ZAKA and Chabad Launch Joint Global Emergency and Rescue Unit
ZAKA and the global Chabad network announced a historic partnership in New York to create a joint emergency and rescue unit, providing rapid humanitarian assistance to Jews worldwide.
During the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries in New York, a historic partnership was announced between ZAKA and the global Chabad network. The two organizations launched a joint emergency, rescue, and humanitarian unit designed to provide rapid and comprehensive assistance to Jews facing crises and disasters worldwide.
The new initiative bridges the gap between Chabad's unprecedented global reach and ZAKA's extensive operational experience. ZAKA, recognized as an official UN body, has spent decades specializing in search and rescue, handling terror attacks, natural disasters, and complex international incidents.
Operational Support Worldwide
In many countries, Chabad emissaries serve as the primary point of contact for travelers, business people, and local Jewish residents facing emergencies far from home. The new unit will provide emissaries with full operational and halachic backing, training them in first response, search and rescue protocols, and disaster victim identification while adhering to Jewish law.
ZAKA CEO Dubi Weissenstern emphasized the significance of the alliance: "By combining forces with the global Chabad network, we will be able to expand our reach and assist every Jew anywhere in the world during times of trouble."
The joint unit will operate under the spiritual guidance of Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, Chabad emissary in Sydney, Australia, while operational command on the ground will be led by Yossi Landau, head of ZAKA's international unit.
