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Wednesday, 26 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 6, 2024

These EMTs Are Chassidic, Female

After Hatzolah would not allow women to volunteer, Ruchie Freier founded Ezras Nashim, America's first all-female EMT service. Full Story, Video

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Why
July 29, 2018 6:47 am

Why Does the film discuss how women are human and have an opinion etc instead of discussing their skill at medical emergencies .is this film and movement about saving lives or women rights and equality ?

#38
July 28, 2018 11:17 pm

U dont know quite what you are talking abt
I no many women who are critical care nurses who are very qualified and also worked as EMTs and dont wear heels and are quick and smart and take care of ER pts all the time….stop with the nonsense pls

Several Valid Reasons
July 27, 2018 9:03 am

1. Women working alongside men, especially on the long drives back from the hospital with just one man, one woman. 2. Many of our women do not do strength conditioning and are not able to carry a 250 pound person down three flights of stairs 3. How quickly can they get up in the middle of the night and be enroute to a call? Men throw on any shirt and pants. Women cannot get going within 60 seconds. Men can… as I have done a number of times. That said, I have come across many women as EMTs who are… Read more »

To #23
July 27, 2018 12:01 am

In a case of saving a life no one is thinking about tznius!
Men are usually stronger and therefore it makes sense that they are the ones in hatzolah!

a VALID reason why Hazolah doesn't have women
July 26, 2018 11:13 pm

Can’t believe not a single post mentioned this, the problem is not that women might be less capable, it is the issue of women and men working as partners which is not tzniusdik, especially doing this type of activity which probably leads even faster to bonding than work not involving life-and-death matters. That said, as a woman I would feel very uncomfortable encountering in subsequent situations a man from the community who treated me for anything requiring touching/uncovering any part of the body normally covered by a bathing suit. A broken foot or something, ok, no big deal. I would… Read more »

Don't ignore the politics
July 26, 2018 11:06 pm

Having women in Hatzalah is great. But that doesn’t mean we should praise the documentary and ignore the progressive feminist undertones of the ‘documentary’. Those people are the biggest haters of frum Jews you’ll ever come across. They make the far-left look tolerant.

HaMeyaldos
July 26, 2018 9:35 pm

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙ שִׁפְרָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית פּוּעָֽה
וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְלֹ֣א עָשׂ֔וּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ן מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים:

Seems like it was good enough for Hashem. You can’t get frummer than that.

scary
July 26, 2018 7:21 pm

yes women can be effective emt’s and maybe a case can be made for hatzala’s acceptance of volunteers but hatzala has proven itself and nobody knows if this new group knows what it is doing…it is scary that someone is such a feminist that she would risk lives instead of going with the tried and true simply because of the gender of the volunteers

What's the big deal?
July 26, 2018 6:12 pm

Why such a drama. Oh wait, because frumme yidden are babies and don’t know how to deal with anything we don’t like. Great, so women are making a volunteer EMT service to help other frumme viben with women issues. Okay, so the women who want it can use it and the ones who don’t can use hatzolo or whatever they want. Why does everything have to be a whole big ego battle with all of this immature fighting? Blah blah blah, you won’t let women in, blah blah blah, you don’t know how great we are, we’re amazing. Whateverrrrrr someone… Read more »

halacha
July 26, 2018 5:58 pm

the torah is very clear that you are allowed to receive medical care from the opposite gender

So sorry to #28
July 26, 2018 5:19 pm

So sorry for the trauma and embarassment you have to now deal with because of religious sexism that exists in the Orthodox community. Ironic that when patients eventually do get to the hospital they are usually greeted by highly competent female Doctors and female Nurses. Maybe we should stop going to hospitals all together because they employ female Doctors and nurses? After almost 15 years in the Chassidic community I am so saddened by this belief that women lack Da’as and only exist to bear children and serve their husbands. This completely contradicts American values – liberty, equality and justice… Read more »

to # 22
July 26, 2018 3:29 pm

No one argues that in case of Emergency any man can and should do whatever is needed to save a life. We’re talking about a choice a women should have when it comes to her treatment. Are you making a statement that none of these women are capable of handling medical emergencies? would you say the same about NYC EMS which employs hundreds of female EMT’s. Don’t you realize that women that have given birth themselves are more capable to coach and treat other women in the same condition. Israel Hatzolah has MANY female EMT’s and maybe we need someone… Read more »

I wish we had it in my city
July 26, 2018 12:24 pm

Several years ago I (accidentally) gave birth at home.
The hatzola man who responded first was the father of a child in my son’s class. I had to see him daily for the remainder of the year at pickup time. Not to mention the other two who rushed in after, also from the next buildings. I WISH there had been an ezras nashim for me to call.

