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Ezras Nashim

This article is about the all-female ambulance service. For the female section in synagogues, see Ezrat Nashim.
Ezras Nashim
Founded2012
Key people
Rachel Freier, Allen W. Cherson
Websitehttps://www.ezrasnashim.org

Ezras Nashim is an all-female Orthodox Jewish volunteer EMT ambulance service established with the goal of preserving women's modesty in emergency medical situations, especially childbirth.[1][2]

History

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The group was formed after its request to add a female corps of EMT volunteers to the all-male Hatzalah organization,[3] the long-standing Orthodox Jewish EMT service in New York City, was rejected.[4] Hatzalah was the subject of controversy as articles in the New York Post [5][6] and JEMS Magazine criticize the organization for its discriminatory practice of not allowing women to join. The group of Orthodox women cited the need for modesty and sensitivity to the needs of fellow Orthodox women.[7][8]

Rachel Freier worked on a project to buy an ambulance for the organization after having been initially approached about the idea for the organization in the summer of 2011.[9][10][11] Freier initially provided advocacy services for the group, and took over the directorship of the organization in 2012.[1]

Mayor Eric Adams honors Ezras Nashim for “Women's History Month” at Brooklyn Borough Hall

Branches

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NY State Licensing

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Ezras Nashim was licensed by the New York State Department of Health in February 2013,[7] though the volunteer corps respond in their own private vehicles as Ezras Nashim is still awaiting a license to operate a full ambulance service.[14] In October 2019, a public hearing was held over Ezras Nashim's ambulance license at The EMS Council (REMSCO) of NYC.[15][16]

Assemblyman Brian Cunningham honors Ezras Nashim with the “2023 Women of Distinction Award”

In November 2019, The Council did not approve the motion, a failure of either side to produce a majority of 14 votes to either pass the motion or deny it.[17] Therefore, the case moved up to the NY State EMS Council for a Decision.[18][19]

In July 2020, a hearing was held at The NY State Council (SEMSCO) in Albany,[20]

In August 2020, the entire council overwhelmingly approved the ambulance application for Ezras Nashim in a 23-2 vote.[21][22][23]

In October 2020, the group raised funds[24] and purchased and their first-ever ambulance, designed white with vivid purple stripes, which bears the Ezras Nashim logo in both English and Hebrew.[25][26]

In December 2020, Ezras Nashim received their official ambulance certification from the New York State Department of Health and began operating the ambulance for medical emergency calls.[27]

In January 2020, Rachel Freier along with a delegation of Ezras Nashim members were honored in front of the entire New York State Assembly in the Assembly Chambers of the New York State Capitol Building in Albany, a resolution was passed recognizing the EMT members for their volunteer efforts of preserving women’s dignity during emergencies,[28]

Ad for 93Queen in NYC on MTA Bus Stops, publicized by The Mayor's Office of Media Entertainment

In April 2021, Ezras Nashim was featured in The New York Times for recruiting dozens of Orthodox Jewish women and training them to be EMT medical professionals in New York City.[29]

In March 2019, Mayor of New York City Eric Adams honored Rachel Freier and Ezras Nashim members with a citation for Women's History Month at Brooklyn Borough Hall.[30]

In June 2023, New York Assemblyman Brian Cunningham honored Rachel Freier and Ezras Nashim members with the “2023 Women of Distinction Award”.[31]

In February 2024, Ezras Nashim was approved a license to operate as an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Volunteer Ambulance Service. This allows them to train their EMT members as paramedics.[32]

Media

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Ezras Nashim was the subject of the 2018 documentary film 93Queen. The film follows Rachel Freier, as she runs for public office and creates the first all-female ambulance corps in the United States,[33] negotiating her community initiative within the context of a male-dominated Hasidic community.[34][35]

The director of the 93Queen documentary is Paula Eislet who first encountered the Ezras Nashim organization through Yiddish language news reports.[36]

