The event also marked the official dedication of the Adele and Joel Sandberg Women’s Unit – Israel’s first all-female emergency medical response team – supported by former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg.

More than 1,000 female medical volunteers convened at Tel Aviv’s Hangar 11 venue on Wednesday evening, marking the largest assembly of its kind in Israel’s history. United Hatzalah, Israel’s largest independent emergency medical services (EMS) organization, organized the event to honor the ongoing work of its female volunteers, many of whom were on the front lines saving lives during the October 7th attacks.

The event featured powerful firsthand accounts from United Hatzalah female volunteers, recounting their critical lifesaving efforts on October 7th and their ongoing lifesaving work. Acclaimed Israeli singer Hanan Ben Ari delivered a special performance in honor of these heroic women.

The event also marked the official dedication of the Adele and Joel Sandberg Women’s Unit – Israel’s first all-female emergency medical response team.

The unit, comprising 1,763 female volunteers from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, was established in 2021 with the generous support of Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Meta. It honors her parents, Dr. Joel and Adele Sandberg, who are also key supporters of the initiative.

The Sandberg Women’s Unit consists of female EMTs, paramedics, doctors, nurses, midwives, and social workers. These volunteers, representing secular, religious, traditional, ultra-Orthodox, Muslim, and Christian communities, are committed to responding to medical and psychological emergencies with essential lifesaving support.

“It’s truly inspiring to witness the remarkable women of the Adele and Joel Sandberg Women’s Unit—from EMTs and paramedics to midwives and psychotrauma responders—who unite across ethnic and religious lines to save lives in Israel,” said Sheryl Sandberg.

“I’m honored to support this important initiative, which is on track to double United Hatzalah’s female volunteer force from 1,000 in 2021 to 2,000 by the end of 2025, and continues to advance the vital role of women in saving lives,” Sandberg added. “My parents have led lives of service and unwavering dedication to others. The work of United Hatzalah embodies the values they hold so dear.”

In the past year alone, United Hatzalah’s female volunteers handled over 72,000 emergency calls nationwide. Additionally, women comprised 40% of the trainees in United Hatzalah’s medic courses this past year, marking a notable increase from previous years.

The official dedication of the Sandberg Women’s Unit, spearheaded by United Hatzalah’s president and founder Eli Beer, aims to build on this momentum and further expand the number of female volunteers across Israel.

To support the unit’s mission, United Hatzalah has developed a sophisticated dispatch system that prioritizes sensitive calls, such as childbirth, to female medical volunteers when possible. This approach ensures greater privacy and comfort for patients while maintaining rapid response times.

“The Adele and Joel Sandberg Women’s Unit is a testament to the extraordinary courage, skill, and dedication of our female volunteers, both in times of routine and in times of war,” said Eli Beer, President and Founder of United Hatzalah. “We are profoundly grateful to Sheryl Sandberg for her support, which allows us to amplify the impact of these remarkable women and save even more lives.”

Photo Credit: Shmuel Hershkop, United Hatzalah