A few days ago, a shooting attack at a gas station, left two fatalities on the spot: a teenager, and a 57 year old man, father of three, long time member of the Zaka volunteer organization. (RIP).
Zaka (search, rescue and identification) has been formally established in 1995 by israeli ultra orthodox people with the main purpose of dealing respectfully with the dead and wounded in disaster places.
After disaster occurrence, there is , sometimes, no corpse left but remaining pieces of it , scattered around. Zaka people collect the pieces and all the evidence available on the scene, submit it to the forensic teams and police to get a DNA, which is key to identify the victim. They then, help arrange the burial , bringing closure to the family.
Zaka teams are also sent to 'rescue and identification' missions abroad, after occurrence of eartquakes, tzunamis, volcano erruptions, terror attacks, mass shootings etc..
(In Thailand, the Zaka people were named 'the team that sleeps with the dead', as they transformed the pagodas into morgues to identify the tzunami victims).
Zaka volunteers are trained paramedics, and are great believers in the dignity of man - dead or alive. In 2016, the United Nations granted Zaka the status of a non-governmental consultant.
ZAKA has grown to a world renowned humanitarian organization. The work that those volunteers do is incredible. They have earned my absolute respect.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry that those two human beings have lost their lives for nothing. My heart goes out to their families.
It sounds as if you've already heard about them. Indeed, they do incredible work, and deserve respect and appreciation.
DeleteThe name sounded familiar and I knew they did rescue work but never thought in detail what that rescue really entailed.
DeleteWe have to admire these volunteers. I have no words to express my admiration. Something that I could never do...
That's not something that anyone can do. It requires special traits of character: kindness, respect for human life, etc...
DeleteI find those terrorist attacks so frightening. Two victims is two too many..
ReplyDeleteDo only men do this difficult but honorable work, or do women also participate ZAKA?
To answer your question - only men, as Zaka was founded by ultra-orthodox people, and women in their sphere don't have the same rights and duties as women in the secular world.
DeleteOh dear. Grim story.
ReplyDeleteIs zaka a volunteer association?
Yes, they are a volunteer association, depending financially on donations.
DeleteIronic a Zaka member killed like that -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm afraid he's not the first one.
DeleteI had not heard of ZAKA before your post. What a meaningful way to honour the dead. May the memory of those who were killed be a blessing.
ReplyDeleteTrue, very meaningful way of honoring the dead and their family!
DeleteI hope the volunteers receive a lot of personal support. The work they do is heart breaking.
ReplyDeleteThey probably do. I've heard of psychological
Deletesupport given to them as individuals and as a group.
I had never heard of Zaka before. What a profound place they have in this world. Thank God for their sense of duty. God bless them.
ReplyDelete(Sandi I had problems with publishing your comment; not my fault. I'll check it out).
DeleteZaka, is one of the few things here that people respect. Not that there are no mistakes, as they largely depend on donations, but their work is very much appreciated,
Siempre es triste cualquier tipo de muerte, pero, cuando se trata de personas de buen corazón, que voluntariamente hacen esta encomiable y difícil labor, de rescatar restos humanos con el fin de darles un entierro digno y la paz a sus familiares, aún duelen más.
ReplyDeleteMi más sentido pésame a esas dos familias.
Así como también, mi más sentido pésame a esas 104 familias palestinas que han perdido a sus seres queridos, que de forma desesperada intentaban conseguir harina, facilitada por la ayuda humanitaria internacional, para que sus familias no mueran de inanición, y que han perdido la vida también, de forma violenta.
Días tristes.
Un abrazo, amiga Duta.
You put it nicely: "rescuing human remains in order to give a dignified burial and peace to their relatives." Sad, indeed.
DeleteThere are so many heroes out there. Good work celebrating them. I am a hospice volunteer but couldn't imagine doing this.
ReplyDeleteAny type of volunteering deserves appreciation and respect, but what Zaka does is extreme. Not everyone could do that.
DeleteI truly enjoyed learning about the important role Zaka plays in Israel and around the world. We saw them at work after the tragedy of October 7, but I had no idea that they were an actual organized group. May God bless them!
ReplyDeleteZaka is an organized group of volunteers, active both on the israeli arena, and around the world. May God bless them, indeed!
DeleteI've never heard of this organization but what a wonderful group. That is hard work to do. It's sad there is a need for this, but bless those who do it!
