Magen David Adom

June 17, 2005 
Rabbi Gary S. Creditor 

My dear congregation,

On Friday night I spoke about the origins of the Magen David – the Star of David. This was the lead into the subject of the Red Jewish Star – Magen David Adom – which is Israel's ambulance and emergency medical service. Despite strong support by the American Red Cross, of which we are deeply appreciative and recognize the great consequence for them, the International Red Cross still refuses to admit the Magen David Adom to be part of the international organization like the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. This issue is raised annually at the headquarters in Geneva. There is reason to believe that with strong support generated through emails and email petitions; this year is an excellent chance that the ICRC can be brought to change their policy.

Attached are the two articles, namely, background on the Magen David Adom, and the connection to the petition at the Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles which is co-coordinating the petition. Because of the complete linkage I need to say that I am not fundraising for the Wiensenthal Center. While I support the Center and endorse its works, this is only for the purpose of petitioning the ICRC. You may choose to also support the Center as a personal and private decision.

Edward Bulwer Lytton, in the play " Richelieu" wrote that the "pen is mightier that the sword." In our age, the computer is mightier than the pen! Just a few key strokes and you can add your voice to a growing crescendo that truly does make a difference. How? Several weeks ago the British teachers union blacklisted Haifa University and BarIlan University in Israel. An electronic petition campaign was begun, and by the time of the revote, the avalanche of voices prevailed and the blacklisting was undone.

I said to our Bar Mitzvah Jordan on Shabbat that others tried to make us where the Magen David as a symbol of shame. We must choose to wear it with pride and demand it be respected. Join me in signing this petition on behalf of Magen David Adom as well as on our own behalf, for our own honor and self-respect.

Shalom uv'racha,

Rabbi Gary S. Creditor

Magen David Adom Founded - June 1, 1930

 

The Magen David Adom is the second line of defense in Israel, providing all the emergency medical services in times of war and peace. In 1930, seven Israeli doctors formed a small one room emergency service in Tel Aviv. This service would take the name, Magen David Adom (MDA) for 'Red Star of David'. A second operation would open in Haifa in 1931, followed by another in Jerusalem in 1934.

Then in 1936, the MDA was expanded to a national organization to provide medical services to the public and the Hagana. In 1950, the Knesset ratified the Magen David Adom law, charging the MDA with the following responsibilities:

• Provide supplementary medical services to the Army Medical Corps in times of war
• Provide civilian support, medical and first aid services in emergency situations
• Maintain a blood bank for civilian use

Today, the MDA maintains a modern fleet of 550 ambulances that are on constant alert to provide medical and emergency needs for the citizens of Israel. Beyond the life saving contributions to the people of the State of Israel, the MDA has also been an active organization on the international scene.

Over the past 10 years, the MDA has provided medical, emergency and support services to nations in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Pacific in their times of crisis. Through supplemental medical workers, rescue staff, blood supplies, medical supplies, field hospitals and more, the MDA has extended Israeli compassion and assistance worldwide.

For more than 50 years, the Magen David Adom has been excluded from full membership within the global Red Cross family of societies: the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Starting in the 1990's, the American Red Cross, in a deliberate act of protest over the MDA's exclusion, withheld its monetary obligations to the ICRC. They took an even more vocal advocacy role calling for the end to this "longstanding injustice" and the immediate inclusion of the MDA within the ICRC.

As stated in a press release by the American Red Cross:

"Since 1949 the MDA has been relegated to observer status –without a vote – because it has used the red shield of David as its humanitarian symbol instead of the cross or most recently approved symbol, the crescent. The American Red Cross believes the exclusion of the MDA from the Movement and the Federation, which now comprises 176 societies in sovereign nations, is a betrayal of the Red Cross Fundamental Principles including Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Unity and Universality."

Sadly, with all the good that the Magen David Adom provides to the sanctity of human life, even the MDA is victim to international politics. As one writer stated, "is there any limit to the prejudice that Israel must face the MDA is being victimized for what it stands for, its emblem and it is just downright wrong."

NO MORE SECOND CLASS STATUS FOR ISRAEL AT THE RED CROSS –   SIGN THE PETITION!

For over five decades, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - viewed by the world as the epitome of humanity, impartiality and neutrality - has steadfastly refused to accept Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) as a full and equal voting member. The MDA has long exemplified Israel's unwavering commitment to international humanitarian relief efforts. And, the MDA is excluded even though they meet all the necessary criteria for membership.

Here's why. In 1949, four years after the Holocaust, the Geneva Conventions established that only nations bearing the Red Cross or Red Crescent could be granted equal standing in the international humanitarian movement. Israel's Star of David was excluded. Those rules - the very basis for international humanitarian law - effectively barred Israel from taking her rightful place among all the nations!

Here at the Center we are committed to working on every front to overturn this injustice.

And, we are asking you to take two important actions:

Please follow this link to sign the urgent-action petition to the President of Switzerland , Samuel Schmid, demanding that Switzerland exercise its power to immediately convene a diplomatic conference of world governments to amend the flawed 1949 Geneva Conventions. Demand that, at long last, Israel and its Star of David emblem are granted equal status among nations in the International Red Cross.

I am proud to report that the American Red Cross (ARC) has emerged as Israel's biggest ally in this struggle. To date, the ARC has withheld $26 million in dues from the Geneva-based headquarters in a lone but courageous protest over Israel's exclusion. Recently, American Red Cross President Marsha Evans spoke at the Center's Museum of Tolerance to 30 Jewish leaders for the first time ever, emphasizing the need for "transparency and universality" within the IRC. She reiterated her organization's steadfast commitment to withholding its dues from the international body until it ends its unjust exclusion of Israel.

We have also spoken face-to-face with Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, and with top leaders of the Canadian Red Cross in  Ottawa, urging their support as well.

We know that, with your help, we can make a dramatic impact in the fight to correct this outrageous and shameful history of discrimination within the international humanitarian movement - and at the same time strengthen Israel's struggle to gain full and equal status in the family of nations.  Please, act today.