ZAKA jeep unit on special mission

Members of rescue organization take sick and disabled children on adventure jeep trail through Jerusalem hills

Ynetnews|Published: 08.21.11 , 06:01

The ZAKA Jeep Unit, which normally carries out search and rescue operations in difficult terrain, could be seen recently snaking through the Jerusalem hills, festooned with dozens of balloons, taking sick and disabled campers on an adventure jeep trail.

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The children, who attend a special summer camp run by Friends for Health, enjoyed a fun day out in nature, thanks to the dedicated volunteers in the ZAKA Jeep Unit.

The fun day included a stop at the Ein Lavan spring in the Jerusalem hills, where they were hosted by the ZAKA volunteers who had prepared a feast for them, as well as popular Israeli singer Gad Elbaz, who performed an intimate concert just for the children. The children ended the day with a visit to the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem.

A day out in the nature (Photo courtesy of ZAKA)

According to the commander of ZAKA’s Special Units, Chaim Outmazgin, who initiated the program: “We decided to devote the unit retreat day to the sick children, so our volunteers took a day off from work in order to be with the children today. We are pleased to be able to use our ZAKA jeeps for such a wonderful cause.”

Singer Gad Elbaz said, “It is an honor to be here with these wonderful children, making them sing and smile. A young boy, paralyzed from the waist down and nearly blind, accompanied me with a portable organ as we sang and cried to Ana Bekoach. I want to thank ZAKA for giving me the opportunity to be here today.”

Founded in 1995 by Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, ZAKA is Israel’s dominant non-governmental lifesaving, rescue and recovery organization, with over 1500 volunteers deployed around the country, on call 24/7 to respond to any terror attack, disaster or accident immediately, professionally and with the necessary equipment.