“I remember how scary it was,” Levine recalled of this past April spent next to her mother and the dispatch radio. Instead of calling Chevra Hatzalah, the all-male volunteer emergency medical service in New York’s Orthodox Jewish community, she waited alone for a few minutes until her then 10-year-old son helped her crawl out. https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/juedische-welt/frauen-retten-frauen Her code name on the ambulance’s two-way radio service is 93Queen. Ezras Nashim, an all-female volunteer ambulance service for New York's Orthodox community, seeks to safeguard the modesty of women in labor from what was formerly a field dominated by men. "One member who was going on a lot of calls, she actually did get really sick for like two weeks. The emergency response team say they saved dozens of people from going to the hospital during the pandemic by teaching family members how to monitor a patient's oxygen levels and how to administer oxygen when necessary. Ezras Nashim, an EMS organization comprised entirely of females, was able to purchase an ambulance and a stretcher worth $150,000 through donations, CBS 2 reported. “Every patient that wanted to be transported, we couldn’t help them,” Levine said. "A lot of calls were oxygen related to low levels of oxygen. My father hired a driver who drove the family around the country on day trips. Editor’s note: On Nov. 19, 2019, the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City voted not to grant the all-female Orthodox EMT corps Ezras Nashim an ambulance license. Download it here. They filed an appeal and vow to fight on just like they're doing during the pandemic. Women were not permitted to pass beyond the Ezrat Nashim, and later, the term was applied to the section of the synagogue reserved for women. Nothing is more sacred to us. See more of Ezras Nashim on Facebook. We are a network of Orthodox Jewish Female EMTs in the Greater New York Metro Area In the interim, Hatzalah requested a July 8th public hearing, which got heated. They have harassed them … I really was uncomfortable with the fact that someone from the community might show up.”. “This is not like choosing to open another grocery store on 13th Avenue. Our new Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Religious Organization. Emergency Rescue Service. They didn't know. "Empowering someone who says well, I was never trained. The volunteer emergency medical technicians at Ezras Nashim have been responding to calls ranging from gynecological emergencies to body burns, and perform check-up visits for elderly women. - The groundbreaking group of Orthodox female paramedics, known as Ezras Nashim, has been serving the Borough Park community for eight years. Ezras Nashim has been responding to emergencies like Landau’s fainting episode — including COVID-related cases — using their own vehicles after being denied an ambulance license last summer by Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of NYC (REMSCO), a nonprofit that coordinates medical services in all five boroughs. Boro Park Hatzolah claims that the women of Ezras Nashim are unprofessional, incapable of fast response, and even dangerous. Its response time is much quicker than Ezras Nashim’s eight minutes, and that’s why the group applied for an ambulance license. On August 13, Ezras Nashim won the vote in State EMS Council (SEMSCO) by a landslide, 23 for Ezras Nashim and only 2 against. I want to do more of this.’”. This is not a choice between buying milk here or buying milk there — this is people’s lives and most of the time, seconds count,” said one Hasidic woman during the July 8 public hearing. Ezras Nashim — America’s first ladies-only EMT group — argued Wednesday for permission to operate an ambulance within a two-square mile area of … And I would say listen to me, you can do this. The idea for Ezras Nashim was conceived in 2011 when five Hasidic women — all Brooklyn EMTs — began talking about launching their own volunteer emergency service. Ruchie Freier heads Ezras Nashim, the first all-female volunteer ambulance service in the Brooklyn. As coronavirus spread through Borough Park’s Hasidic community, infecting more than 6,000 people by its peak in April, calls to Ezras Nashim flooded in, according to Leah Levine, outreach director for the group and a daughter of Freier. When the neighborhood became an epicenter for the coronavirus, the women say not only did they hit the streets to respond to emergency calls, but they were protected. newsletter. Editor’s note: On Nov. 19, 2019, the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City voted not to grant the all-female Orthodox EMT corps Ezras Nashim an ambulance license. They also enhanced their homebound program for patients, teaching family members how to treat their loved ones at home. “I’m glad that these young women won’t have to go through what we went through,” said Freier. Now that Ezras Nashim finally has its long-awaited rig, Freier is hoping for smoother sailing ahead. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Chevra Hatzolah of Middlesex County. Ezras Nashim EMT Group: Known for: First Hasidic Woman Judge: Political party: Democratic: Spouse(s) David Freier: Children: 6: Rachel "Ruchie" Freier (born April 2, 1965) is a New York City Criminal Court judge. or. Chochmat Nashim חכמת נשים . Ezras Nashim’s official certificate of need application lists a one-time estimated capital cost of $50,000 for a second-hand ambulance. The Race for Mayor: Eric Adams on his Brooklyn roots, his NYPD career and his plans for New York, Here's Where You Can Smoke a Joint in NYC, California Consumer Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Ezras Nashim wants to run its own ambulance to fill a “significant void” in emergency medical coverage for Orthodox Jewish women in Brooklyn, according to the group’s application. Ezras Nashim appealed the decision to the New York State Emergency Medical Services Council (SEMSCO) in Albany, where an administrative law judge recommended the approval of the group’s request over Hatzalah’s objections. On Tuesday, July 7, a state administrative judge reversed that decision, but the protracted fight isn’t over. Ezras