ZAKA Search & Rescue

ZAKA Search & Rescue ZAKA is Israel’s primary rescue and recovery volunteer organization, with thousands of volunteers on call 24/7 to respond to any disaster

An Emotional Full-Circle Moment🕯️Elitzur Hajabi was tragically murdered during the Simchat Torah massacre in Moshav Yakh...
10/08/2026

An Emotional Full-Circle Moment🕯️

Elitzur Hajabi was tragically murdered during the Simchat Torah massacre in Moshav Yakhini.

While the rest of the family’s home was cleaned and restored following the attack, Elitzur’s bedroom remained closed, as his loved ones could not bring themselves to enter it.

When the family finally gathered the strength to open the door, they discovered remains and reached out to ZAKA for assistance.

ZAKA Sderot Team volunteers, alongside Deputy Director of Operations Chaim Weingarten and Lachish Region Commander Rabbi Avi Deri, arrived to complete their sacred mission.

In an incredibly emotional moment, volunteers worked alongside Elitzur’s son and brother, carefully collecting the remains to ensure a dignified burial.

May Elitzur’s memory be a blessing.🇮🇱💗

We Remember. We Honor. We Continue.October 7, 2023, changed Israel and ZAKA forever.More than 1,200 people were murdered...
10/07/2026

We Remember. We Honor. We Continue.

October 7, 2023, changed Israel and ZAKA forever.

More than 1,200 people were murdered across 22 communities in southern Israel. Hundreds of ZAKA volunteers were among the first to respond, carrying out Chesed Shel Emes with courage, dignity and respect for every soul.

Three years later, we remember every life taken, every family forever changed and every volunteer who answered the call.

Their stories remind us what happened that day, what it means to serve in moments of unimaginable difficulty and why ZAKA’s sacred mission continues.

Hear their testimonies and remember October 7 with us:
https://give.zakaworld.org/pathway/october-7th/

A Remarkable Full-Circle Moment in Namibia 🕯️An Israeli man passed away after suffering cardiac arrest while traveling i...
10/07/2026

A Remarkable Full-Circle Moment in Namibia 🕯️

An Israeli man passed away after suffering cardiac arrest while traveling in Namibia with his wife.

ZAKA’s International Unit immediately began working alongside Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chabad in Namibia to preserve the dignity of the deceased and arrange his transfer to Israel for burial.

When local authorities planned to perform an autopsy, ZAKA’s Yossi Landau joined a video call with the pathologist to explain the importance of preventing it under Jewish law.

In an extraordinary turn of events, the pathologist recognized Landau. The two had met nearly two decades earlier, when ZAKA responded to a plane crash in Namibia that claimed the lives of five Israelis.

Remembering ZAKA’s dedication to honoring the deceased, the pathologist agreed to respect the family’s wishes and release the deceased without an autopsy.🇮🇱💗

Remembering. Honoring. Never Forgetting.🇮🇱💗ZAKA leadership and volunteers joined Israel’s state memorial ceremonies at M...
10/05/2026

Remembering. Honoring. Never Forgetting.🇮🇱💗

ZAKA leadership and volunteers joined Israel’s state memorial ceremonies at Mount Herzl, standing alongside bereaved families, emergency and rescue organizations, and representatives from across the country.

The ceremonies honored the victims of the Simchat Torah massacre and those who fell during the Swords of Iron War.

ZAKA representatives stood on behalf of the thousands of volunteers who responded from the first moments of the massacre in the Gaza border communities and southern Israel, and who continued serving at the most difficult scenes throughout the war.

We remember those we lost, honor their memory, and pay tribute to the volunteers who continue to serve with unwavering dedication and dignity.

May their memories be a blessing🕯️

14-year-old Israeli Daniel Umansky was tragically killed when a Russian drone struck his family’s home in Kyiv. His moth...
09/30/2026

14-year-old Israeli Daniel Umansky was tragically killed when a Russian drone struck his family’s home in Kyiv. His mother was injured and hospitalized.

ZAKA International Unit volunteers responded to the home, ensuring the dignity of the deceased and collecting the findings.

Working together with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other organizations, ZAKA helped secure Daniel’s release for burial and arrange his transfer to Israel.

After this heartbreaking tragedy, Daniel will be brought home to Israel and laid to rest with dignity.

May his memory be a blessing.🕯💗

The President’s Residence Salutes ZAKA 🇮🇱ZAKA commanders and team leaders from across Israel were honored at a special c...
09/24/2026

The President’s Residence Salutes ZAKA 🇮🇱

ZAKA commanders and team leaders from across Israel were honored at a special ceremony at the President’s Residence, recognizing the dedication of thousands of volunteers who serve in the most difficult moments.

President Isaac Herzog thanked ZAKA’s volunteers for their extraordinary commitment to preserving the dignity of the deceased, describing them as people whose identity is to “always be there.”

