MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - In a tearful farewell, eight Miami Beach firefighters bid goodbye to their families and colleagues at Miami Beach Fire Headquarters as they embark on a selfless mission to Israel. These brave firefighters are traveling overseas to volunteer at fire stations in Israel, a nation currently grappling with the demands of wartime.
Their journey is of necessity as many local Israeli firefighters have been called into service by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and are actively engaged in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. These Miami Beach firefighters, who face peril every day on the job, now prepare to battle fires amid the turmoil of a war zone.
Adonis García will lead this remarkable team of firefighters.
“There’s missile explosions. The fires it creates, we have to go there and put the fires out. We’re going to be running calls for them for 2 weeks straight,” he said. “You know I’ve been told by many people why are you going? It’s a war zone, it’s a crazy thing to do. There’s a million reasons not to go. But there’s one reason to go. Because it’s the right thing to do.”
Before their departure, the community rallied to express their gratitude and support for these brave first responders. Firefighters received cards, gifts, and even a heartfelt song.
“I just think it’s important for my kids to see these firefighters leaving to Israel to go support,” said Avigal Diveroli, a supported who gathered at the fire station.
“Thank you to the firefighters for supporting the State of Israel in our time of need,” said Pearl Landesman another supporter.
The departure ceremony also featured a color guard presenting a flag to the team, which they will proudly wave next to the Israeli flag at the fire department where they will be stationed.
“They’ve stepped up, this is something they wanted to do,” said Miami Beach Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez. Nobody has been force. They’re doing it on a volunteer basis and so I’m extremely proud.”
These firefighters will be stationed in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa, depending on the specific needs, through the Emergency Volunteers Project. For some of the firefighters, the decision to embark on this mission is deeply personal, as they have family ties to the area.
“To me this is personal because I do have family over there,” said Carlos Lang. “I lived in Israel for two months years ago. I told myself if I ever had the opportunity go back and help in any way that I would. I see this as a personal mission for myself to provide a service over there”
Saying goodbye to loved ones is never easy, but this close-knit community came together in prayer before the firefighters loaded up into a van, bound for a war zone. The community’s thoughts and prayers are with these brave firefighters as they head to Israel, counting down the days until they can return safely to their families and colleagues.
Notably, this mission isn’t the first of its kind. Several other South Florida firefighters have previously volunteered for two-week deployments to provide crucial support in similar challenging circumstances.
“We’ve been running maybe three to four calls a day,” said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Captain Jason Friedman, who embarked on a two-week deployment in October.
This mission occurs amidst a challenging time when incidents of anti-semitism have been on the rise in South Florida.
Members of Miami’s Jewish community recently gathered for an evening of prayer on the 85th anniversary of “Kristallnacht,” a solemn occasion known as the “Night of Broken Glass.”
“Since the war in Israel began, we have seen antisemitism skyrocket to new and dangerous heights, both in America and around the world,” said a speaker at the event in Miami Beach.
The trend prompted Florida lawmakers to convene a special session aimed at enhancing safety measures for the Jewish community. The proposed measures aim to allocate $25 million in emergency funding to Jewish day schools and preschools to bolster security and protect the children attending these institutions. This funding will be directed towards installing safety features like shatter-proof windows and security cameras.
Additionally, $10 million will be allocated to safeguard nonprofits, including houses of worship, museums, and community centers, which are increasingly under threat due to rising concerns over terrorism.
Sunday night, Rabbi Yossi Harlig from the Chabad of Kendall in Pinecrest and David Schachter, a 94-year-old Holocaust survivor from Miami, traveled to Tallahassee to give the invocation and prayer for Monday’s special legislative session.
“Being Jewish is something to be proud of. Being Jewish is something that a Jew should feel like he can live his life as a Jew and not have to be scared, and feel like our elected officials are there to back us if, God forbid, there is any hate, to make sure to get rid of it right away,” said Harlig. “You know, it goes from speech and right away, unfortunately, sometimes from speech and hateful speech can go into action, and that’s what we hope they’re going to get that message from us, because we can’t be silent. ‘Never again’ is here today.”
As firefighters prepare to embark on their two-week journey, it’s important to note that this mission marks the first time city firefighters will be traveling to an active war zone.
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