ReplyDeleteTheir work is not only hard work, but also a very special kind of work , under special conditions; accidents, war, natural disasters.
DeleteI had not heard of Zaka before, they sound like bold and courageous people, with the ability to do their difficult tasks. RIP to that hero.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about boldness and courage, Terra, but they certainly have a heart and soul - and that's very important.
DeleteThat is very sad may they both R.I.P and I've never heard of Zaka but it appears by what you say they are a wonderful group of people putting people together the best they can.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's all sad, even tragic, but part of life.
DeleteSuch a terrible tragedy. I bless those able to do this as I would not be able to myself. I remember once there was a teen who committed suicide by walking in front of a train near where my dad worked. He volunteered to look for body parts so that the family had some closure. Janice
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago, one of the founders of this group committed suicide, as he was accused of misconduct.
DeleteIn any organization, there are problems and mistakes. We must look at the positive part.
This is the first time that I have heard of this organization. God bless them!
ReplyDeleteGod bless them, indeed!
DeleteSo great to read your post about this group. They truly have to have a calling for this work. And such a great work it is. Thanks so much for this information. I will certainly remember the name of this association now.
ReplyDeleteThey must, indeed, have a calling for this kind of work.
DeleteIt takes special people for the work that team does. Incredible people! When we read headlines, we don’t often think of the workers involved in the recovery efforts. Thank you for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteRight, Marie. We don't read about these people and their recovery efforts in the headlines, so we are often not even aware of their existence.
DeleteThat's very sad.
ReplyDeleteSad, tragic - these are the proper words to describe the reality in which Zaka people act.
DeleteI am sorry for the sad situation that happened to those people. I do not understand violence like that.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that organization that helps too.
There are some good people out there.
We live in a violent world - violence by man, violence by nature. May God help us!
DeleteBeing a volunteer in this organization would be heartbreaking work. I so admire those who can do that. It is truly good work -- but not easy, physically or emotionally.
ReplyDeleteMind you, there's big criticism on the ultra orthodox people here , for various reasons; but when it comes to the Zaka volunteers, everyone takes his hat off. Who could/would do this kind of work that they undertake to do?!
DeleteDuta, I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy. Thank you for sharing about Zaka. I wasn't familiar with the organization, but God bless those who work with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diana, for your kind words.
DeleteBlessings and Hugs to you!
I'm so sorry to hear this. It' s sad how commonplace it is in my country. I'd never heard of Zaka. It sounds very worthwhile. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Thank you , Sandra. Zaka is not, usually, in the headlines, even during disasters, but they do appear in the Wikipedia, and other places on the web.
DeleteMi admiración por Zaka, hacen un trabajo ejemplar.
ReplyDeleteAbrazos.
Yes, Conchi, they do deserve admiration for the kind of work they undertake to do.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
I didn't know about Zaka, must be very brave and devoted members ! How awful that such attacks happen every day even here in our once so peaceful little country Belgium !
ReplyDeleteSadly, violence is everywhere. In Europe, it's only the beginning. People are not aware of that; they believe in the 'protection' of the authorities'.
Deletei hate reading about those kind of sad and tragic events...
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't? But these things are part of life, and we should know about them.
DeleteMás visibilidad para Zaka por tan buena labor que hacen. Gracias por darla a conocer.
ReplyDeleteBuen jueves.
Un abrazo.
Right you are. Thanks Laura for reading my post and leaving your comment.
DeleteBlessings and Hugs to you!
I didn't know about Zaka, but it didn't surprise me. I admire people who take on this kind of work. It's something I never could have done, and it's so necessary, sadly.
ReplyDeleteYes, not everyone could do this kind of work which brings before the eyes the consequences of tragedy and death.
DeleteThank you for telling us the name of this organization.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, rtc!
DeleteMy heart breaks every time I hear news like this. Why people resort to violence is a mystery to me. Sending love and light to the victims' families.
ReplyDeleteViolence is probably part of our nature as animals (superior animals, may I add).
DeleteThanks Lux G. for your kind words.
Interesting, what dedicated people. Im not sure who does it here, the ambulance and police services I guess.
ReplyDeleteUsually, police, firefighters, and paramedics deal with disaster cases. However, I suppose that none of these factors can replace the Zaka people.
DeleteThat's a job few of us would want to undertake, those people have my full respect.
ReplyDeleteCorrect. Zaka volunteers deserve our respect and appreciation.
Delete