Riverdale sends 120K ambulance to Magen David Adom in Israel
It was a spring-like day on Sunday as Rep. Ritchie Torres, along with local elected officials and community leaders, gathered at the Riverdale Y to dedicate a fully funded ambulance to ship to Israel amid the ongoing war.
The Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership said the decision to dedicate the ambulance was inspired by the harrowing story of Zvi Reder, an EMT with Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Reder awoke to the sound of thousands of rockets launched by Hamas as the border separating Israel from the Gaza Strip was breached by terrorists, The invaders killed more than 1,200 people and seized more than 240 hostages were taken into Gaza.
Despite the chaos, Reder immediately went to work treating the injured, risking his life to help those caught in the massacre. However, personal tragedy struck when Reder received a text from his son, Dor, who was at home on that fateful day.
“I can’t talk, there’s a lot of noise outside,” the text read.
Reder’s worst fears were realized when he later learned his son had been murdered by the terrorist group. Shortly after burying his son, he stood at the funeral of another fallen hero, Yarin Peled, an MDA volunteer and soldier whom he once hosted at his home.
The same month of the attack, the Riverdale partnership began collecting donations and raised more than $120,000 that they used to buy the ambulance they would send to Magen David Adom.
On Sunday, community leaders unveiled the state-of-the-art vehicle with an inscription on both ambulance doors that read, “Presented to the people of Israel in love and solidarity by the Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership.”
“There is a special relationship between the United States and Israel,” Torres said. “In Riverdale, this connection runs deep. We have a vibrant Jewish community here and we feel a moral obligation to support Israel in this moment of trauma, particularly in a post-Oct. 7 world.”
The public was welcome to view the and inspect the ambulance, including a young red-headed child who posed for a photo while sitting in the back seat with a large smile across his face and who looked strikingly similar to Ariel Bibas, the 4-year-old Israeli hostage whose body was returned by Hamas earlier this month.
“It’s a powerful thing to see how our community comes together,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson at the dedication ceremony. “We must do our part to take care of our brothers and sisters in Israel, especially in light of the devastation they continue to endure.”
Melissa Sigmond, CEO of the Riverdale Y, which helped coordinate the event, reflected on the broader importance of the initiative.
“We’re a community center, but we also have a global vision. Supporting MDA and sending this ambulance is a reflection of our values of caring and inclusivity.”
As the ambulance is set to be shipped to Israel, it will join MDA’s fleet which operate 24/7 while responding to medical emergencies, terror attacks and natural disasters. MDA’s mission, supported by American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA), is to help ensure that Israel’s first responders are equipped with the resources they need to continue their vital work.
“This ambulance is more than just a vehicle. It’s a symbol of hope, unity and the unbreakable bond between Riverdale and Israel,” Sigmond added.
