Shas chairman Aryeh Deri attended a memorial and appreciation ceremony Wednesday honoring United Hatzalah volunteers on the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, Kikar H’Shabbat reported.

The event honored the extraordinary courage and dedication of hundreds of United Hatzalah volunteers who were among the first responders to operate in the Gaza border communities under heavy attack, saving the lives of countless civilians and soldiers.

“I came here to recognize your tremendous contribution to Am Yisrael,” Deri said. “You saved the lives of many civilians while risking your own lives. Mossad chief Roman Gofman told me that the Chareidi Hatzalah volunteers saved his life on October 7.”

“The work of the organization’s volunteers on October 7, as well as their daily work throughout the country saving lives without distinction, is a testament to the spirit of mutual responsibility and mesirus nefesh that characterizes Am Yisrael.”

Gofman was the commander of an IDF base in the Negev during the October 7 massacre. He rushed into battle against the Hamas terrorists and was seriously wounded in a gun battle outside Sderot.

United Hatzalah president and founder Eli Beer tearfully recalled the harrowing events of that day: “In those difficult moments, when no civilian organization could enter other than the security forces, United Hatzalah volunteers ran straight into the fire and risked their lives to save others,” he said. “They treated hundreds of wounded people, soldiers and civilians alike, under relentless gunfire. Among those they saved was Mossad chief Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, whose life was saved thanks to the resourcefulness of our volunteers in the field.”

Beer also revealed a humanitarian initiative that took place behind the scenes: At the request of Rabbi Aryeh Deri and his wife, Yaffa, he arranged a meeting between the mothers of hostages Omer Shem Tov and Sasha Trufanov and philanthropist Dr. Miriam Adelson, who has significant influence in the United States, in an effort to assist in securing the return of their sons.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)