name="Bloomberg">{{cite web | url=http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2005a%2Fpr138-05.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1 | title=Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Announces Two Initiatives To Re-Develop Under-Utilized Land In The Culver El Section Of Borough Park, Brooklyn | first=M. | last=Bloomberg | year=2005}}</ref>
== Legal status == In New York, Hatzalah usually uses red and white lights and sirens, like normal unmarked emergency vehicles. In New Jersey, Hatzalah usually use blue lights.<ref>{{cite web |title=NY Hatzolah Ambulances Can Now Use Blue Lights |url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/98349/ny-hatzolah-ambulances-can-now-use-blue-lights-for-added-safety.html |publisher=Yeshiva World News |access-date=14 April 2020 |date=27 July 2011}}</ref> Since 2021, Florida law has permitted faith-based volunteer ambulance services to operate, allowing Hatzalah response vehicles to use emergency lights and sirens.<ref name="DeSantis">{{cite news|last1=Batchelor|first1=Amanda|last2=Milberg|first2=Glenna|url=https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/06/14/gov-ron-desantis-holds-news-conference-at-south-florida-synagogue/ | title=DeSantis Signs New Law Supporting Faith-based Volunteer Ambulance Services |date=14 June 2021 |work=WPLG-TV|access-date=28 August 2024}}</ref> In Toronto, Hatzalah uses green lights, having the same legal status as volunteer firefighters who also use green lights in their vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Highway Traffic Act |date=24 July 2014 |url=https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/070484/v4 |publisher=Ontario |access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, Hatzola organisations cannot legally use or install blue lights and sirens on their responders' private vehicles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-26563934|website=BBC News|title=High Court rules Hatzola paramedics breached traffic laws|date=13 March 2014}}</ref>
On 20 February 2013, the Federal Communications Commission granted Chevrah Hatzalah's request for a waiver to obtain calling party numbers (CPN), even when callers have caller ID blocking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db0220/DA-13-227A1.pdf|title=Petition of Chevrah Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps Inc. for Waiver of Section 1601(b) of the Commission's Rules – Blocked Telephone Numbers}}</ref> In the United States, this type of CPN blocking waiver is normally only given to 911 call centers, but Chevrah Hatzalah does not receive calls through 911. Other Hatzalah dispatch numbers, including other New York State Hatzalah groups, do not have this waiver.{{fact|date=April 2026}}
== Interaction with other agencies ==
=== Magen David Adom === United Hatzalah's relationship with Magen David Adom is strained, and MDA has banned its members and volunteers from also volunteering in other rescue organizations, including Hatzalah.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3685792,00.html |title=Haredi Rescue Organizations Collapsing |publisher=Ynetnews |author=Gilhar, Uri |date=13 March 2009 |access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bob |first1=Yonah Jeremy |title=MDA, Hatzalah battle over the nation's health |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/mda-hatzalah-battle-over-the-nations-health-589559 |access-date=1 July 2021 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=14 May 2019}}</ref>
=== Ezras Nashim === Hatzalah was criticized by the ''New York Post''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/jewish_siren_ladies_Ax71jq2CgYYdWPcFmCzwWN |work=New York Post |first=Reuven |last=Fenton |title=Jewish 'siren' ladies |date=2011-09-26 |access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2019/10/30/hasidic-all-women-emt-group-faces-backlash-from-hatzaloh-members/ |work=New York Post|first=Reuven |last=Fenton |title=Hasidic all-women EMT group faces backlash from Hatzaloh members |date=2019-10-30 |access-date=30 October 2019}}</ref> and ''JEMS Magazine''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jems.com/article/news/jewish-female-emts-plan-join-all-male-am |title=Jewish Female EMTs Plan to Join All-Male Ambulance Corps |date=September 2011 |publisher=Jems.com |access-date=2013-09-14}}</ref> for its practice of not allowing women to join. A group of Orthodox women founded an organization called Ezras Nashim, an all-female Orthodox Jewish volunteer EMT ambulance service,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/jewish-women-brooklyn-launch-ambulance-service-expecting-moms-article-1.1029605|title=Jewish Women in Brooklyn Launch EMT Service|first=Simone|last=Weichselbaum|date=27 February 2012|newspaper=Daily News|location=New York}}</ref> citing the need for modesty and sensitivity to the needs of fellow Orthodox women, with the goal of preserving women's modesty in emergency medical situations, especially childbirth.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ny1.com/archives/nyc/manhattan/2012/05/28/woman-works-to-form-all-female-hasidic-jewish-emt-service-NYC_162015.old.html|title=Woman Works To Form All-Female Hasidic Jewish EMT Service|first=Michael|last=Herzenberg|date=28 May 2012|work=NY1|access-date=2017-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131200318/http://www.ny1.com/archives/nyc/manhattan/2012/05/28/woman-works-to-form-all-female-hasidic-jewish-emt-service-NYC_162015.old.html|archive-date=2017-01-31}}</ref>
== See also == *List of Hatzalah chapters *Shomrim *Chaverim *Chesed Shel Emes *Misaskim *ZAKA
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}{{Organized Jewish Life in the United States}}
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Category:Ambulance services Category:Ambulance services in the United States Category:Ambulance services in Australia Category:Emergency services in Israel Category:First aid organizations Category:Jewish medical organizations Category:Volunteer search and rescue organizations Category:Ambulance services in England Category:Volunteer search and rescue in the United Kingdom Category:International volunteer organizations