Ezras Nashim Explained

Ezras Nashim
Founded Date:2012
Key People:Rachel Freier, Allen W. Cherson
Homepage:https://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]

History

The group was formed after its request to add a female corps of EMT volunteers to the all-male Hatzalah organization,[2] the long-standing Orthodox Jewish EMT service in New York City, was rejected.[3] Hatzalah was the subject of controversy as articles in the New York Post [4] [5] 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.[6] [7]

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.[8] [9] [10] Freier initially provided advocacy services for the group, and took over the directorship of the organization in 2012.[11]

Branches

NY State Licensing

Ezras Nashim was licensed by the New York State Department of Health in February 2013, 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] 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]

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

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Frum Female Hatzolah Volunteer In Israel Decries Ban Against Ezras Nashim. Sandy. Eller. Vosizneias. November 11, 2019. November 11, 2019.
  2. Web site: Hatzalah to Add Ezras Nashim. Sandy. Eller. Vosizneias. September 18, 2011. September 18, 2011.
  3. News: Woman Works To Form All-Female Hasidic Jewish EMT Service. https://web.archive.org/web/20170131200318/http://www.ny1.com/archives/nyc/manhattan/2012/05/28/woman-works-to-form-all-female-hasidic-jewish-emt-service-NYC_162015.old.html. dead. January 31, 2017. Michael. Herzenberg. May 28, 2012. NY1.
  4. News: Jewish 'siren' ladies . New York Post. Reuven . Fenton . 2011-09-26 . 6 June 2012.
  5. News: Hasidic all-women EMT group faces backlash from Hatzaloh members . New York Post. Reuven . Fenton . 2019-10-30 . 30 October 2019.
  6. Web site: Ultra-Orthodox Female EMT group Approved in New York State. Debra. Nussbaum Cohen. Haaretz. March 11, 2013. 31 October 2016.
  7. News: Jewish Women in Brooklyn Launch EMT Service. Simone. Weichselbaum. February 27, 2012. New York Daily News. 31 October 2016.
  8. Web site: Orthodox Jewish Community's All-Women EMS Service Ezras Nashim Finally Gets First Ambulance. 4 November 2020. CBS 2 News.
  9. News: Trailblazing All-Female EMT Team in Borough Park Finally Gets Ambulance. Amy. Yensi. 25 October 2020. NY1.
  10. Web site: first Hasidic woman in Public Office Started Work This Week. Ruth. Graham. 4 January 2017. Slate Magazine.
  11. Web site: 'We Are Reclaiming Our Job'. Sandee. Brawarsky. 18 June 2012. The Jewish Week. 6 November 2016. 1 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161101043631/http://www.thejewishweek.com/special-sections/jewish-women-now/we-are-reclaiming-our-job. dead.
  12. News: Adams . Rose . Maisel . Todd . State approves ambulance corps operated by Hasidic women, for Hasidic women . 4 July 2021 . Brooklyn Paper . 24 August 2020.
  13. News: Carroll . Yitzchak . Saving Lives at Stern . 4 July 2021 . The Commentator . 8 December 2019.
  14. News: Woman Works To Form All-Female Hasidic Jewish EMT Service. Jeanine. Ramirez. November 6, 2019. NY1.
  15. Web site: Orthodox women's EMT group meets resistance within community. Stacey. Delikat. 15 November 2019. 15 November 2019. Fox 5 News.
  16. Web site: Ezras Nashim, First All Female Volunteer EMT Team, Wants An Ambulance. Lisa. Rozner. 20 November 2019. 20 November 2019. CBS 2 News.
  17. Web site: Orthodox Female EMTs Hit Setback In Fight For Their Own Ambulance. The Forward. 18 November 2019.
  18. Web site: License for all-female EMT rejected. Jay. Dow. 19 November 2019. PIX11.
  19. News: All-Female Jewish Paramedics Group Dealt Frustrating Blow by Community Council. Lori. Chung. November 19, 2019. NY1.
  20. Web site: Ezras Nashim and Supporters Come Out Swinging at Albany Hearing. Sandy. Eller. Vosizneias. 8 July 2020. 8 July 2020.
  21. News: All-female Hasidic ambulance corps gets green light after years-long battle . New York Post. Reuven . Fenton . 2020-08-13 . 13 August 2020.
  22. Web site: After rejection in 2019, license for all-female EMS finally approved. Jay. Dow. 14 August 2020. PIX11.
  23. News: After Lengthy Fight, All-Female Jewish Paramedic Service Has License to Operate. Jeanine. Ramirez. 14 August 2020. NY1.
  24. Web site: Campaign To Help Ezras Nashim Buy Two New Ambulances.
  25. Web site: All-female Orthodox EMT debuts first ambulance. Stephen M.. Lepore. Oct 25, 2020. PIX11.
  26. Web site: At Long Last, Ezras Nashim Debuts First State of The Art Ambulance. Sandy. Eller. Vosizneias. October 25, 2020. October 25, 2020.
  27. Web site: Ezras Nashim Ambulance Certified by the NYS Department of Health, Will Start Service In a Few days. Joseph. Feldman. Vosizneias. December 31, 2020. December 31, 2020.
  28. Web site: Ezras Nashim Recognized in the Capitol of Albany. Vosizneias. January 14, 2020 . January 14, 2020.
  29. News: Goldberg . Emma . They Told Her Women Couldn't Join the Ambulance Corps. So She Started Her Own. . 4 July 2021 . The New York Times. 19 April 2021.
  30. Web site: Ezras Nashim Recognized During Women’s History Month. Five Towns Jewish Times. April 2, 2019. April 2, 2019.
  31. Web site: Judge Ruchie Freier and Ezras Nashim were honored with the '2023 Women of Distinction Award. January 8, 2017. Arutz Sheva.
  32. Web site: Ezras Nashim license Advanced Life Support (ALS).
  33. Web site: Ezras Nashim, First All Female Volunteer EMT Team, Wants An Ambulance. Lisa. Rozner. 20 November 2019. 20 November 2019. CBS 2 News.
  34. Web site: Jewish International Film Festival 93Queen -. www.jiff.com.au.
  35. News: 93Queen: the incredible story of the all-female Hasidic emergency service. Adam. Gabbatt. The Guardian . July 25, 2018. www.theguardian.com.
  36. Eiselt, P. (2020). On Making 93Queen. Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, 38(2), 277-279.

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