MDA israel

In the shadow of the Iron Swords War, the Magen David Adom "Chanukiah on Wheels" project travels the length and breadth of Israel

MDA's giant Chanukiah has travelled the length and breadth of the country as part of the "Chanukiah on Wheels" project, started by Rabbi Yonatan Shpitzer of Chabad Magen David Adom. The giant Chanukiah is attached to a trailer and towed behind an MDA ambulance, which Shpitzer drove to sites around the country throughout the festival of Chanukah. 

The Chanukiah, accompanied by MDA staff and volunteers on medicycles, ATVs, ambulances and MICUs, first arrived in the north of Israel, where Rabbi Shpitzer met with MDA staff and volunteers, IDF soldiers, community security teams from the evacuated towns, and with those in temporary accommodation, in order to bring a spirit and light of the festival during this difficult period. During the second half of the festival, Rabbi Shpitzer and the Chanukiah convoy headed to the south of Israel to bring cheer to the Magen David Adom staff and volunteers at the stations as well as the MDA helicopter crew.

"The project first began four years ago," says MDA EMT Rabbi Yonatan Shpitzer, "but this year was especially powerful. Wherever we went, we saw that it brought a special joy, and it was clear that the Chanukiah brought light after everything we have been through in the past few weeks, and are still going through. The soldiers, for example, were so happy to see an ambulance bringing light, donuts, and of course the happiness of the festival".