In the wake of Hamas’s deadly attack in Israel, Zaka, a religious organization comprised of ultra-orthodox Jewish volunteers, has been playing a crucial role in the mass identification and collection of the victims’ remains. Zaka’s volunteers, recognizable by their bright yellow vests, work tirelessly to collect every part of the deceased, including blood, in order to ensure a proper burial according to Jewish religious law. This article sheds light on the impact of Zaka’s work, the challenges they face, and the importance of preserving the dignity of the dead amidst tragedy.
Zaka, established in 1995 but with roots dating back to 1989, has been called upon to handle some of the most traumatic events in Israel, from natural disasters to acts of terrorism. Unlike in the UK, where professional police teams are responsible for recovering human remains, Jewish custom places great emphasis on collecting and burying all available remains together. This is where Zaka steps in, providing a sacred service that goes beyond religious duty.
During the recent attack, Zaka volunteer Baroch Frankel, alerted by his Zaka walkie-talkie, immediately sprang into action. The Sabbath was temporarily set aside for matters of life and death, and Frankel wasted no time in driving to the site, equipped with body bags, gloves, shoe covers, and blood-soaking rags. Arriving at the festival site, Frankel encountered a harrowing scene. Alongside Israeli soldiers in the midst of a firefight with Hamas, he confronted burned children, victims of grenade explosions, and families mercilessly gunned down in their homes. The images haunted him as he tirelessly worked to collect the remains.
The work of Zaka volunteers goes far beyond physical labor. It also involves preserving the dignity and religious customs surrounding death. At a military base where the bodies are processed, Zaka workers, along with rabbis, painstakingly ensure that prayers are said over each person and that the bodies are treated with utmost respect. Despite the overwhelming scale of the operation and the condition of some remains, Zaka volunteers gather every 15 minutes for their own prayers, maintaining faith amidst the horrors unfolding before them.
Witnessing an entire family killed is a soul-crushing experience, as revealed by Yacoub Zechariah, a Zaka volunteer. He found himself pulling body bags, one after another, containing members of the same family who had been brutally murdered. For Zechariah, a father of five, the emotional strain is almost unimaginable. However, he, like his fellow Zaka volunteers, finds strength in their faith and unwavering commitment to providing dignity to the deceased.
Outside the gates of the military base, family members of the dead anxiously await news and closure. The delay in identifying and burying the bodies adds immeasurable pain to their grief. Jewish tradition dictates that prompt burial allows the soul to ascend to heaven and grants the family the ability to formally grieve and find solace. The work of Zaka extends to the final stages of the process, from receiving the bodies to their purification before burial. Volunteers in Tel Aviv meticulously prepare the bodies, washing them in water from a nearby river, gently cleaning them, and even cutting their hair and nails, if necessary.
The Zaka volunteers, supported by local residents and food trucks, work tirelessly, even seeking special permission from a rabbi to continue their sacred work on the Sabbath. Their attention to detail ensures that each person’s remains are treated with the utmost care and wrapped in a white linen sheet before being handed over to undertakers for burial. This final act allows the souls of the deceased to be at peace, providing closure for grieving families.
In conclusion, Zaka’s volunteers are the unsung heroes providing dignity to Israel’s deceased. Their dedication, resilience, and adherence to religious customs go beyond duty. Their work not only helps grieving families find closure but also preserves the cultural and spiritual identity of the deceased. Zaka serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity amidst tragedy, offering solace and support where it is needed most.