Ko Hakavod! It's about time
July 26, 2018 11:50 am

Women all over are so grateful and relieved to have the choice of frum, discreet and capable women to assist them with matters pertaining to women. This is a vital step forward and relieves much of the trauma associated with such emergencies. I am surprised and disturbed by the backlash I see in a few of the comments. Whether in hatzalah or ems or this new project, whether a patient makes it is largely up to H-shem- our job is to use trained, professional and capable resources. To say that negative outcomes will result because women by nature cannot assist… Read more »

Carrying a victim
July 26, 2018 10:08 am

Any reason not to have men accompanying
the women, so they can do the heavy lifting,
if necessary. I mean, there is much less risk
of dropping someone, CH”V, when a man does
the lifting.

Go ahead and call them
July 26, 2018 9:28 am

Ruchie and the others have very good intentions but are bitter of the rejection.

The resentment they have toward hatzala and anyone that suspects of working with hatzala (which to them is almost everyone) really clouds their judgment.

In the critical moment those decisions can mean the difference between life and death.

So for non emergency woman related emergencies go ahead and call them but in serious events stay away.

Stay in the kitchen
July 26, 2018 6:41 am

Put those efforts into cooking

This is a huge bracha
July 26, 2018 6:40 am

So stop hating! I would rather take a cab to the hospital than call Hatzala which is only men. How is that tznius???? To have men come out to assist a woman in pain or in labor????? There is a major flaw in our community if Hatzala insists women are incapable of helping other women get to the hospital. In the outside world women are successful doctors, lawyers, business owners. But in the Chassidic world we are not capable of anything but changing a diaper and doing the dishes???? Please. That is religious abuse. I am so glad I live… Read more »

Concerned Mother
July 26, 2018 2:50 am

Forgive me for saying this, bus isn’t the classic description of a “Chisid Shoitah” the man who would let the woman drown because If his misplaced concern for modesty? My point being, using Tsnius as the reason to risk a life is pompletly inappropriate.They are clearly not as qualified as Hatsolah if they have to arrive at the call only to than order the ambulance if it is “to serious for them to handle”, in which case wasting the few moments that could be the difference between life and death! Let’s not conflate the issues, this is not a debate… Read more »

To set the record straight
July 26, 2018 12:41 am

Hatzolah is a wonderful organization that does not take away from the need to have women treat women when it’s available. New York State EMTs are trained equally and therefore are qualified equally. Some of these women have a wealth of experience with over 25 years being certified as New York State EMTs and when it comes to treating a OBGYN patient there is nothing more appropriate for it to be handled by a woman especially when some of these are telling members are young 20 year old males treating some 40 45 year old women. They could be at… Read more »

To #4
July 26, 2018 12:32 am

That is a disgusting thing of you to say. There is no need to put someone down so that you appear better.

Boro parker
July 26, 2018 12:20 am

Here is the real problem.
Nothing wrong with women helping a pregnant emergency. But there is something non of you realize. The woman behind the movie not the one that is on screen, runs a group called Torah Hate Trump. This is a sinister plot to bring radical feminism into the orthodox community. We support Trump. He did so much in one year. He freed Rubashkin. He made bed the embassy. He increased aid to Israel 200 million dollars while removing 65 million from the PA.

To #4
July 25, 2018 11:16 pm

K seriously hatzolah obviously has a good reason for not accepting certain people dont complain i agree 100% with #7 hatzolah saves lives for free and you are here complaining which of these other organizations do things for free?

Keep up your great work
July 25, 2018 10:34 pm

People acknowledge their mesiras nefesh … you don’t need to use them for yourself or your family. We all have the right to choose our care… but be respect or keep quiet
Ahavas chinom

They r not legit
July 25, 2018 10:17 pm

These woman where not properly trained. And their leader knows it and sweeps it under the rug.
If they want to make a difference let them start from real training. They put down hatzalah when these woman r the non trained ppl who have unfortunately had some serious affects due to incompetence.

