United Hatzalah welcomed Mike Sapraicone, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from New York, to its headquarters in Jerusalem on Wednesday, September 4.
Sapraicone, a retired New York Police Department Detective and founder of a global security firm, was visibly moved by the organization’s innovative approach to emergency medical services.
During his visit, Sapraicone was introduced to United Hatzalah’s unique model of community-based volunteering and its groundbreaking use of ambucycles – motorcycles equipped with life-saving medical equipment. These vehicles allow volunteer medics to navigate through traffic quickly, often arriving at emergencies within minutes.
“There’s so much energy here as soon as I walk through the door,” Sapraicone remarked. “I’ve never seen anything like these ambucycles I’ve seen here today. It’s incredibly impressive that you’ve built a system where volunteers can help people in need, and nobody receiving treatment has to pay a dime because it’s all funded by donations. That’s not just cool – it’s revolutionary.”
Sapraicone’s background in law enforcement and his experience in growing a small business into a global security firm gave him a unique perspective on United Hatzalah’s operations. He was particularly impressed by the organization’s commitment to serving all members of society, regardless of their background or ability to pay.
“It’s a tremendous thing. It’s all about giving back. And if we’re not giving back, we’re missing out on something,” Sapraicone said.
He added, “We walked around here and saw how Jews and Muslims are working together for a common cause. This idea of working together is something that doesn’t happen enough in the world, and I hope to bring that back to America to make sure we all work together.”
Eli Beer, President and Founder of United Hatzalah, expressed his gratitude for Sapraicone’s visit. “We are deeply thankful to Mr. Sapraicone for taking the time to visit us. It’s inspiring that someone with such a rich background in law enforcement and community service recognizes the importance of our mission to provide swift, free emergency medical care to all who need it. Visits like these inspire us to continue pushing boundaries in our efforts to save lives.”
