Sarasota synagogue buys vehicle for Israeli ambulance service

Temple Beth Sholom of Sarasota has raised $300,000 to purchase an all-terrain ICU-equipped ambulance to be used by Israel in its war with Hamas.

Israeli ambulance service Magen David Adom, part of the International Red Cross, has lost 16 vehicles during the conflict, some operated by Israeli Arab paramedics who, alongside their Jewish colleagues, were killed, wounded or taken hostage. The MDA does not receive funding from the Israeli government, and it serves the entire population, including the 20% who are Israeli Arabs.

Temple member Ben Sachs, who spearheaded the fundraising effort, said the money was raised in only three weeks with donations made by the congregation as well as nonmembers including non-Jewish supporters from the local community. 

“For TBS, this is personal,” Sachs said in a news release. “Relatives and friends of congregants were killed or injured in the initial Oct. 7 Hamas attack. One member has a step-grandson who is a hostage, and many congregants have relatives and friends who are in the army and fighting Hamas terrorists.”