ZAKA Search and Rescue and Chabad have announced the launch of a joint international emergency response, search, and rescue, and Chesed Shel Emes (care for the deceased) unit to provide rapid assistance to Jewish communities facing crises worldwide.
The initiative was announced last Friday during the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, known as Kinus Hashluchim, in New York.
The partnership combines Chabad’s global network of emissaries with the operational capabilities of ZAKA’s International Unit.
The launch event was attended by ZAKA CEO Dubi Weissenstern, ZAKA Deputy Director of Operations Chaim Weingarten, ZAKA board member Kobi Ginzburg, ZAKA International Unit Commander Yossi Landau, ZAKA Europe Commander Nachman Dickstein, and ZAKA US representatives Yaakov Landau and Moshe Rozenberg.
Chabad shluchim frequently serve as the initial point of contact for Jewish individuals facing emergencies far from home, offering immediate support and coordinating with local authorities, the organizers said.
ZAKA, which holds recognized status at the United Nations, operates internationally at disaster sites in coordination with local emergency organizations.
Unit will provide emergency training, resources to Chabad emissaries
The new unit will equip Chabad emissaries with professional training, operational resources, and access to ZAKA’s specialized capabilities. Training programs will cover emergency first response, search and rescue, disaster victim recovery, maintaining the dignity of the deceased, and guidance on Halacha.
The initiative will also establish deployment procedures and provide trained personnel and specialized equipment when necessary.
ZAKA-Chabad Unit will prepare Jewish communities for emergencies, CEO says
Weissenstern told The Jerusalem Post that “At the launch of the ZAKA-Chabad Unit during last week’s Kinus Hashluchim in New York, we had the opportunity to meet, many for the first time in person, Chabad emissaries who have worked alongside our volunteers for years, whether on the ground during disasters or over the phone coordinating assistance for Jews in crisis.”
“These encounters were a powerful reminder that this initiative is a natural evolution of decades of friendship and cooperation between ZAKA and Chabad,” he said. “Our volunteers have long relied on the extraordinary dedication and local knowledge of Chabad emissaries, just as they have turned to ZAKA for our professional experience in emergency response and preserving the dignity of the deceased.
“By formalizing this cooperation, we can better prepare communities, respond more quickly, and ensure that no Jew is left without assistance in their most difficult moments,” he added. “We are especially grateful to Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky and Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch for working with us to bring this holy initiative to life.”
“Over the course of decades, ZAKA’s International Unit has accumulated extensive experience responding to natural disasters and complex emergencies around the world,” Weissenstern said. “Our organization’s recognition at the United Nations and the operational experience we have gained enable us to operate at disaster sites in different countries.
“Now, by combining our capabilities with Chabad’s worldwide network of emissaries, we will be able to expand our emergency response and reach every Jew, wherever they may be, to extend a helping hand in times of crisis, save lives, and preserve the dignity of the deceased.”