Ruchie Freier is NOT the founder!
July 25, 2018 10:14 pm

How sad it is when someone who does good work has not the decency and honesty to say that all she accomplished was AFTER a group of women put in a huge amount of time, effort, money and energy into getting this started. Honest reporting should at the very least acknowledge that this was conceived and founded by Yocheved Lerner, working with Irit Lang and some other women to whom I apologize for not remembering their names. Please, don’t allow the theft of credit that is hugely due to these women. Acknowledging their initial efforts does not take awy from… Read more »

To #9
July 25, 2018 10:13 pm

Agreed and to be honest I understand their reasons. Hatzlola of South Africa does allow single men but that’s because of the limited resources the country has so they need to take who they can get. And to #4 yes every service discriminates it’s for a reason. The Navy Seals also don’t take women they have different talents. Also the article ‘women had to expose their bodies to men’ is kinda false. They needed medical help and a man was the first to respond, it makes it sound like they were victimized or something. Poor reporting

Beautiful
July 25, 2018 8:41 pm

Kiddish Hashem

Equal Service
July 25, 2018 8:10 pm

Would they respond to a male in emergency need if nearby ?

Kol Ha Kavod Judge Freier!
July 25, 2018 7:30 pm

The revelation of Malchus in our time! Now I know Moshiach is here! Thank you for paving the way for other Chassidic women!!!

Meir
July 25, 2018 7:29 pm

BS”D Doctor Eli Rosen schichia is the head of Hatzhalah in CH. If women are excluded,surely he is aware of this and has a reason for it. Is there one person in CH who is not indebted to him and yet some have the audacity to question his judgment

To #4
July 25, 2018 6:58 pm

I’m sure GLAD hatzalah discriminates on who they choose! That doesnt make them corrupt, it makes them superior! I worry about the day I’ll need hatzalah to give birth and sure glad they handpick the men who might show up at my door

bravo!!
July 25, 2018 6:57 pm

so inspiring! every major jewish city needs a women’s EMT group. if there is a hatzala committee, a women’s division should be par for the course.
Misogynism has no place in saving jewish lives.

To #4
July 25, 2018 6:51 pm

Hatzalah is an organization that saves thousands of Jewish lives every year, and they do it for FREE.

If you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.

Can we say somthing Nice
July 25, 2018 6:31 pm

seem like they are doing good work and getting recognized for it

Kol Hakavod

chassidic
July 25, 2018 6:26 pm

why such a chiddush for chassidic? Women already hold many leadership positions in chabad…
my only concern is that if there is an emergency, one should not think so much when deciding which group to call. Don’t insist on a man or a woman when your life is in danger and every second counts. The gemara actually warns about such a stupid ‘frum’ person that hesitates to jump after a drowning woman because of tznius

Corrupt!
July 25, 2018 5:58 pm

Believe it or not, Hatzalah is the most corrupt organization. They discriminate a lot on who gets to join, weather it’s females, males, married or single men, so on and so fourth… Does the Fire Department only choose men? Does the Police Department only choose men? No they don’t! Why? Because it’s all about saving lives. If women want to join a community organization to help out, why can’t they join? Wouldn’t it make sense to have women answer the call to another woman giving birth? I’m sure Hatzalah means well, but there’s no valid reason to reject so many… Read more »

Hatzalah is amazingly outstanding!
Reply to  Corrupt!
November 8, 2019 2:55 pm

Every professional organization needs a comprehensive vetting process.

Extreme caution must be taken before criticizing an organization whose members sacrifice on sleep, family time, jobs, etc.

There may be room for improvement, like with anything in life; but don’t hold all its members to blame for ‘small’ issues, especially considering the big picture, how Hatzalah revolutionized pre-hospital emergency care!

Kol Hakovod to Hatzalah!

Wonderful and great chessed
July 25, 2018 5:52 pm

Go Fraydie L! If I was younger I’d do it too! Keep up your great work!!!
A fan!!!

Meshugas
July 25, 2018 4:53 pm

What else is next😛

Not everything is as it seems
July 25, 2018 4:43 pm

Don’t be so quick to praise this woman. This was not her idea. She took over and kicked out the original 5 women who actually started this organization. I know, because one of th was a relative of mine.

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