Magen David Adom will mark its 96th anniversary on Sunday, June 7, nearly a century after it was founded in Tel Aviv as a small emergency medical aid organization.
Since its establishment in 1930, MDA has grown into Israel’s national emergency medical service, operating ambulances, intensive care units, medevac helicopters, the 101 emergency dispatch center, the National Blood Services and the National Human Milk Bank. It also provides humanitarian assistance in Israel and, at times, abroad.
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Magen David Adom was founded in Tel Aviv as a small emergency medical aid organization
(Photo: Magen David Adom)
The organization’s roots go back to June 7, 1930, when medical professionals in Tel Aviv met under the leadership of Dr. Meshulam Levontin to discuss the need for a rapid medical response service. Soon afterward, MDA opened its first first-aid course, and in January 1931 its first ambulance entered service.
Over the decades, MDA has been part of Israel’s most difficult and defining moments. It operated during the Arab riots of the 1930s, assisted Holocaust survivors after World War II, treated casualties during the War of Independence and has continued to respond during wars, terrorist attacks, disasters and mass-casualty emergencies.
In 1950, the Knesset passed the Magen David Adom Law, formally recognizing the organization as Israel’s national emergency medical service. Since then, MDA has expanded its emergency response network while maintaining its commitment to treating anyone in need, regardless of religion, race, nationality or gender.
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The Knesset passed the Magen David Adom Law, formally recognizing the organization as Israel’s national emergency medical service
(Photo: Magen David Adom)
That mission was tested again on October 7, 2023, when MDA teams were among the first responders at attack scenes across the country. Staff and volunteers worked under fire and in highly complex conditions to treat the wounded and evacuate casualties to hospitals. Some MDA personnel were killed while responding to the attacks.
Today, MDA operates across Israel with tens of thousands of staff and volunteers, thousands of ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units, emergency medicycles, medevac helicopters, intensive care buses and a 24-hour national dispatch system.
Its National Blood Services supply blood units to hospitals and security forces, while the National Human Milk Bank provides donated milk to infants and premature babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed.
MDA also trains tens of thousands of volunteers, medical workers, youth and members of the public each year in first aid and CPR. The organization says its goal is to give ordinary citizens the tools to respond in the critical minutes before professional medical teams arrive.
After October 7, MDA expanded those efforts, holding training sessions in shelters, workplaces, schools and communities across the country.
“Ninety-six years after the foundations were laid for a small organization in Tel Aviv, Magen David Adom has become one of the most advanced emergency medical service organizations in the world,” MDA Director-General Eli Bin said.
“Every hour of every day, thousands of staff and volunteers work with dedication toward one goal: saving lives,” he said. “On this anniversary, we salute the generations of MDA personnel who served in the past and those who continue to serve today, and we thank the Israeli public for its trust and support throughout the years.”
Bin said MDA would continue to develop its emergency medical capabilities and prepare for future challenges.
“MDA is one of the finest symbols of Israeli society, built on mutual responsibility, volunteerism and a deep commitment to human life,” he said.