Hatzolah: Our 120-Second Heroes

When an emergency happens, we dial their number.

Our fingers tremble with each digit…7-3-2-3-7-0-3-6-0-0.

Every second counts—all 120 of them.

They stop mid-everything.

They run faster than their feet can carry them.

The reassuring sounds of sirens grow louder; the flashing lights herald their arrival.

In no time, they appear, sooner than expected and exactly when needed.

In 120 seconds, they are there.

There in the nick of time.

There to save a life.

Hatzolah: our 120-second heroes.

Reassuring voices

As I was nonchalantly yet cautiously driving along the road, I suddenly saw headlights coming out of nowhere. The next thing I knew, I heard a loud crash and then a deafening silence.

The stillness didn’t last long; I quickly came to my senses and realized that my worst nightmare was now reality: I was trapped in an upside-down vehicle, and my baby was shrieking from the back seat. I was stuck; I could not move an inch. I could not possibly get to my baby to see if my baby was okay. I could not extract my phone to call for help. I couldn’t see a thing that was going on around me.

Wallowing in the depths of my despair and terror, I suddenly heard a voice. “Don’t worry, we’re gonna get you out of here. We got the call, and we were right nearby. We’re here; you’re safe now, and your baby is fine.”

It was the most comforting and reassuring thing I could have heard.

The Hatzolah members’ voices continued to guide me through the process and make sure my baby and I were okay. “The extraction process is noisy,” they warned me, “but we’ve got this covered. Stay calm and try to relax.”

A few minutes later, it was over—in a good way. As I was sitting in the ambulance, getting ready to head to the hospital to check things out, the doors opened and a Hatzolah member handed me my baby wrapped in a blanket—warm, cozy, and smiling, without a scratch. The tears flowed freely as I realized what had just happened. My gratitude to Hashem overflowed as I realized that Hatzolah was there within 120 seconds.

In the nick of time

It was late Motza’ei Shabbos, just after a beautiful aufruf and kiddush for ours son, celebrated together with the entire family. As we were gathering the last items from the car, my husband suddenly clutched his chest and mumbled that he wasn’t feeling well. I followed him as he heading inside to get a drink of water, but before he could even make it to the fridge, he collapsed.

I froze for a panicked, interminable second, then speedily dialed Hatzolah, my hands trembling as jumbled thoughts invaded my mind. What’s going to be? The chasunah is on Wednesday! How’s the simchah going to turn out? But before I could picture the worst, I already heard the sirens looming near, reassuring me that Hatzolah was arriving.

A whirlwind of activity followed as EMTs, followed by paramedics, worked to revive my husband. And then the most frightening but blessed sounds filled the room as my husband’s heart was shocked to life. Moments later, sirens blared as we were rushed to the hospital.

The next 24 hours were a blur of doctors, nurses, and emergency surgery during which I finally had a few minutes to sit in the waiting room and say Tehillim. After a short while, a doctor came in and said the words I’d been hoping and praying for: “Your husband is going to be alright. Had Hatzolah come even a split second later, the outcome might not have been the same.”

Thinking back to those 120 seconds of debilitating panic and terror, I realize they were really 120 seconds of saving a life.

Watching my husband and son dance at the wedding just a few days later, my tears flowing freely as I kept whispering over and over, “Baruch Hashem, chasdei Hashem! What would we do without Hatzolah?”

Now it’s your turn

What can you do in 120 seconds?

You don’t have to run. And it won’t take too much time.

Are you up for the challenge?

“Express” your support

In less than 120 seconds you can enter the Hatzolah auction and not only win some amazing prizes, but show your appreciation for what our members do every day, 365 days a year, seven days a week—in just 120 seconds.

You, too, can save a life in 120 seconds.

Our dedicated Hatzolah volunteers run busy lives, with families and businesses pulling them in all directions. But when their radio sounds, they drop whatever they’re doing and speed to the rescue of someone in need.

In this field, a few minutes can be a matter of life and death.

This year’s fantastic auction is celebrating the rapid response of our Hatzolah heroes, who act with awesome alacrity as they hurry to save the day.

• With renowned music star R’ Shloime Taussig as well as an appearance by Uri Davidi, one of the most dynamic performers on the Jewish music scene, you can be sure you’ll be reveling in the ambiance.
• A special children’s hour featuring the acclaimed master storyteller R’ Yitzy Erps, sponsored by NakiRadio, will keep your kids spellbound, as will a behind-the-scenes ambulance tour which will educate and enthrall.
• The she’eilos u’teshuvos segment with gedolei hador Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, and Rav Moshe Shaul Klein will leave you inspired, uplifted, and informed.
• Hear from our leading Hatzolah doctors about today’s most pressing health issues with an informative and educational panel, and get answers to questions you may have.
• To all who have been driving around Lakewood lately: you’ll be glad to tune into the traffic-safety discussion. And all who have a pool or know someone who has one will benefit from the talk on pool safety, including fundamental rules and tips.

With exciting guests, including our very own Hatzolah members as well as top local doctors, and a packed, stimulating, and entertaining program highlighting the above and more, the upcoming Hatzolah auction is something you cannot afford to miss.

Make sure to tune into Hatzolah Live this Motza’ei Shabbos, or visit Hatzolah.auction. You can also view the livestream at Thelakewoodscoop.com, Theyeshivaworld.com, or Matzav.com, or listen to Radio Kol Brama at 712-432-4212.