Six United Hatzalah of Israel volunteers were honored this evening, December 21, 2025, receiving Certificates of Excellence at the annual Jerusalem Mayor’s Ceremony recognizing outstanding members of the city’s security and emergency response forces. The ceremony, held in the presence of Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, was attended by Jerusalem City Council Members, United Hatzalah Deputy CEO Eli Pollak, the organization’s VP and Head of the Medical Division Dr. Noam Eiger, and senior representatives of Jerusalem’s emergency and security services.

The awards were presented in recognition of exceptional dedication, professionalism, and lifesaving actions carried out over the past year across Jerusalem. The recipients were diverse, just like the volunteers of United Hatzalah professionals.

Among the honorees was Dr. Daniel Yosef Shkargi, a volunteer physician and member of United Hatzalah’s Ambucycle Unit, who was dispatched on the eve of Sukkot to a report of a man choking and unconscious. Dr. Shkargi arrived within seconds, performed advanced medical procedures, removed the obstruction from the airway, and restored the patient to full consciousness.

Other award recipients included:

Zeev Klein, an EMT and ambulance driver, who demonstrated decisive leadership and professionalism during a fire at a girls’ seminary in Jerusalem. Klein provided immediate medical care to multiple casualties and coordinated rapid evacuation efforts.

Shir Haver, a regional paramedic in the Jerusalem area, who assisted in the safe delivery of a healthy baby girl during a nighttime shift after being dispatched to a woman who went into labor in her vehicle.

Ofir and Mazal Busani, whose joint commitment to lifesaving was also recognized. Ofir, a United Hatzalah volunteer of three years, provides dedicated emergency medical response throughout Jerusalem’s neighborhoods. During his work as a municipal sanitation truck driver, he received an alert regarding an unconscious infant. Without hesitation, he stopped his vehicle, instructed his crew to wait, and began prolonged resuscitation efforts until the infant responded. His wife, Mazal, serves at United Hatzalah’s national headquarters as Head of the Operations Division Office, supporting the lifesaving work of thousands of volunteers nationwide.

Manirwah Mashni, a United Hatzalah EMT from the Shuafat neighborhood, has volunteered with the organization for six years. Known for her deep commitment to community-based response, she was dispatched several months ago to an unconscious patient and arrived within minutes. Thanks to her rapid and professional resuscitation, the patient was resuscitated and life saved.

Speaking at the ceremony, United Hatzalah Deputy CEO Eli Pollak said:

“Each year, it is a profound source of pride to stand and honor the extraordinary dedication of United Hatzalah’s volunteers, who act tirelessly to save lives with unmatched professionalism and devotion. We extend our sincere gratitude to Mayor Moshe Lion and the members of the Jerusalem City Council for their ongoing partnership and unwavering support in advancing emergency medical first-response efforts throughout the city.”