Volunteer in Israel with the Israeli Red Cross

The Sirens of Summer

by Elina Raykin

Note about 10/7/2023: Due to the recent attack in Israel, Magen David Adom is now asking for donations and tribute cards, with a link available to offer your much-needed gift of vital aid on the home page. On the site you can also witness and read about the extraordinary work being done by the organization, including volunteer certified first-responders.

When I first announced my plan to volunteer for the Israeli Red Cross during the second intifada (uprising), the outbreak of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, many of my friends and family thought I was crazy. I really wanted a meaningful volunteer program where I could work with Israelis, which is why so many people recommended the Magen David Adom, or Israeli Red Cross, program.

Volunteers with no previous experience or training necessary apply through the Jewish Agency for Israel. After ten days of training in Jerusalem to be a "first-aid responder," participants who pass the exam leave for assigned cities nationwide. Although many volunteers wanted to be in "big" cities like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, I established a better sense of community and belonging in Rishon Letzion, a town about 20 minutes south of Tel Aviv. Rishon, less touristy and full of "sabras," or native Israelis, offered more cultural immersion than either Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, which typically overflow with tourists year-round.

The Job with Magen David Adom

The training proved to be intense. Classes started at eight in the morning and lasted until seven in the evening when we would invade the Israeli bar and club scene. (The legal drinking age in Israel is 18.) We learned primary emergency care, including how to use CPR, how to apply bandages and tourniquets, how to use the equipment in the ambulance, how to respond to a terrorist attack, and how to deal with everyday situations of dehydration or burns.

Although the media portrays Israel as a constant situation of war and terror attacks, in typical times the reality couldn't be further from the truth. Occasional attacks happen, and volunteers, especially people visiting Israel for the first time, should find out specifics about which areas are unsafe from program advisors. You will be amazed at how Israelis go about everyday routines; foreigners worrying about violence adapt quickly to the Israeli mentality and do the same.

Most of the calls were not life-threatening but older people or people with stomachaches. During the summer, I mainly filled out forms, applied bandages, took vital measurements such as blood pressure, breathing, and pulse, and carried equipment. Volunteers usually chose their shifts, eight hours during either morning, evening, or night. Volunteers made their own schedules in Rishon and other suburban areas, with fewer calls and a more relaxed atmosphere. Between calls, there was much time to hang out with other volunteers in the lounge, watching TV or playing computer games. In cities such as Tel Aviv, the environment was less flexible; you did not have as much freedom in choosing your schedule, and there was very little time between calls.

Your experience in the field depends on your attitude and the driver's personality. If you show eagerness to learn, help, and listen to the drivers, they will guide you and let you do more exciting work. You will carry equipment from the ambulance to the scene if you are arrogant or obnoxious. Drivers, mostly friendly, seemed interested in getting to know me. I was amazed that I came to Israel to volunteer for the summer; they went out of their way to make sure I felt comfortable.

Although knowing Hebrew is not essential, since most people in Israel know English well, it is crucial to learn the "ambulance lingo" they teach you in training. This helps you communicate with the drivers, some of whom do not know English sufficiently or do not trust you because you cannot speak the language.

Cultural Immersion in Israel

Aside from the actual ambulance work, I became immersed in Israeli culture. I worked side-by-side with Israelis every day for two months. We communicated through their broken English and my even more broken Hebrew. We laughed, shared stories, and learned about each other's cultures. They told me their fears and emotions about enlisting in the army (mandatory draft exists in Israel). I told them about college life. A collective sense of pride washed over us after each day.

We saved the lives of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, helped the wounded, and became part of each other's lives.

My Israeli friends became a crucial part of my entire cultural experience. They took me to the best falafel places, introduced me to their families, told me what it was like during the war, showed me the bomb shelters that every Israeli is required to have because of occasional bomb threats, and taught me how to differentiate between "cool" Israelis worth meeting, and others to avoid.

Although the experience was only two months, I boarded the plane to return to New York feeling like a different person. I felt proud that I spent my summer helping others and excited about my new Israeli friends, most of whom I still keep in close contact with. I still get queasy when I look at blood, but I survived language barriers and tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Most importantly, I decided to immigrate to Israel after graduating from the university.

Elina Raykin graduated Rutgers University with a B.A. in journalism and political science.