Typically, American Friends of Magen David Adom donates ambulances to Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, through institutionally organized efforts or a big private donation.

But in the case of a recent effort led by Margate residents Bruce and Sue Epstein, no institution was needed. The Epsteins had enough pull on their own.

Eight Jewish Philadelphia families, including the couple, put up $5,000 or more to fund the next ambulance in the fleet, according to American Friends of Magen David Adom. And on World Blood Donor Day last month, they held a ceremony at Chabad at the Shore in Ventnor to send the vehicle off to Israel.

Israeli paramedic Chaviv Friedman spoke about how the name on his motorcycle, Judy, reminds him of the generous donor who led the effort to fund it. About 150 people attended as Friedman told the story of a woman who went into labor at 33 weeks and had to be rushed to the hospital.

Thanks to the paramedic, his bike and the generous donations of AFMDA, she delivered her baby safely.

“That’s the kind of feeling that completely fills your heart,” he said.

Dawn Saidel, the director of major gifts for AFMDA, said Friedman’s appearance allowed “supporters the opportunity to see the human side of their generosity and understand the impact they are making every single day.”

The effort to fund the newest ambulance started in November 2025 at AFMDA’s Philadelphia gala. That night, the Epsteins were honored for past fundraising efforts. And when they got up on stage, they immediately launched a new one.

They said they would contribute half of the total toward a new ambulance if the community stepped up to donate the other half. Less than a year later, the Epsteins and their family and friends were already celebrating the latest addition to Israel’s emergency fleet.

Bruce Epstein said this effort was inspired by his parents, who raised him with “a strong sense of Israel and Israeli charities.” Epstein’s grandmother and great-grandmother both survived pogroms.

“My family is very pro-Israel, very into being Jewish, not necessarily religious, but culturally, it was very, very important to us. From a young age, we were taught how important it was to the Jewish people. It was a haven for Jews,” he explained.

The group of eight families consisted of friends of the Epsteins and people who heard them speak at the gala. The effort spanned generations and geography, including donors from Pennsylvania and South Jersey.

It also featured a variety of dedications, according to Saidel. Donors gave in honor of grandparents, parents, grandchildren’s bar and bat mitzvahs and Oct. 7 victims.

“I think that it shows that people are so passionate about helping others, and they want to be of help to Israel in making a difference and making a tangible difference,” Saidel said. “You know that a Magen David Adom ambulance is going to go to people in their greatest time of need.”

After the Epsteins spoke at the gala last year, Saidel heard from potential donors who said they appreciated the team dynamic. In many cases, individual donors make large gifts for Magen David Adom ambulances, but crowdsourced efforts make the contributions more accessible.

“People came up to us that night saying this is so exciting because they could never afford an ambulance on their own,” Saidel said.

The couple got involved with American Friends of Magen David Adom after Oct. 7, 2023, Bruce Epstein said. Gershon Trimpol, a friend of Bruce’s and AFMDA’s vice chairman, called Epstein and said they needed help.

Epstein started calling his friends and got “more involved over time,” he said. When the organization told the couple it wanted to honor them, Epstein again got on the phone and “would not take no for an answer,” recalled his wife.

“We talk about it. We tell people about it. We had a lot of friends who came out to support us at the gala,” Sue Epstein said.

Like many American Jews, the Epsteins were under the impression that the Israeli government paid for the ambulances. It was only through American Friends of Magen David Adom that they learned otherwise.

They continue to try to spread the word.

“I was searching for something to honor my parents,” Bruce said.

The ambulance that was unveiled at the June 14 ceremony will be sent to Israel “on the next shipment,” Saidel said.

“It gets put on a cargo ship and sails over the ocean to Israel,” she added.

That process takes 8-10 weeks. Then, the ambulance needs two weeks to get through customs and another two to get outfitted. At the end of that process, it gets stationed, and AFMDA receives a letter from Magen David Adom.

“Soon, the ambulance dedicated in Ventnor will begin answering calls somewhere in Israel. And somewhere, perhaps years from now, another paramedic may look at that vehicle the same way Friedman looks at Judy: not simply as a piece of equipment, but as a reminder that someone cared enough to help save a life,” read a news release about the June event.

jsaffren@midatlanticmedia.com