A delegation of U.S. supporters came to Israel in late October for the Rise Together Mission, hosted by American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA). The four-day journey from Oct. 20-23 offered an in-depth look at how Israel and its emergency responders continue to recover and rebuild in the wake of the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the war with Iran in mid-June.
Participants met with Israeli leaders, visited frontline communities, dedicated emergency vehicles and witnessed MDA’s lifesaving operations firsthand—from the organization’s Marcus National Blood Services Center to MDA stations along the southern and northern borders. The mission underscored the challenges facing Israel’s emergency network and the unbreakable spirit driving its renewal.
MDA senior medic Ofir Ovadia led a tour of impact sites of the recent missiles from Iran, where he and his team treated patients under unimaginable conditions.
“Standing alongside our friends from AFMDA on a peaceful Tel Aviv street turned terror scene was a stark reminder of our reality,” said Ovadia. “As I described how our teams of paramedics and ambulances rushed in under fire, saving lives and evacuating families from their homes, I felt the concern and support of the mission participants.”
Ariel Grauman, who traveled to the Jewish state from New York, reflected on her experience: “It was amazing to see the facilities, and all of the technology and work that Magen David Adom is doing to help support the community that they serve and the Diaspora. I am unbelievably grateful, and I will never forget this trip.”
