NEW YORK (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – A lengthy legal battle that has dragged on for a year has finally come to a close with the New York State Emergency Medical Services Council (SEMSCO) overwhelmingly approving an application that would grant Ezras Nashim, a by-women for-women emergency medical care corps, the right to operate its own ambulances.
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As previously reported on VIN News, Ezras Nashim appealed the New York City’s Regional Emergency Medical Council (REMSCO) denial of their application in October, noting that the group’s hearing officer had recommended its approval. Ezras Nashim also argued that it was inappropriate for several REMSCO Hatzolah members to vote on the matter given the ambulance corps’ very public opposition to Ezras Nashim.
23 SEMSCO members voted in favor of the Ezras Nashim application, with just two voting against the application. A third member, a medical director with Hatzolah, abstained.
Ezras Nashim founder Judge Ruchie Freier said that she believes that SEMSCO supported the application because they understood that it was motivated by altruism.
“They realized that we wanted to protect women’s modesty and that we had no ulterior motives,” Freier told VIN News.
Carson Kessler of The City tweeted that one council member cited the opposition of 49 rabbis as the reason for their no vote and quoted SEMSCO member Donald Duvall’s different view of the application saying, “The idea…that EMS is men’s work and women aren’t capable escapes me.”
Freier expects the ambulance certificate to be issued within the next few days and said that she has been eyeing a Sprinter-type vehicle, whose slightly smaller size is better suited to the crowded streets of Borough Park. Having heard that SEMSCO felt it was unfortunate that Hatzolah and Ezras Nashim couldn’t work together, Freier noted that she had spent a full year in 2011 trying to team up with Hatzolah, who told her to open up her own organization. Despite all that has transpired since then, Freier said she would still be amenable to working together with Hatzolah.
“We are not fighting with anyone – we are fighting for women’s modesty,” said Freier. “If Hatzolah wants to work with us, my number hasn’t changed.”
Knowing that a statewide council understood the need for Ezras Nashim’s services was extremely uplifting for Freier.
“I think that this shows the strength of Jewish women,” observed Freier. “We are Torah abiding women and we aren’t afraid to stand up for what we believe in.”
I guess this type of service makes sense if people are too scared to take an ambulance if men are working in it. For me, my wife and children we seek out the best medical care, irrespective of their gender. If my Local Hatzolah was more experienced than ezras nashim I would call Hatzolah, as would my wife. She sees a male OBGYN (Who is Frum) because he is who she believes will give her the best care. I would use a female Dr. for the same reasons.
Mazel tov!
Why was Hatzolah fighting tooth & nail to deliver babies and touch women while giving birth ? Hatzolah is erlicha men who want women to sit inback of bus, never mind touching women.
Now that they lost will they make peace with Ezras Nashim ?
finally Burech Hashem!. What a shame it took Goyem to do the right thing. why could’t we do it? years ago?
This is a strong win for Gdoli Yisroel shlit’a who have taken responsibility and decided to support EN behind the seans and encourage judge frier to go ahead with obtaining the necessary license and equipment
Hatzolah is a great organization,, but the rest of your post is disgusting!
First patient’s going to be Kamala Harris
Northlander you are a racist chiul Hashem. How are you different that’s a KKK or neo-Nazi ? The city’s paramedics are helpful people .
This is something to fight about? No wonder so many go OTD.
They can have 15,60 ambulances no one calls them anyway theier cars and suv sit idle a whole day let them have ambulances maybe we should sponsor a big toy ambulace from toys for u so they can play with it a whole day
Kol hakovod! I’m happy for Ruchie Freier and her team and for all religious women that will benefit.
Mazal Tov! Mazal Tov! Finally woman will have choices that they so deserve. I know and have seen many of these woman in action, they are strong, confident and will do a great job IY”H.
It is hard to not be in favor of ambulances.
