Beitar Illit: Female MDA Volunteers Barred from Shifts Due to Rabbinical Rules
Female volunteers at the Magen David Adom station in Beitar Illit claim they are barred from shifts due to rabbinical rules, forcing them to volunteer in other cities.
Volunteers and female medics at the Magen David Adom station in Beitar Illit have complained that women are not assigned to shifts due to rabbinical instructions. As a result, female volunteers are unable to serve near their homes.
In an interview with Yoav Limor, one of the former national service volunteers, identified as L., recounted what happened when she asked to volunteer at the local station. "This has been going on for several years, as far as I know for the past ten years," she said. "They said it is impossible, that it is an unwritten rule. If you want to shift in the city, you cannot. They did not really explain why, it was just no. Not for you, and not for any other woman."
Impact on Medical Care and Local Women
When asked if only men treat patients in Beitar Illit, she noted that while there are standards for women in United Hatzalah, Magen David Adom handles the primary emergency response. "There are many cases involving childbirth, and only men are on the team. This is a sensitive issue," she explained.
Local women are reportedly surprised by the lack of female medical staff. "It surprises the women themselves when they encounter only men. They feel it is improper, and it is not just us volunteers—they themselves ask for help from women," L. added.
Relocation of Volunteers and Official Response
Due to these restrictions, many female volunteers travel to other cities to perform their duties, heading to Jerusalem, Maale Adumim, and even Beit Shemesh. L. pointed out that Beit Shemesh has areas that are far more ultra-Orthodox than Beitar Illit, yet female participation has become normalized there over time.
"The rule remains strictly in Beitar Illit, which has 74,000 residents. This prevents many women from volunteering. There were cases where a response was needed and no woman was on site, even during extreme times," L. stated.
In response, Magen David Adom stated: "Magen David Adom, as Israel's national rescue organization, operates across all sectors and populations, while taking into account the lifestyles and worldviews of its workers and volunteers. Magen David Adom has 39,000 volunteers and employees working in harmony and cooperation to save lives. Team assignments are made in accordance with operational needs, while taking into account volunteers' requests, and in times of need, everyone is assigned to all ambulances."
