Judah Reports From Around The World

Where In The World Is Judah?

Judah Reports From Israel

Hello, here is an update of what I have been doing while in Israel:

Tuesday, August 23 I think we are going to do something with the Security SWAT team before I leave Israel
Monday, August 22 Day at fire deparment in outskirts of Jerusalem - participated in training exercises such as lighting car on fire and using water hose on top of fire truck to put it out, test and use oxygen breathing gas mask device, bust through car windows, cut through the car with special cutting tool, put car on fire and put it out with side hose; also responded to a call where a garbage dumpster container was on fire and I put it out with the hose
Thursday, August 18: I leave for the settlement of Qiryat Arba, a suburb of Hebron in the West Bank: first arrive and team up with Qiryat Arba Security Forces, the commander takes me on patrol and tour of Qiryat Arba, Hebron, and the area. (cont'd..)
We respond to a car accident where a truck was flipped upside down and 2 passengers transported to ambulance; next I get a tour of the security command center.
We also go to the shooting range and tour various settlement security devices and areas.
Next, we go to the place in Hebron where Abraham prayed for a child. Next we go to a nearby IDF Army base for the change of command ceremony and eat dinner at the army base. Generals, many soldiers, and civilian security forces from the area show up for the event. Afterwards, I go on Jeep Patrol for Security of Qiryat Arba and monitor the Security fence for any situations (cont'd...)
Monday, August 15: was going to do an ambulance shift at mass protest at Prime Minister Sharon's house the morning of the starts of the disengagement - but the protest expected 20,000 people only had a couple of hundred people -so another shift later in the day on motorscooter responded to a call where someone said that a person is dead in neighbor's apartment; also, responded to an apartment with a large gas leak - lots of emergency support with firefighters, police, military, paramedics, ambulances
Sunday, August 14; shift in regular area and in the Old City - responded to Western Wall for possible large crowds and protests, as it is the Jewish mourning holiday of Tisha B'Av - but there were no crowds at the Wall; responded to a call of a crazy woman who was about to jump off the balcony on her 6th floor hotel room; also, responded to an old man with heart problems and was pale; also, responded to a call about someone who is dying or dead, but it was a false alarm; late in the evening responded to a call in the hotel of an elderly lady that fell, we got there and there was lots of blood and a huge gash and bump on her forehead that was causing internal brain damage as she was going crazy
Saturday, August 13: Shabbat - TuB'Shvat services at local synagogue
Friday, August 12: responded to a call on motorscooter of a teenage girl who fell off a motorcycle and had a broken leg - the leg was distorted
Thursday, August 11: morning shift with MDA ambulance - first call to a 3 year old boy who fell and cut his head on the water heater, we taped him up and took him on the ambulance to the emergency room trauma area. he will probably get stitches and will be ok. next call was to a woman who had a stroke, we put her in the ambulance and transported her to the emergency room next call was to an old man with back problems, we put him in the ambulance and transported him to the emergency room in the evening, went to an Israeli comedy show where the actors asked where everyone was from and continually referred to Texas throughout the entire show
Wednesday, August 10: went to the Western Wall; toured around the Old City and walked around Ben Yehuda Street
Tuesday, August 9: continue with Monday's shift - assist in the ambulance with Elli, Dovi, and Avi; 1st call is to a motorcycle accident, everyone is ok with minor scrapes; next call is to a kid who was riding a bicycle and got hit by a car and flew into the air - miraculously there were no injuries; next call is for a lady who feels very sick in a hotel, we went and checked on her and she would be ok; final call for the evening is a 90 year old lady with lots of health problems and she is in serious condition, we put her on oxygen and transport her from her apartment to the ambulance and then deliver her to the hospital emergency room for serious treatment; evening shift later in the day on Ben Yehuda Street - rode with Tezvi on a brand new full-powered motorcycle; very slow night - first call to a baby who had hot water spilled on him, transported the baby to the ambulance; next was to a homeless person on Ben Yehuda St, which we didn't have much to do
Monday, August 8: walk into main area of Eilat to tour around; travel back to Jerusalem; swim in the Dead Sea - you cannot sink, there is so much salt that you float; start my volunteering with Hatzolah, I rode in the back of the motorscooter with Eli (writer who writes Torah scrolls and Mezzuzahs) for the 8pm-4am shift (8-11 for motorscooter and 11-4am in MDA ambulance); first call to respond to is a fire, it was small and easily put out by the firemen; next call on bike is somewhat of a false alarm but we check someone with their diabetes; Elli says this is a very slow night
Sunday, August 7 tried to go on a camel ride, but they are all closed on Sunday; made 2 long hikes and climbing through the Negev Desert; went snorkeling in the Red Sea
Saturday, August 6: cross the border in Taba, Egypt go on scuba boat all day and make 3 dives in the Gulf of Aqaba- see color changing octopuses, lionfish, eels, barracuda, crocodile fish plus all kinds of fish; my scuba buddy partner was an IDF Sniper; later go on a short night hike through the Eilat mountains before someone tried to rob me of my camera - almost turned into a fight, but I grabbed my camera back from him and left;
Friday, August 5: not yet ready for Hatzolah, so take bus to Eilat; go on mandatory refresher Scuba dive with instructor and confirm my knowledge of scuba skills while shore diving in Eilat in the Red Sea - saw many fish including eels; go windsurfing; check into hostel - a small room with 12 beds, but I am right by the window just over the ocean
Thursday, August 4: arrive to Israel; drive around city
Wednesday, August 3 arrive in Frankfurt; walk around and visit Zoo - see all types of animals not found in other zoos; I also walked around the river. At one point, a burly German fellow with a mohawk about my age was kicking around a liquor bottle. He approached me and seriously stated in broken English and hand gestures that he wanted to throw me in the river. I jokingly responded that I would throw him in the river. So he responded with a challenge for a fight!
Tuesday, August 2 depart for Frankfurt, Germany

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