Nashim, an all-women’s EMS service in Brooklyn, has finally gotten an ambulance after overcoming naysayers who tried to prevent it from happening. Ezras Nashim applied for a BLS only ambulance certificate, full of inaccuracies like Insurance of an Ambulance + 3 cars is $4000 a year. It’s not up to us,” Levine said. More options could confuse elderly patients, others argue. “It was totally unnerving,” said Landau, who has since left the Orthodox community because she felt as if she “had no identity” within the faith. When one of her sons choked on a grape, Hatzalah was there. Throughout filming, Eiselt said she encountered medical suppliers and hospitals that refused to assist Ezras Nashim out of fear of retaliation from Hatzalah. “Then I realized the significance of what I was doing, and I was like ‘I like this. While the administrative judge of the State EMS Council did indeed rule in favor of Ezras Nashim, it is NOT the final step of their ambulance approval. As of now, Ezras Nashim are 21 women training to be EMTs, and Levine herself is training while running the organization. If I prefer a female professional medical service, I want to have that choice. But when she imagined an ultra-Orthodox neighbor entering the bathroom and seeing her in a non-tzniut (immodest) condition, she panicked. Ezras Nashim wants to run its own ambulance to fill a “significant void” in emergency medical coverage for Orthodox Jewish women in Brooklyn, according to the group’s application. Eiselt, who followed the ladies of Ezras Nashim for five years for the film, believes Hatzalah’s opposition stems from a traditionally deep-rooted power imbalance between men and women within the ultra-Orthodox community. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Based on the application, Ezras Nashim expects a total of 175 transports a year. “She died because she didn’t feel comfortable having someone come,” Weishauss said. Meet Nana, a premed student and EMT. Ezras Nashim has been responding to emergencies like Landau’s fainting episode — including COVID-related cases — using their own vehicles after being denied an ambulance license last summer by Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of NYC (REMSCO), a nonprofit that coordinates medical services in all five boroughs. The opposition is their own men. “I was thinking ‘Who’s gonna help me here?’ Hatzalah was not even on my mind. Judge Ruchie Freier: Paula Eiselt was perusing the Vos Iz Neias (VIN) website, a blog catering to the Chassidic community, when she heard about our Ezras Nashim initiative sometime in 2013. Levine and the other women of Ezras Nashim can’t help but wonder how many more people they would have been able to help with an ambulance. said Leah Levine, Outreach Director for Ezras Nashim. This was big news and covered by VIN. We are a network of Orthodox Jewish Female EMTs in the Greater New York Metro Area Ezras Nashim, which has been responding to emergencies including Covid cases and driving their own cars, applied for an ambulance license with the state last summer but were denied. From Midtown to the Mideast - We Cover Your World. When a call comes in, the women use their own cars, always loaded with medical equipment, to drive to the scene. And so they continue to use their own cars to do their work. But relying on another agency for emergency transport means inconsistent wait times. “The phone was just ringing and ringing and ringing like, ‘Is this ever gonna stop?’”. “93Queen,” the feature debut of Paula Eiselt, follows the creation of Ezras Nashim, an all-female EMS corps for the Borough Park area, in Brooklyn, that started in 2014. During the COVID crisis, transport was often not an option with jammed hospitals. “We’re fighting a pandemic,” said Paula Eiselt, director of “93 Queen,” a documentary that chronicles the formation of Ezras Nashim. For the E.M.T.s, days and nights bled into one another, all marked by calls for emergency help. Ezras Nashim, an all-women’s EMS service in Brooklyn, has finally gotten an ambulance after overcoming naysayers who tried to prevent it from happening. But group leaders anticipate a faster response time if they become authorized to operate an ambulance service. They have harassed them … About the author Mike Rubin is a paramedic in Nashville, Tennessee. A courtyard in the Jerusalem temple. For more information about Ezras Nashim, visit their website at www.ezras-nashim.org or call 718-232-1304. The service received a license to be a “basic life saving” service, but was denied the right to get an ambulance by the city in 2019 after a push by its rival, all-male ambulance corps, Hatzolah. “All of a sudden, she’s in a state of panic and exposed to a man that she’s not really familiar with or could be her next door neighbor. Five years ago, the country’s first all-female EMT service hit the streets of Brooklyn. “In a time of COVID, why on earth would Hatzalah or anyone be trying to prevent more access to healthcare?”. As of now, Ezras Nashim are 21 women training to be EMTs, and Levine herself is training while running the organization. Related Pages. Five years ago, the country’s first all-female EMT service hit the streets of Brooklyn. According to several people who testified at the July 8 hearing, many Hasidic women would rather suffer than call Hatzalah in an immodest condition. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions × Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. The idea for Ezras Nashim was conceived in 2011 when five Hasidic women — all Brooklyn EMTs — began talking about launching their own volunteer emergency service. FLASHBACK: Ezras Nashim, First All Female Volunteer EMT Team, Wants An Ambulance READ MORE: New Yorkers Age 30 And Up Eligible For COVID Vaccine Effective Tuesday Our base was the Jerusalem Hilton. They … 2 talking about this. Orthodox women are raised in a modest way. “[Hatzalah] has ambulances, so what is so threatening about a group of women wanting to fulfill a communal need and get one ambulance — why is that threatening?” Eiselt asked, before answering her own question: “They don’t want to see women doing this type of work.”. 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