Eight Miami Beach Firefighters Given Farewell Sendoff As They Head to Israel

by JewishMiami.info

Eight Miami Beach Firefighters were given a hero’s sendoff Monday as they packed up and drove to the airport. Their destination, The Land of Israel.

With hundreds of thousands of reservists drawn into the IDF as the war in Gaza began, firefighters from the United States have stepped up to fill the gaps in Firefighting throughout Israel. Now it was the turn for the Miami Beach Fire Department to step up.

“Eight of our firefighters are headed to Israel to fill in for first responders who have been called into military service,” the Miami Beach Fire Department wrote in a social media post. “These men are members of our family—and we are so proud of their exceptional bravery and willingness to respond during Israel’s time of need.”

In a first such City-Sanctioned deployment, the Miami Beach firefighters – who volunteered for the two-week mission – had their airfare and travel expenses paid for by Temple Beth Sholom and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

The firefighters will receive one day of training with Israel’s National Fire and Rescue Authority prior
to their assignments and will be given sleeping accommodations at the firehouse they are assigned to.

The Miami Beach Commission voted unanimously on Oct. 18 to authorize the international travel for any firefighter wishing to volunteer, something officials have done in the past in the case of human-made
and weather-related disasters. This is the first-time city firefighters will be traveling to an active war zone.

The farewell event, held at a Miami Beach Firehouse, was attended by local officials, Fire Brass, family, and community members including representatives from Hatzalah South Florida.