Prime Minister Netanyahu Honours ZAKA Volunteers—and Reminds Us Why Their Healing Matters
- IMFoC
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
There are a few moments in a nation’s story that pause time. One of those moments happened recently at ZAKA’s national headquarters in Jerusalem.
In a visit that was neither planned for the media nor intended as a political gesture, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stepped into the quiet halls of ZAKA to deliver a message that reverberated far beyond the room:
“I came here to say thank you—on behalf of the people, the Government of Israel, and the State of Israel.”
It was a deeply personal and emotional encounter. Surrounded by ZAKA volunteers, directors, and commanders, the Prime Minister didn’t come with cameras or headlines. He came with genuine gratitude for those who have done what no one should ever have to do—and yet who show up anyway.
These are the men and women of ZAKA.
Since October 7 and throughout Operation Rising Lion, ZAKA volunteers have been the first on the scene, rushing into chaos and heartbreak to recover remains, assist victims, and restore dignity where it had been violently stolen. In the aftermath of Iran’s missile barrage and amid the trauma still unfolding across Israel, they continue to work around the clock—not only to serve but to honour.
They’ve seen things that are difficult to describe. Things that take root in the soul. And they’ve done it with compassion, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to life and legacy.
“You have given direct testimony of the most terrible horrors that have been perpetrated against the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Prime Minister Netanyahu told them. “I want to thank you for the strength of spirit to see such things and yet continue. I hope that you are taking care of yourselves; that is also important.”
And this is where we—those of us who support ZAKA’s mission—come in.
While the Prime Minister’s visit offered national recognition, healing requires more than gratitude. It requires action. It requires investment in the emotional well-being of those who carry out this sacred work.
The ZAKA Healing and Resilience Unit was created for this purpose. It exists to support the mental health and emotional recovery of ZAKA volunteers who are often left with invisible wounds. Through trauma counselling, group support, therapeutic services, and follow-up care, this unit helps the helpers rebuild their strength, not just to continue but to survive.
One ZAKA volunteer put it plainly:
“Everything I see is through a lens of that day… It took me five months before the first tears came. All of us who were there need help, and it’s not going to go away.”
This kind of pain doesn’t disappear when the sirens stop. In fact, that’s often when it begins. And that’s why the Healing and Resilience Unit must be sustained and expanded.
Behind every recovery mission, every dignified burial, and every family comforted stands someone who is hurting—and choosing to serve anyway. That kind of selflessness must never be taken for granted. Your support helps these volunteers find peace. It helps them sleep. It helps them talk to their children without carrying the weight of horror into their homes. It helps them keep going, for all of us.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit was more than a thank-you. It was a reminder to all of us that the burden of service is heavy. But it doesn’t have to be carried alone.
Let’s ensure that those who step into the tragedy are met, not just with applause but with real support. Let’s give them the care they deserve.
To contribute to the ZAKA Healing and Resilience Unit, please visit our donation page.
Because honouring courage means helping it recover.
