New Year is traditionally a time for giving tzedakah. While we think of tzedakah meaning “charity”, it also means “justice” – doing what is right.

No one embodies doing what is right more than those who work for Magen David Adom, Israel’s only national blood and medical emergency service.

Every day, MDA is the first on the scene, saving lives, sometimes, tragically, at the expense of their own.

On October 7, 33 MDA workers and volunteers were murdered by Hamas. Among them was Ronen Engel, 54, who was kidnapped while treating others on his kibbutz, Nir Oz, and was killed in Gaza.

Aviya Hezroni, 69, was murdered by Hamas terrorists in his home on Kibbutz Be’eri. Hezroni had volunteered for MDA for more than 20 years, where he was a senior EMT and ambulance driver.  MDA paramedic Amit Man, 22, was shot by terrorists while treating the wounded in the clinic of Kibbutz Be’eri, where she lived.

These are just some of the stories of heroism, and as we approach a new Jewish year and the first anniversary of October 7, we think of those whose lives were tragically cut short. We think of their families, their friends and the MDA colleagues they left behind.

This is why we are calling on JC readers to join us in our goal to raise £35,000 for a new MDA motorbike.

These hi-tech bikes allow medics to manoeuvre in between traffic jams and across rough terrain to reach incidents within minutes, and they come with specialised medical equipment, an emergency PA system, a defibrillator and a GPS system.

Demonstrating the impact British donations can make, an ambulance funded by UK donors helped save the life of Bedouin hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52. Please join as we show our support to Israel and its selfless MDA workers.

Wishing you all a sweet New Year.

​To donate, click here