Mazel tov! What a win! May you have much hatzlacha!
congratulations on your tremendous loss. loss to all those people whose lives will be lost because they made the mistake of calling “womans help” instead of the tried and true Organization called Hatzoloh. I really wast sure if Frier was motivated by Good (although twisted) or by bad…until I watched the hearing with Remsco. I will comment no further. Go watch the entire haering and decide for yourself of her true intentions, Suffice it to say …Its NOT to save lives.
From the looks of it,it seems like there is more then meets the eye over here. For one why would Hatzolah Have Rabbonim Arguing against a question of modesty. Second since when do goyim care about our modesty comforts(restrictions).
Pikuach nefesh overrides tzniut. Anyone who says otherwise is distorting Torah. You want the fastest trip to the hospital with the best EMS crew, male or female.
I can show you a place where there are no male EMS workers.
This is all for kavod. It has nothing to do with tznius. Feminism has raised its ugly head.
If you are in a medical emergency, does it really matter if the EMS person is a woman or a man.
Congratulations, about time you got recognition I know from my wife and several of her friends they wouldn’t call the opposition because of concerns as mentioned
In an even bigger win for modesty. VIN has decided, in the name of tznius, to blur a mans face!
The biggest win is it showed women in the community that with smart leadership, determination, and organization they can accomplish what they want despite the men club aggressively fighting it. Expect more to come.
MAZAL TOV! MAZAL TOV! I was on the Washington Heights’ Hatzoloh Squad because Rav Schwab paskened that women should be available during the day for all calls and nights for OB calls. There were very few men around during the day. It was from 1984 thru 2000 that 2 of us ran to calls (for men and women). Hashem and Rav Schwab entrusted us with the care of the members of the community and we worked hard. We were treated equally and were honored to help all who needed our help. Women are just as capable as men and they are nurturers by nature. “You Go for it girls!” and always be discreet in the privacy of your patients. BE MATZLIACH!
The one argument I saw against EN actually makes sense: With Hatzolah so deeply entrenched in the frum community, with magnets on every fridge and ads in every community directory, it will create confusion in the event of an emergency as to which number to call.
There used to be one number to call for a medical crisis. Now there are two. Why confuse people in moments of crisis, where every second counts? And if God forbid the outcome is the worst possible one because someone was confused during those critical few seconds, does either organization want that blood on their hands?
I think the real question was, and is, why can’t Hatzolah simply have one integrated hotline with an integrated women’s division, so that situations that are better served by female EMTs who are fully members of Hatzolah are dispatched to the scene?
This may sound funny, but how would that be different than a frum taxi company (like the several we have up here in Monsey) that send frum female drivers for those customers who want or need one?
Something to think about and discuss.
I feel it’s a good thing to have the Ezras Nashim.
To avoid confusion a family can decide ahead of time, whom they would call in an emergency.
So if a man calls EN, and is ok by being treated by a woman will the women volunteers feel comfortable taking care of him? How about the physical strength necessary for the job. I have to wonder how many egos were involved in this decision. This will be an added financial burden on the community in the worst of times.
A emergency call to Ezras Nushim
Patient: Hello is this Hatzoloh?
Ezras Nushim: Sorry this is Ezras Nushim, how can we help you?
P: i am in labor and feel i cany make it to Hospital.
EN: Ok please stay on line while we get you someone to respond, Address please.
EN: Any units available for mother is distress?
Unit 24: Sorry i am in middle of feeding my baby, i can be there in 20 minutes.
Unit 19: Finishing my Challah in oven will respond to call in 7 minutes
Unit 6: Leaving home right now will be there in 4 minutes.
Unit 6: Sorry someone is blocking my driveway waiting for driver to move his car.
EN: Any units available its Code One, Emergency.
Unit 19: On my way but stuck behind school bus .
Unit 6: Sanitation truck holding up 49th Streer , On my way.
Unit 24: Sorry can not start my car ,waiting for Chaverim.
EN: Patient sorry please call 911 or Hatzoloh
Patient: Please please send someone .
EN: just wait 2 minutes we dispatched Hatzoloh
Mazel tov…Its a Baby BOY