Something BiG is happening. This past Sunday night, Hatzolah held an evening of appreciation for our beloved Hatzolah members. The event was held in Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ, and featured zemirosbfrom Avrohom Fried and the Yedidim Choir and words of inspiration from Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson. The atmosphere was electric as the members displayed brotherhood and camaraderie in a way only Hatzolah members can.
Dov Dembitzer, one of the prominent members MC’d the evening. Dov made sure to not only thank the sponsors of the evening, but made sure to thank the Hatzolah members from Boro Park who came to Lakewood for the evening to ensure the proper safety and coverage
for our community. It was inspiring to see how not only does one Hatzolah care for another, but that this organization cannot even think about taking a night off.
One of the highlights of the evening was Shaul Siegman’s presentation to the members highlighting the growth of our community over the last few years, and how Hatzolah is staying on the cutting edge ensuring our community has the best emergency medical resources available. It was also pointed out that Lakewood is only 24.98 square miles, while Toms River is 52.88 square miles and Jackson is 100.6 square miles! This massive expansion of Hatzolah’s coverage area plus Lakewood astronomical population growth has created a BiG need. He explained that Hatzolah has undertaken the BiG campaign to build the infrastructure needed for this growth.
In order to meet the needs of the community, Hatzolah’s budget must increase by about $2 million over the next year alone. Hatzolah has launched the BiG campaign in order to allow each member of the community to show their appreciation for the dedication of the members in a BiG way. BiG stands for Building Infrastructure for Growth, which is what Lakewood and its surrounding towns desperately need.
Afterwards, Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson inspired the crowd and reinvigorate the members’ pride in being matzil nefashos and in their families for their role in their avodas hakodesh. You can hear the entire speech from Rabbi Jacobson right here on TLS.
Hatzolah would like to thank all the sponsors of the evening: Somerset Development, Community Lighting & Electric Supply, Elite Vehicle Solutions, The Lakewood Courtyard, Bell Works, The Vineyard, Safety First, Astor Chocolate, The Lakewood Scoop, Dluxe, fwd/NYC, Yard World, Golding Design, Gershy Moskowitz Productions and Gelbstien’s Bakery
A very special mention for Chai Care Urgent Care center. Chai Care, the official BiG Campaign sponsor. Chai Care will be bringing their high level of care to Lakewood on February 18 and is proud to partner with Hatzolah in increasing the level of healthcare
in Lakewood.
Rabbi Jacobson is a really great speaker and extremely entertaining. Having said that it would be remiss not to bring out one important point.
Ironically during world war 2 there was a group of individuals that called themselves the Vaad Hatzolah. (These people were actually REAL Askunim). This group of individuals worked tirelessly around the clock trying to save their brothers and sisters in Europe from the hands of Hitler Y”SH. One of the Rabbonim who happened to have been spearheading this mission was none other than R’ Aron Kotler ZT”L. There was an Askin by the name of R’ Tzvi Elimelech (Mike) Tress who was actively involved as well. I know details first hand since my grandfather was part of the Vaad Hatzolah and worked together with Mike Tress and he told me. Although many attempts have failed there were many Yidden saved through the Hishtadlus by these individuals.
The last word of your comment answers your issue. “Individuals”. He specifically mentioned that there were individuals who did some amazing work but the American jewery as a whole did not mobilize. This was not meant to discount the amazing Hatzalah that those individuals accomplished. We all benefit from it today in many ways. Thank you for your family’s involvement.
Yes he did mention that there were a few individuals. However there were more than a few individuals and that would constitute a community. This has nothing to do with my families involvement. From what I’ve heard no one was relying on Roosevelt and Churchill to win the war. It was quite clear what FDR’s interests were. Which is why he walked out the back door of the white house when a LARGE group of Rabbonim arrived at the white house requesting to meet with him and which is why not all ships were accepted upon arrival and were forced to return R”L. There was a clear understanding of urgency amungst the American Jewish population. V’Hamavin Yavin. Rabbi YY should be Gebentched.