Police, Emergency Medical Services, practice in Tiberius responding to a terror attack
Special Weapons and Training (SWAT) teams of the national and local police, augmented by United Hatzalah, Ambulance Merizan and other first responders, conducted a drill in Tiberius (Tevaria) last week in which they practiced responding to a terrorist attack on the city’s IDF conscription office.
First response and ambulance aspects of the drill were organized by David Merizan, owner and operator of Ambulance Merizan, and Yossi Vaknin, United Hatzalah’s regional coordinator for Tevaria and the Galilee. “For any terror incident or large-scale emergency, one of the most important factors that affect the outcome is proper incident management. As most incidents only last a short amount of time, it is of the utmost importance that incident managers be prepared ahead of time and know how to use all of the tools at their disposal effectively in order to achieve the best results,” said Merizan.
During the drill, S.W.A.T teams practiced securing the area and eliminating the targets. “We were invited to participate in order to provide first response and ambulance services to the incident,” Vaknin said. “The drill included a number of simulated injuries to soldiers who were stationed at the base. The injuries ranged in scale from complete system injury to minor cuts and bruises. The centralized location of the incident allowed our teams of volunteers to access the site and provide medical care just as we would in a normal mass casualty incident. Sadly, terrorism in Israel is an occurrence that is all too common.”
Vaknin added that the organization not only dealt with the physical injuries, but also with the psychological trauma that would be a natural fallout if such an attack were to occur. “United Hatzalah’s integrated Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit volunteers, who have been very successful at operating and providing care in the field to those who need it following traumatic events, were also a part of the drill. These volunteers treated those who simulated being in psychological or emotional distress as part of the drill. Our volunteers from this specialized unit displayed their proficiency and professionalism on all fronts and all of the teams involved in the drill were impressed.” — From United Hatzalah
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Anne Frank Center sends two to weeklong conference in Berlin
The Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect (AFC) is participating in Anne Frank Youth Network International Summer School in Berlin, Germany. For the first-time youth delegates will be representing the United States at the week-long conference which began Sunday, July 29
Sana Shareef of Port St. Lucie, Florida and Natalie Hampton of Sherman Oaks, California will represent the Anne Frank Center at the conference, which this year is built around the theme of “1938/2018: Remember the past. Respond to the present.” The summer school is organized by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and hosted by Anne Frank Zentrum in Berlin.
Last month Sana and Natalie were awarded Spirit of Anne Frank Scholarships for their extraordinary humanitarian initiatives in interfaith relations and anti-bullying.
In Berlin they will join more than 85 representatives from 14 countries, as Anne Frank youth ambassadors who have helped foster understanding and compassion around the world. The U.S. delegation will be led by the AFC’s Associate Director for Education and Youth Initiatives, Bryan R. Caine.
The 2018 Spirit of Anne Frank Scholarship given to Sana Shareef recognized her commitment to interfaith dialogue. As a teenage girl responding to a violent incident in her community, the 2016 shooting at the Pulse Night in Orlando, Sana “found herself struggling and embraced the opportunity to improve human relations.” In addition to establishing the Breaking Barriers Club at St. Edwards High School, Sana has organized successful interfaith conferences and received numerous accolades for her extraordinary accomplishments both in academics and community service. Her actions match her belief that “knowledge and education of religious intolerance will be the solution to the bigotry you see in the community.”
Natalie Hampton also received a 2018 scholarship from the Anne Frank Center, in recognition of her innovative idea for an anti-bullying initiative. Natalie developed the mobile app “Sit With Us” as a compassionate response to the awkward social scenario of having no acquaintances at the high school lunch table – a situation she endured firsthand. Costing little more than her time and commitment, Natalie was able to “help students feel at home and empower them” to be better people, much in the spirit of the kindness and compassion Anne Frank herself wished for the world. — From Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect
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Seffi Kogen to head AJC’s outreach to students
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) has appointed Seffi Kogen to the newly created position of Global Director of Young Leadership. Kogen, who will also sit on the senior management team, will oversee AJC’s advocacy work with high school students, on college campuses, and with ACCESS, AJC’s young leadership division.
“Seffi Kogen is a thoughtful advocate on the issues that matter to the Jewish world. He has played a key role in the expansion of AJC’s Campus Affairs Department and the creation of our groundbreaking Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) program for high school students,” said Daniel Elbaum, AJC Senior Associate Executive Director. “Seffi’s well-deserved promotion speaks volumes about him as it does about AJC’s commitment to hear the voices of the next generation of communal leadership.”
Kogen came to AJC four years ago after graduating from Columbia University with a degree in history and from the Jewish Theological Seminary with a degree in Talmud and rabbinics. In college he served as president of Columbia/Barnard Hillel, interned for then-Newark Mayor Cory Booker, and worked as a resident advisor. Since joining AJC, he has written extensively, publishing op-eds in Haaretz, Forward, JTA, and Times of Israel. — From American Jewish Committee
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