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Thoughts to Nosh OnAugust 2006From the Desk of Rabbi SharffAs a result of the 1929 riots in Palestine, a volunteer group established an organization in the Yishuv dedicated to those individuals in desperate need for humanitarian aid. The first chapter was opened in 1930, and this was quickly by further planting of offices in Haifa and Jerusalem. Ultimately this organization provided medical services to the Haganah, Israel's first fighting force, and was recognized by the Knesset in 1950 as Israel's national emergency service.
Today Magen David Adom has over 1200 medical workers in various capacities, 10,000 volunteers, and 700 ambulances. It also operates mobile intensive care units, and has participated in humanitarian efforts across the globe. But the one thing Magen David Adom did not have until June 22, 2006 was acceptance into the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society centered in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Star of David, which according to tradition was the emblem on the shields carried by King David's soldiers, began to show up in Jewish literature in the 12th century C.E. Its six sides have been associated with the six days of creation, the six orders of the Mishnah, and even possibly with the astrological chart denoting David's birth. But sadly in more recent times, it has been a sign associated with Jewish persecution beginning with the Caliphs and later the Christians.
But with the founding of the modern State of Israel, the Magen David, has one again become a symbol for Jewish strength and fortitude as it can be found on Israel's flag. But even with its return to world prominence, the Magen David was rejected as an official symbol by the Red Cross beginning in 1931. While only two years earlier Turkey and Egypt were granted admission in 1929 to the Red Cross using the Red Crescent as their emblem. Magen David Adom had to wait another seventh-six years for admittance. The official reason given was that the Red Cross was concerned about a possible proliferation of symbols, but clearly this is a difficult argument to accept.
With the adoption of Magen David Adom into the International Red Cross, Israel's humanitarian arm is finally gaining international acceptance, which is all the more important as Israel is attempting to establish final borders and perhaps provide some much needed quiet as well to a greatly troubled region.
If you wish to donated to Magen David Adom, you may do so through www.afmda.org (American Friends of Magen David Adom), the American arm of the organization. And we pray that its inclusion into the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society may help to bring the notion of peace just a little bit closer within our reach. Rabbi Ben Sharff |
