'90 Seconds': The story of United Hatzalah's founder - review

• Published date: 01 July 2023
• Author: JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The 49-year-old father of five and now a grandfather is the founder and president of United Hatzalah, who inspired thousands of volunteers to provide free emergency medical service to anyone who needs it in Israel. Based in Jerusalem, United Hatzalah has won the enthusiastic support of kings, princes, presidents, prime ministers, physicians, scientists, eminent rabbis, politicians and ordinary people. It has even served as a model for places like Dubai, Japan and several US states

Unlike ambulance services around the world, most of the trained medics and paramedics reach those who need help on well-equipped ambucycles that quickly maneuver through traffic, arriving before ordinary ambulances. Volunteers drop everything, even on holy days, in any weather and at any hour, to save people.

Who is United Hatzalah founder Eli Beer?

Coming from a haredi family, the son of an American-born bookseller and real estate man, Beer developed a keen business sense but was regarded as the black sheep of the family for not becoming a Torah scholar...