Hatzalah Torah to be Written in Memory of Those Lost in Surfside

Dr. Zev Neuwirth and family have announced the commencement of the Devorie Neuwirth HATZALAH Sefer Torah, being written in memory of all those lost at the Champlain Towers Surfside building collapse.  

By Anash.org reporter

Dr. Zev Neuwirth, M.D., arrived at the Champlain Towers in the early hours after the collapse, ready to assist first responders and relatives of the missing in any way he could.

“You have an overwhelming desire to jump in on hands and knees and start picking up concrete,” he told Tabletmag.com, “to jump on the pile and find any sign of life.” But the only thing he could do was say baruch dayan haemes, blessed is the true Judge.

He wrote prescriptions for those whose medications were now stuck inside the ruins and treated survivors who hadn’t realized they’d suffered a serious injury until hours later, after the adrenaline spike of the initial disaster wore off.

Now, Dr. Neuwirth and family have announced the commencement of the Devorie Neuwirth HATZALAH Sefer Torah, being written in memory of all those lost at the Champlain Towers Surfside building collapse.

“With gratitude to Hashem, it is with great honor that we wish to announce the commencement of the Devorie Neuwirth HATZALAH Sefer Torah, being written in memory of all those we lost at the Champlain Towers Surfside building collapse,” the family wrote.

The family noted that their mother, Devorie Neuwirth a”h, was instrumental in Hatzalah’s work as author of its Initial Response & Dispatching Protocols (used worldwide) and as an emergency dispatcher for many years.

More recently, Hatzalah has been working on-site at the building collapse, community center and family reunification center since its occurrence on Yud Daled Tammuz, 5781 / June 24, 2021. Hatzalah of South Florida has implemented an advanced forward medical treatment facility at the building collapse site, providing around-the-clock emergency medical care to all recovery personnel and support towards the ongoing recovery efforts.

“The writing of the Sefer Torah commenced this past Tuesday, 26 Tammuz 5781 / July 06, 2021. The Sofer (scribe) will be reciting all the names of the lost and missing victims of the tragedy daily upon initiating the continued writing of the Torah,” they wrote in the letter signed by Dr. Zevi & Chaya Neuwirth, Motki Neuwirth, Chavee Neuwirth, Yehuda Neuwirth and Rummi Neuwirth.

The Torah will be kept in Surfside, Florida, at The Shul of Bal Harbour, Surfside, Bay Harbor, and Indian Creek Islands. It will be routinely used at The Shul and also deployed wherever in the world Hatzalah would be needed on large scale, extended duration, on-scene emergencies G-d Forbid.

Although there will be no official financial solicitations, the Neuwirth famly invites those wanting to contribute towards this special Torah to do so by emailing [email protected].

“May we merit being reunited with our loved ones through the ultimate redemption,” they wrote.