By Yossi Fraenkel
Many of you know me as an owner of Mike’s Place in Jerusalem, or someone who volunteers his time running the Mayanot Shul.
But I too am a volunteer in ZAKA, not only a volunteer but a proud Officer.
Today, as terror hit the streets of Jerusalem in two separate, almost simultaneous attacks, I jumped out of bed to help in the streets.
I exchanged my pajamas for my ZAKA T-shirt and a yellow vest.
First, I arrived at the site of the car ramming and stabbing attack in Malchei Yisrael Street in which one Israeli was killed and several others wounded. But there were already many ZAKA volunteers working on the site and help was needed at the Armon Hanatziv site.
I jumped into the ZAKA ambulance, taking a few members with me and start to drive towards Amon Hanatziv. I felt a sense of horror and déjà vu as we approached the area and saw a bus with fellow ZAKA volunteers, on their hands and knees, clearing human remains and blood from the bus and the sidewalk. These scenes are seared in my memory from the horror of past terror attacks.
I immediately joined them. We worked quietly, blocking out the noise and mayhem of the helicopters, the sirens, the screams, the frustration and the anger that surrounded us.
We wiped away the blood. We collected the human remains.
Our mission – to ensure a full Jewish burial for the victim, to deal with the terror aftermath in the most dignified manner possible, to honor the dead and to respect the living.
These are the words and slogans I use in my presentations about ZAKA that I give to English speakers around the world.
Today, as I worked with these dedicated ZAKA volunteers who are exposed to this level of trauma and tragedy on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis, I realized once again how very special these people are. How honored I am to work with them.
I am still deeply affected by what I saw and did today.
I have returned to my bar/restaurant. Together with my ZAKA colleagues, I await the next emergency call. Sadly, it will come. And ZAKA will be there.
Later in the evening I head back to the scene on Malchei Yisrael Street, to light a candle and I’m met by my other ZAKA colleagues where we break out in song and prayer. There are no words to express our feelings, this is a way of therapy for us, a way of coping with crisis, supporting each other. What was even more moving and amazing, was to see the community come out and join to support us.
To donate to ZAKA and to support Yossi’s work go to www.zaka.us and donate. Every penny helps save a life and honor those who perished.
Please do something positive now for the sake of klal Yisroel.
Chessed shel emet- Yossi ur a real chossid !
The Rebbe said once at a farbrengen: Hashem has nachas when he sees us doing Mitzvohs, “obehr vi fil ah shir kleiben Nachas?!!!!!!
In human form. We all need to do more.
B.H. Cousin Yossi,
I see you are still doing unfortuneately, much more advanced saving of lives, like you did back here in New York. Let’s hope that Israel will decide what to do with this terrorist problem, which needs eradicating right away.
Trusting, that Moshiach is on the way, and that all of ZAKA
will not be needed anymore. Regards to your parents.
we want Moshiach now
עד מתי? 😖😭
… as for the rest of us…instead of singing WE should be SCREAMING!!! But what will it help?… you may ask The REBEE told us. quoting freely… the Rebbe said: If you stub your toe in the bathroom you scream… not because its going to help… but because it hurts. When we are being hurt by inhuman acts of violence we should SCREAM… And demand JUSTICE…from and at anyone in Government, PR, Press etc who has the courage and ability to confront and defeat our enemies. Enemies we should never have talked to or allowed to be in our midst… Read more »
Keep it up Yoss, thank you
No words to express what and who these guys are!
And the fact that they can come back to the very scene where they witnessed and had to take part in all that they did, is beyond words!
And to stand and sing there . . ???!!
MI KEAMCHOH YISROEL!
Hashem look down and see your people! and let this be the very last terrorist shooting/stabbing/killing that they ever have to be involved in!
I read where someone is going to save money in entertainment area (restaraunts, etc) and give what they would have spent, to Chayal, ZAKA, etc. I urge everyone to find ways to do this. We have to help, we have to do more. There are ways, we will find them. EAch person can do something more.
ad mosai???????????????????????????????????
AD MOSAI??????????????????????????????????
AAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
????????????????????????????????????????????????
HASHEM PLEASE SEND MOSHIACH NOW
MO MORE TZAR. MO MORE. NO MORE
Oy moshiach already!!!! Enough!!!!
Moshiach this second!!!