SA Christians’ emergency vehicle donation a rapid response

When an anonymous donor approached the South African branch of Bridges for Peace, a Christian organisation, to see how he could help Israelis during this tumultuous time, the organisation had no idea that he would be donating two emergency vehicles to Magen David Adom on 24 October.

Chris Eden, South African Bridges for Peace national director said, “There’s a lot of distress among South African Christians, as there is among the Jewish community, at the treatment that Israel is getting in South Africa, especially around the accusation of genocide at the International Court of Justice. We just felt that we wanted to do something as a South African office to show something tangible in support of Israel with a message on it.”

Bridges for Peace is an international Christian organisation based in Jerusalem active for more than 50 years. Its two main functions are working in the church to help its followers understand how to relate to Israel; and to inform the church of happenings in Israel and around the globe.

For the South African branch, the organisation helps educate priests about the geopolitics of Israel and the Middle East.

Since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, the organisation has sprung to action to help those affected. Said Eden, “Projects started two days after the attack. We were taking food and other supplies down into the area, and those sorts of activities have changed as the needs have changed on the ground.”

So, when a single, anonymous donor approached the organisation looking to donate something, the organisation thought of donating a medicycle – a motorbike or bicycle used for emergency calls – to Magen David Adom. However, after Magen David Adom let the donor know that there was no need for a medicycle, but it would need a vehicle, which it calls a rapid response car, costing twice that of a medicycle, the group sprang to action. It eventually donated two vehicles to the emergency service.

The vehicles are already being used, with one up north in Kiryat Shmona, while the second will be based in Modi’in. They ensure that emergency medical technicians can reach victims quickly and efficiently.

From the minute Bridges for Peace put out word that it was planning to donate vehicles to Magen David Adom, the response was overwhelming. “The money flooded in,” said Eden, “People were looking for a way to express their support for Israel and address the perception created in Israel that the whole of South Africa stood against Israel, which isn’t true. It’s the government and the African National Congress that is, certainly within the South African context, firmly against Israel. There’s a large body of support for Israel in South Africa.”

Eden felt it was important to make this donation to Magen David Adom because, “Magen David Adom is an organisation that deals with healing, and we realised that one of the greatest needs in Israel is healing for what the country has gone through. This is our way to contribute towards it.”

The day before handing over the vehicles on 24 October, the South African Christian group involved went to the Gaza envelope with Magen David Adom and saw the devastation Hamas caused that day.

Said Eden, “We saw the pain, the suffering, the devastation, and there’s a resurrection that will be happening in Israel as people find their feet again, and communities get rebuilt. Central to that is medical needs, but also a message of healing and love.”

Eden said he got emotional when seeing the vehicle with the South African flag proudly displayed because he felt pride for the South African Christian community.

Anne Ayalon, the president of Christian Friends of Magen David Adom, said, “We know that in South Africa, the government is quite anti-Israel. We see this in the news every day. It makes it even more significant that you Christians are standing with us and giving a strong voice of support for Israel. When Israelis see that there is Christian support for Israel, it’s a surprise and a delight to us. It lifts us.”

“It’s been a gratifying project, and a message to the South African Jewish community that we value it,” Eden said. “We also know that for South African Jewry, the attitude of the government is hard to stomach and discouraging, and this is also a way of getting the message to our South African community that we care about them and we care about Israel.”