Temple Israel in Charlotte Dedicates an Ambulance for Israel at a Special Event Celebrating Israel and Honoring the Work of Emergency Medical Professionals

May 2024

Charlotte, N.C. (April 15, 2024) — At the start of the war in Gaza, Josh Loewensteiner a board member at Temple Israel in Charlotte, N.C., contacted Tammy Karu, director of the Southeast region at American Friends of Magen David Adom, about raising funds for Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency services system. The community soon mobilized to raise $135,000 to sponsor a Life Support Ambulance, far exceeding their initial goal.

The Temple Israel community, along with its spiritual leader, Rabbi Michael Wolk, decided to combine a dedication for the ambulance with a Family Israel Day on Sunday April 7th. The event, attended by over 400 people, featured local medics and emergency vehicles, CPR training, a blood mobile for a blood drive, a station for creating personal notecards for Israeli medics, and a special guest physician, Earl Norman, who volunteered for MDA after October 7. Attendees also enjoyed Israeli food and music. Activities for children included bounce houses and story time with a book about first responders.

Karu spoke at the temple’s Shabbat services about the significance of the gift for MDA’s ongoing work saving lives.

“Your community’s response to the needs on the ground in Israel is truly inspiring. As we deal with a constantly changing set of challenges in the region, your gift will help keep Israelis safe and allow for quick, effective emergency medical treatment for those in need.”

About Magen David Adom MDA is Israel’s emergency services system. A leader in mass-casualty response and in EMS technology, Magen David Adom treats and transports nearly 1 million people to hospitals every year; collects, safety tests, and distributes nearly all the blood to Israel’s hospitals; and, through its affiliation with the Red Cross movement, responds to disasters around the world. For more information, visit afmda.org