During the ceremony, ZAKA also launched “Resilience of Truth,” a new book documenting the testimonies and experiences of volunteers, and presented its first copy to the President.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of ZAKA’s official postage stamp to President Herzog , a tribute to the thousands of volunteers who work tirelessly with dignity, compassion, and dedication.🤝💗

Yom Kippur Eve Terror Attack 😔🩸Shooting Attack Near Neve Tzuf: ZAKA volunteers operated at the scene and cleaned the MDA...
09/20/2026

Yom Kippur Eve Terror Attack 😔🩸
Shooting Attack Near Neve Tzuf: ZAKA volunteers operated at the scene and cleaned the MDA ambulance that evacuated the victim.
Around 11:30 AM, a report was received at the ZAKA 1220 hotline regarding a shooting attack at a spring near the community of Neve Tzuf in the Binyamin region. A man in his 30s was critically injured and evacuated by a Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
ZAKA Binyamin volunteers were dispatched to the scene to collect findings and clear the area. Simultaneously, ZAKA Samaria volunteers handled the cleaning of the MDA ambulance that evacuated the victim.
Shlomo Zaarur (Commander of the ZAKA Binyamin Region), along with Binyamin Reizman and Yair Shandrufi (ZAKA Binyamin volunteers who operated at the scene), stated:
“This is a difficult and painful scene. ZAKA Binyamin volunteers worked at the location to collect the numerous findings from the vehicle and clean the scene, while preserving the dignity of the deceased.”

Gil Bismut (Commander of ZAKA SHAI District), Yuval Silberfenig (Commander of ZAKA Samaria Region), Udi Zagir (Operations Officer of ZAKA SHAI District), and Adiel Aieri (ZAKA Samaria volunteer), who handled the ambulance cleaning, stated:
“ZAKA Samaria volunteers were called to handle the MDA ambulance that evacuated the victim to the hospital. The volunteers worked to clean the ambulance and restore it to operational readiness, with sensitivity and professionalism.”

As Yom Kippur approaches, we pause for reflection, teshuvah, and renewal. It is a sacred time to look inward, consider o...
09/20/2026

As Yom Kippur approaches, we pause for reflection, teshuvah, and renewal. It is a sacred time to look inward, consider our responsibilities to one another, and ask how our values can become acts of kindness.

For ZAKA’s volunteers, these values are lived every day through Chesed Shel Emet, the sacred act of honoring the deceased with dignity and compassion. In moments of profound difficulty, they step forward quietly, serving families and communities with humility, devotion, and respect.

Their work reminds us that kindness is not only something we feel. It is something we choose to do, especially when another person cannot repay it.

On this Yom Kippur, we honor the volunteers who carry this sacred responsibility and all those who help make their mission possible.

May Yom Kippur bring reflection, renewal, and a year filled with blessing.

An Act of True Kindness in Thailand 🕯️A cemetery near Bangkok faced difficulties with local authorities, creating an urg...
09/17/2026

An Act of True Kindness in Thailand 🕯️

A cemetery near Bangkok faced difficulties with local authorities, creating an urgent need to relocate four graves to a new burial plot.

ZAKA’s International Unit stepped in to assist. ZAKA VP of Operations Chaim Weingarten and ZAKA volunteer Barela Yakubovich traveled from Israel, following consultation with ZAKA’s rabbis.

Working alongside Chabad rabbis and members of the local Jewish community, the team carried out the sensitive relocation with strict adherence to Jewish law and the dignity of the deceased.

After hours of careful and dedicated work, all four graves were transferred intact to their new resting place.🇮🇱💗

Honoring Our ZAKA Southern District Volunteers ❤️Hundreds of ZAKA Southern District volunteers, from Arad to Ashdod, gat...
09/17/2026

Honoring Our ZAKA Southern District Volunteers ❤️

Hundreds of ZAKA Southern District volunteers, from Arad to Ashdod, gathered for an evening of appreciation, unity, and a toast ahead of the Jewish New Year, together with ZAKA leadership, district commanders, and senior Israel Police officers.

The evening honored the hundreds of volunteers who serve throughout the year with dedication, sensitivity, and a deep sense of mission working to preserve the dignity of the deceased and save lives.

🎖️ Graduates of the “Achi ZAKA” courses in the Lachish and Negev regions officially joined ZAKA’s operational forces, while outstanding volunteers from across the district received certificates of appreciation for their exceptional dedication and service.

Special recognition was also given to ZAKA Southern District’s newly established Mounted Unit, whose volunteers received specialized equipment to support their operational work.

A special certificate of appreciation was also presented to Shimi Mashi, Head of ZAKA’s Volunteer Department, recognizing his dedicated and selfless work supporting ZAKA’s volunteers.

ZAKA thanks every volunteer and their families for their commitment, courage, and willingness to stand ready whenever they are needed.💗💪

Address

ZAKA Inc 2920 Avenue R Suite 208
Brooklyn, NY
11229

Telephone

+16014601220

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