Saving those who
can be saved,
honoring those
who cannot
Meet the Heroes
What does ZAKA do?
Saving Lives
In any medical emergency, time is of the essence, with the first four minutes often meaning the difference between life and death. ZAKA paramedics, on-call every hour of every day and deployed around the country.
Respecting the Dead
True virtue (Chesed Shel Emes) – this is the emotional and highly distressing work for which ZAKA is best known. This is a unique unit with a unique mission – to honor the dead and ensure a full Jewish burial for those who meet a sudden death.
Volunteering in Israel
In addition to ZAKA’s work in honoring the dead, the volunteer organization has grown organically over the years to provide specialist search and rescue units which can be called upon, 24/7, throughout the country, on land and at sea.
International Search and rescue
The Jerusalem-based ZAKA International Rescue Unit operates a specially trained team of volunteer paramedics and search and rescue professionals who are on call 24/7, ready to respond in the fastest possible time to major international mass casualty incidents, wherever they may occur.
World Leaders Speak About ZAKA
ZAKAs’ founder told me that ‘We save anyone who needs to be saved, and honor all people equally’. I can think of few more profound ways to define the mission not only of humanitarians, but of anyone who believes in the principles of equality, human rights, and dignity, that the UN was created to uphold.
Samantha Power
US Ambassador to the UN
I would like to thank you all for the important work that you are doing and to encourage you to continue. You work to rescue people buried in the ruins, people who needed an outstretched arm, and that hand was yours.
Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
Your work in the devastated areas after the tsunami and earthquake and your specialist knowledge and assistance was much appreciated by the emergency services with whom you worked in the field. We in the Japanese Embassy have great esteem for the humanitarian endeavors of the ZAKA organization.
Haruhisa Takeuchi
Japanese Ambassador
Hear More
Latest from the blog
Supporters Send ZAKA Volunteers Truckloads of Gifts
Mere days ago, Israel was in a state of traumatic chaos. 4,050 rockets constantly rained down on the populous, forcing millions of Israeli's to take...
Woman killed as a result of a direct hit by a rocket in Rishon LeZion
Moshe Gomru, Commander, Central District ZAKA, who was at the scene of the fatal rocket attack this evening in Rishon leZion: "This was a two-story...
ZAKA volunteers return to site of Meron disaster for psychological counselling and emotional support
Almost a week after the disaster at Mount Meron in which 45 people lost their lives, dozens of ZAKA Search and Rescue volunteers and paramedics...
Mount Meron Tragedy: ZAKA’s First Hand Accounts
At least 44 people were killed and over 150 were injured at the mass Lag Ba'Omer festivities in Mount Meron in northern Israel in the early hours of...
Mass Casualty Event in Meron, ZAKA Responds
Last night’s festive Lag Ba’Omer celebration on Mount Meron tragically turned into a Mass Casualty Event leaving 44 dead and hundreds injured in a...
Meron-Based Personnel Receive New ATV Ahead of Lag Ba’Omer Holiday
ZAKA is happy to report that a new 4X4 All Terrain Vehicle was delivered to our headquarters in the Northern Israeli town of Meron today. This...
Newsletter
Be the first to know about ZAKA operations around the world by subscribing to the ZAKA newsletter. Read first-hand accounts from volunteers about missions, get exclusive access to events and fundraisers, and stay updated on volunteer training programs near you.
Stay in touch
Newsletter