ZAKA Honors Outstanding Volunteers for the Year
ZAKA, the Israeli organization for search, rescue, and disaster victim identification, held its annual pre-New Year's ceremony to honor its outstanding volunteers for the Hebrew year 5786 (2025-2026). Five volunteers were recognized for their significant contributions and dedicated service throughout the past year.
The event was attended by prominent rabbis, public figures, senior officials from the Israel Police, the National Center of Forensic Medicine, and representatives from emergency and burial organizations, highlighting ZAKA's extensive cooperation with these bodies. This collaboration is crucial for handling sensitive situations with respect for the deceased and support for grieving families.
The five distinguished volunteers included Yosef Matityahu from the Herzliya team, for his extensive family support; Avshalom Derchi from the motorcycle unit, who also participated in a ZAKA mission to Romania; Natan Meir from the Bnei Brak team, recognized for his high availability; Benjamin Melamed from the Givat Shmuel team, who manages local ZAKA events despite his advanced age; and Natan Tsishinsky from the ZAKA call center, honored for his night shift availability and medical response coordination.
ZAKA officials emphasized that the awards reflect not only the number of missions undertaken but also the responsibility, availability, and sensitivity required of volunteers who often leave their homes and work on short notice to respond to complex incidents. ZAKA CEO Rabbi Zvi Chassid stated that the awardees represent the organization's spirit of boundless dedication and readiness to assist others in their most difficult moments.
ZAKA's Operations Officer, Yechiel Goldman, added that the honored volunteers demonstrated exceptional availability, professionalism, and commitment to the organization's values, expressing gratitude on behalf of the operations division and the public.
