Jewish Life Digital Edition September 2015 | Page 22

SERIES

Unsung Heroes
Shining the spotlight on those behind the scenes

It’s amazing to hear people’s stories
about why they do the things they do,
especially when they’re in the business
of being heroes. And even more so
when these heroic acts are, often, done
behind the scenes, saving lives and
helping others in ways you would never
know until, G-d forbid, you yourself
need them. I met some of our Hatzolah
heroes to ask them how they do it…

Justin
Gillman

I was motivated
to join Hatzolah
after I witnessed
a child fall and
mangle his ankle
at camp when I
was a madrich. I
felt so helpless
and unequipped to deal with the situation – I decided there and then that I
needed to learn how to help people
when they were in distress, and so I applied to join Hatzolah. We were taught
the latest in emergency medicine, with

18 JEWISH LIFE n ISSUE 88

the latest and best equipment. The
course was gruelling, as it demanded a
lot of our time and energy, but we had
an amazing instructor and the whole
Hatzolah team was there to support
and nurture us. We learned early on in
our course that Hatzolah holds itself to
a very high standard, so our training
was to the very highest level.
Since I’ve just qualified, I have seen
how much the volunteer responders
give of their time, and how they actively serve a vital part in our community.
I’m very excited to be a part of the Hatzolah family. I know now first-hand

that Hatzolah is there for any Jew who
needs its services, no matter the circumstances, and it’s a privilege to help
save a Jewish life. I have realised that
our bodies are just temporary vessels
carrying our neshamot, and sometimes
we get so caught up in our day-to-day
lives, worrying about unimportant and
material matters. Yet, in one second,
your whole life can change, and it’s then
that you realise what is really important in life. I have also learned that
even though our body may just be a
vessel – G-d only gave us one – it’s our
responsibility to look after it. I don’t

I have realised that our bodies are just
temporary vessels carrying our nesham ot, and
sometimes we get so caught up in our day-to-day
lives, worrying about unimportant and material
matters. Yet, in one second, your whole life can
change, and it’s then that you realise what is
really important in life. Justin Gillman

STRAP: BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM; Photograph: ILAN OSSENDRYVER; PORTRAITS:SUPPLIED

this month: Paramedics from Hatzol ah by Chandrea Serebro