ZAKA Response In Sydney
In response to the Australia killings in Sydney, a team of ZAKA volunteers flew out of Israel on Sunday to assist the Jewish community by doing what they are trained to do best. And that is to make sure that there is complete dignity afforded to those who lost their lives at the Menorah lighting on Sunday night.
In speaking with my nephew, Simcha Greinimin, the spokesman for ZAKA, he informed me that there were no direct flights from Tel Aviv to Sydney which meant that the team of volunteers, mostly from Israel, flew to Dubai where they were able to get an Emirates flight to Sydney. The flight to Dubai to Sydney alone was over 14 hours.
When the team arrived in Sydney, they were advised by Australian officials that the ZAKA team would only be allowed to comb through the parts of the beach where people were shot and killed on Tuesday morning. He further informed me that the bodies remained exactly where they fell for more than 36 hours until police officials said that their part of the investigation of the crime was complete and that the bodies can be removed so that the funerals can proceed.
So let’s say it’s important from a law enforcement perspective but still it demonstrates insensitivity as I’m sure those in charge were made aware of how important it is for Jews to have an expeditious burial. Finally, as the sun rose on Tuesday in Sydney (it was Monday night here) the ZAKA team was allowed onto what became a Jewish killing field to collect the blood that was spilled by the terrorist bullets on Sunday.
It was a tough job but unlike Australian government and police officials, they understand what it means to preserve the dignity of a body as the soul that was contained within soars to new and even greater heights.
May their memory be a blessing for the families they leave behind, who will never forget them and may we be reunited soon. n
Read more of Larry Gordon’s articles at 5TJT.com. Follow 5 Towns Jewish Times on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and live videos. Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome at 5TJT.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
