Magen David Adom The opportunity to save a life (hatzalat
nefashot) is one of those unique events that may never occurs in
a person’s lifetime. Today, Jewish Treats salutes those who
often risk life and limb to perform the mitzvah of hatzalat
nefashot by paying tribute to Magen David Adom. Magen David Adom
(MDA, translation: Red Shield/Star of David) was founded in 1930
in Tel Aviv as a volunteer medical organization in response to
the Arab riots of 1929. By 1935, with branches in Haifa and
Jerusalem, a national organization was formed. In addition to
providing medical services to the public, MDA was considered a
branch of the Haganah (the underground Jewish defense force) and
provided first aid training to its members. On July 12, 1950,
two years after the founding of the State of Israel, the Knesset
passed a law recognizing MDA as Israel’s Red Cross, making it
responsible for providing auxiliary medical services to the army
during war, providing emergency first aid and shelter in
emergency situations and ma