References

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  1. ^ a b Brawarsky, Sandee (18 June 2012). "'We Are Reclaiming Our Job'". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  2. ^ Eller, Sandy (November 11, 2019). "Frum Female Hatzolah Volunteer In Israel Decries Ban Against Ezras Nashim". Vosizneias. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  3. ^ Eller, Sandy (September 18, 2011). "Hatzalah to Add Ezras Nashim". Vosizneias. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  4. ^ Herzenberg, Michael (May 28, 2012). "Woman Works To Form All-Female Hasidic Jewish EMT Service". NY1. Archived from the original on January 31, 2017.
  5. ^ Fenton, Reuven (2011-09-26). "Jewish 'siren' ladies". New York Post. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  6. ^ Fenton, Reuven (2019-10-30). "Hasidic all-women EMT group faces backlash from Hatzaloh members". New York Post. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b Nussbaum Cohen, Debra (March 11, 2013). "Ultra-Orthodox Female EMT group Approved in New York State". Haaretz. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  8. ^ Weichselbaum, Simone (February 27, 2012). "Jewish Women in Brooklyn Launch EMT Service". New York Daily News. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Orthodox Jewish Community's All-Women EMS Service Ezras Nashim Finally Gets First Ambulance". CBS 2 News. 4 November 2020.
  10. ^ Yensi, Amy (25 October 2020). "Trailblazing All-Female EMT Team in Borough Park Finally Gets Ambulance". NY1.
  11. ^ Graham, Ruth (4 January 2017). "first Hasidic woman in Public Office Started Work This Week". Slate Magazine.
  12. ^ a b c d Adams, Rose; Maisel, Todd (24 August 2020). "State approves ambulance corps operated by Hasidic women, for Hasidic women". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  13. ^ Carroll, Yitzchak (8 December 2019). "Saving Lives at Stern". The Commentator. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  14. ^ Ramirez, Jeanine (November 6, 2019). "Woman Works To Form All-Female Hasidic Jewish EMT Service". NY1.
  15. ^ Delikat, Stacey (15 November 2019). "Orthodox women's EMT group meets resistance within community". Fox 5 News. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  16. ^ Rozner, Lisa (20 November 2019). "Ezras Nashim, First All Female Volunteer EMT Team, Wants An Ambulance". CBS 2 News. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Orthodox Female EMTs Hit Setback In Fight For Their Own Ambulance". The Forward. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  18. ^ Dow, Jay (19 November 2019). "License for all-female EMT rejected". PIX11.
  19. ^ Chung, Lori (November 19, 2019). "All-Female Jewish Paramedics Group Dealt Frustrating Blow by Community Council". NY1.
  20. ^ Eller, Sandy (8 July 2020). "Ezras Nashim and Supporters Come Out Swinging at Albany Hearing". Vosizneias. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  21. ^ Fenton, Reuven (2020-08-13). "All-female Hasidic ambulance corps gets green light after years-long battle". New York Post. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  22. ^ Dow, Jay (14 August 2020). "After rejection in 2019, license for all-female EMS finally approved". PIX11.
  23. ^ Ramirez, Jeanine (14 August 2020). "After Lengthy Fight, All-Female Jewish Paramedic Service Has License to Operate". NY1.
  24. ^ "Campaign To Help Ezras Nashim Buy Two New Ambulances".
  25. ^ Lepore, Stephen M. (Oct 25, 2020). "All-female Orthodox EMT debuts first ambulance". PIX11.
  26. ^ Eller, Sandy (October 25, 2020). "At Long Last, Ezras Nashim Debuts First State of The Art Ambulance". Vosizneias. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  27. ^ Feldman, Joseph (December 31, 2020). "Ezras Nashim Ambulance Certified by the NYS Department of Health, Will Start Service In a Few days". Vosizneias. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  28. ^ "Ezras Nashim Recognized in the Capitol of Albany". Vosizneias. January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  29. ^ Goldberg, Emma (19 April 2021). "They Told Her Women Couldn't Join the Ambulance Corps. So She Started Her Own". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Ezras Nashim Recognized During Women's History Month". Five Towns Jewish Times. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  31. ^ "Judge Ruchie Freier and Ezras Nashim were honored with the '2023 Women of Distinction Award". Arutz Sheva. January 8, 2017.
  32. ^ "Ezras Nashim license Advanced Life Support (ALS)".
  33. ^ Rozner, Lisa (20 November 2019). "Ezras Nashim, First All Female Volunteer EMT Team, Wants An Ambulance". CBS 2 News. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  34. ^ "Jewish International Film Festival 93Queen -". www.jiff.com.au.
  35. ^ Gabbatt, Adam (July 25, 2018). "93Queen: the incredible story of the all-female Hasidic emergency service". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  36. ^ Eiselt, P. (2020). On Making 93Queen. Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, 38(2), 277-279.