I am not a supervisor, coordinator, or in any other way a big macher, I am a simple EMT, a volunteer in Hatzalah.
I love volunteering in Hatzalah, I get to help people in their time of need. I love to do it, but it does come at a price. I often have to leave my home, put aside my work, to run out and help another yid in need. And I do it gladly, without hesitation and without complaint.
This Thursday I will be sitting down like everyone else to eat seudas Purim with my family. I know from years past that the chance of me actually getting to enjoy the entire seuda with my family is almost zero, and I know from past experience that the call I will be running out on my family for, is not some poor soul suffering some traumatic or medical emergency, but rather a self-inflicted illness. We at Hatzalah will get call after call for people who are drunk.
I don’t have to explain what is wrong with extensive drinking, the immediate dangers of being incapacitated by intoxication, and the literally life-wrecking problems of alcoholism.
Rather, this Purim, before you drink yourself to oblivion or allow someone in your care to do so, I want you to also think about me. Ask yourself, what right you have to pull me away from my family because you are too drunk to protect your own airway! Who gave you the right to do that?!
And what kind of chutzpa does it take, to take away resources from your entire community, tying up personnel and ambulances for your drunkenness when they may be needed for someone having chas vishalom a heart attack!
Say lechaim within moderation, stay safe, and remember, we are always there for you.
Chag purim Sameach!
Bottom line don’t get drunk is hard to see a family member being cared by hatzulah and it’s not safe have fun but know your limits
just wanted to say thank you, we can always count on you, and agree 1000%
Ditto!
for being there for my family time after time!!! amazing ahavas yisroel
People don’t realize the dangers of short term or long term alcohol! Thank you for bringing it to the forefront once again.
(And OFCOURSE thank you for your work with Hatzoloh)!!
#11 – Excellent Point. Should be added to the article. Not only getting others drunk but also the wrong way to “pour” one’s dollar bills. Often the “shvitzer” pours, but it sits in the cup then into the garbage. AND THAT GOES FOR RABBEIM/MASHPIIM AS WELL!! You have a big responsibility to watch that bottle. If you can’t keep to what the Rebbe said re: drinking, why should your students keep anything else you preach in the name of the Rebbe? #26 – Slightly off mark. Many guys who would otherwise be considered 100% normal have gotten way to drunk,… Read more »
If there is an emergency, don’t hesitate to call Hatzolah, worrying you may disturb them…..
Thank you Yingy Bistritzky for helping us out with a family emergency during the Purim seuda 2 Years ago (not alcohol related) Yossi Berkowitz
Hatzala of crown heights are unbelievable!
of course people should not get drunk in a way that we need to call hatazalah but those are the people that need help, these people dont have common sense and need our help sometimes more then the regular person. if they were 100% normal they wouldnt get to that place! so help them like you help a mentally ill person and be happy for the mitzvah .
Amen to that!
Thank you Hatzala for all that you do for our community. I know that when I move out soon I will miss this incredible volunteer service. May we never have to use your help. Happy Purim to your wife and children!
Thank you for all you do, and if you have to drink to Lchaim be smart about it
thanks mr. hatzala for what you do. I think your request applies every day and not just purim. rarely is there an excuse for someone drinking enough alcohol on any day to have to call hatzala. true some more people might use purim as an excuse, but the chutzpah of intentionally abusing the hatzala resource by over-drinking is anytime you do it.
Thank you for all that you do! And yes, if you drink and call Hatzalah you are taking away from someone who may really NEED Hatzalah
Well said!!
Thank you Hatzallah for the many times you came in the middle of the night to care for our dear son who would not have made it without you!!
A freilichin Purim!!
My husband is in hatzola. Every time he goes on a call purim and SimChas Torah I cringe as my son asks his totty what kind of call he went on.
I agree.
We should show appreciation to the selfless work of hatzala volunteers and take them into consideration!
Look at all this positivity! I dont think there has ever been on COL such a positive consensus of opninion on all of the comments!
Very well said and straight to the point. Thank You Hatzalah for your service!
So well said and its amazing how you end off off that you are always there for us….!!!!!
We cant thank you enough we love you
All volunteers thank you from the bottom of my heart
for your tremendous help to our community
Less drinking!
The same article should be posted before every Yom Tov.
I would also like to add, some people won’t drink that much but they love to pour and shtup loads of lchaim to their friends… Please for your friends sake and hatzolahs sake please use your seichal. Their is plenty of freilichkeit you can do without getting others drunk too.
The Rebbe made A Gezairah that’s his Chassidim under the age of 40 are not allowed to drink more than 4 keleshkes of alcohol and anyone that does disconnects themselves with the Rebbe, so Bochurim don’t disconnect yourselves….and Yungerlite Chassidim Shluchim under 40, please Let’s stay connected.
NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM IT. see today’s Tanya regarding stealing money and then giving it to Tzedakah etc….
A Frailichen Purim
Thank you to all the Hatzalah members for all you do for our community. G-d willing this Purim there will be no need for your services for drunkenness or any other illness and all members will enjoy a happy, healthy, joyous Purim with family and friends!
That was a home run. Short, sweet, and to the point. Thank you, author, for your service to our community.
Thank you for posting this! Hatzolah saved the lives of my chronically ill family member so many times, I stopped counting. I can never thank you enough for being there for us at real medical crisis times!! It’s unthinkable to imagine that you might be tied up with *nonsense* when you’re needed for real emergencies! I wish all Hatzolah members a freilichen Purim and a full festive meal with your families. Let it be in Yerushalayim with Moshiach already!
job well said I agree 100% that is really excellent any emergencies just call regular ambulance 911 and I’m sure they will help us they are here for a reason and that’s part of their job but G-d forbid we should not have any incidents I would like to wish all the Hatzalah members of Crown Heights and their family happy and healthy Frillchen Prium
ty hatzala!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Purim, it’s not all systems go. We still need to behave in a civilized manner.
I hope everyone out there reads this.. Thank YOU so much for all that Hatzalah does. You go out of your way to save lives. My you all be blessed with only good!
Yes, indeed! Hatzolah is a tremendous resource and must not be abused or misused.
I don’t know if people who over-indulge alcohol have enough sense of others’ needs to be affected by this op ed, but I certainly support your position.
BS”D
well said
keep up the good work