MARCH 16 • 2023 | 15
H
atzalah MI has come a long way in the five
years since it’s been in operation, and its
leaders expect to even go further in the years
ahead.
Hatzalah is a team of state-certified Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) volunteer responders in the
Orthodox community who stand at the ready 24-7 to
respond to local emergencies in Oak Park, Southfield
and Huntington Woods. It partners with the Oakland
County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA), the
Southfield Fire Department, Oak Park Public Safety
and Alliance Mobile Health.
The first Hatzalah began in
Brooklyn, N.Y., by Rabbi Hershel
Weber in the late 1960s. Today,
it is the largest volunteer EMS
service in the United States, with
more than 2,000 volunteer EMTs,
as well as dozens of branches
throughout the world.
Because Hatzalah volunteers are
embedded within the community,
they can often reach the person
who needs help in less than 2
minutes. Having such a quick
response can be all the difference
in life-threatening situations
where seconds can mean the dif-
ference between life and death.
“When we began, our agree-
ment with the municipalities was
to be a first response agency only
with no transport” said Nachy
Soloff, a trained paramedic, busi-
nessman by trade and leader of
Hatzalah by vocation. “They went
from not knowing who we were — these guys coming
in, starting something that they’
d never heard of —
to recognizing the value we add to the community.
Having realized the benefits of Hatzalah, they are now
encouraging us to expand as much as we can.
”
As per their agreement with Oak Park and
Southfield, when a call comes in, the Hatzalah dis-
patcher calls 911 immediately and municipal ambu-
lances meet the volunteer EMTs at the scene. While
Hatzalah volunteers can handle nearly any medical
emergency, they cannot transport people to the hos-
pital — although they will meet them there to provide
support and comfort.
“
About six months ago, our municipal partners
asked us why we weren’t doing transport to the hospi-
tal,
” Soloff said. “Our answer was ‘because we didn’t
think you wanted us to.
’”
It turns out that they do. EMS services throughout
the country are besieged by problems of low retention,
declining recruitment and inadequate funding. “They
recognize it’s something that would only be a benefit
to the citizens of the cities,
” Soloff said. “They know
they’ll have someone else they can turn to
for help.
”
Over the years, the volunteers at
Hatzalah have built strong relationships
with municipal personnel. “Our relation-
ship with Southfield and Oak Park Public
Safety has really come a long way,
” said
volunteer EMT Moshe Davis. “Many of us
are on first-name basis with some of the
firefighters or police officers. It’s something
that we’re very proud of, these personal
relationships. They know me, they see me
and they’re comfortable with my skills and
they trust me.
”
Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee
says the collaboration between Hatzalah
and his department has been good. “The
growth of learning about the community’s
culture and traditions has been very
helpful,” he said. “Hatzalah has been a
great partner. I’m all on board.”
TOP: Rendering of the new
ambulance. ABOVE: Asher
Sigler and Nachy Soloff both
from Southfield look over the
rendering of the new ambulance
they will be acquiring.
continued on page 16