A crowdfunding project led to the donation of 27 defibrillators in memory of Staff Sergeant Neriya Moshe Cohen z"l,, marking his 27th birthday, who volunteered for about 3 years at the MDA station in Givat Shmuel.
Neriya z"l was an active reserve soldier in the IDF, who fought in the "Iron Swards" war and was killed in action on June 4th, 2024. The dedication ceremony, where 27 MDA First Responders received the defibrillators in Neriya's memory, was held on January 5, 2025, at the Patal Torah Center of the Avnei HaChoshen community, where Neriya prayed, and attended by the Mayor of Givat Shmuel, Yossi Brodny, Rabbi Avinadav Abukarat, Neriya's family and his MDA friends.
Orly Ariel, CEO of Israeli's Friends of MDA Association opened the ceremony stating that "Each year about 13,000 people in Israel suffer from cardiac arrest outside the hospitals, and only 7.5% of them survive. Many studies around the world have proven that in cases of observed collapse in which a defibrillator is used, survival rates have even increased to about 60%. The project in Neriya's memory is changing reality for hundreds, if not thousands of families in Israel. We are grateful to all the donors and partners who helped bring this project to fruition."
"The first time Neriya and I met was at the youth movement. We discovered we shared a birthday, and since then we became 'twin siblings'. Thank God for giving me the privilege to know you, thank you Neriya for being the driving force behind all this, to your dear family who was and always will be an inspiration for me, thanks to everyone who took part in this project and special thanks to the 27 MDA first responders who will use these defibrillators to save lives, continuing the path you set – a path that honors life and acts for the sake of others." Shared Esti Friedman, Neriya's childhood friend and MDA EMT volunteer.
Esti initiated the crowdfunding project together with EMTs and paramedics from the MDA Givat Shmuel station, Neriya's family and many friends with the help of the Israeli Friends of MDA Association. and Esti was one of the MDA first responders' who received one of the defibrillators.
During the ceremony, one of Neriya's family friends shared his personal life-saving story. He has suffered a cardiac arrest, collapsed at the gym, two years before, when MDA teams at the gym saved his life by administering an electric shock from a defibrillator.
Defibrillators are the first life-saving line that reaches the injured and sick during an incident.
"About a year ago, when Neriya received a defibrillator as part of the MDA first responder kit, you could see the excitement on his face. The understanding that he could now provide better, more professional care was so important to him. The distribution of 27 defibrillators marking Neriya's birthday is deeply moving and meaningful for us, in order to continue the acts of kindness and lifesaving that were such an inseparable part of him. Hopefully the first responders won't need to use the defibrillators that bear his name, and if, God forbid, they need to, may they succeed saving lives." Said Gilad Tuasi, volunteer coordinator at the Givat Shmuel MDA station.
Nir Shalhav, Chairman of MDA South Yarkon South Volunteers, said:
"Neriya z"l joined the MDA Yarkon family during COVID, and we immediately realized that we were blessed with an angel with a huge heart. In his giving, Neriya represented all the good that exists in MDA and the people of Israel. We will continue his path, embrace his dear family, and always remember that Neriya still lives in each of us."
Yossi Brodny, Mayor of Givat Shmuel:
"Neriya z"l was a medical student and volunteered at the city's MDA station as an EMT and an ambulance driver. During the Iron Swords war, he served as a soldier in the humanitarian corridor for over 200 days. At this moving ceremony the defibrillators were distributed to the MDA volunteers in the city. In cases of collapse due to a cardiac arrest a nearby defibrillator will increase the patient's chances of survival and significantly minimize the exposure to irreversible brain damage. Thank you all who took part in this project. May his memory be blessed."
Ezra and Sarit Cohen, Neriya's parents: "Esti Friedman and Neriya used to celebrate their shared birthday together. Saving lives was a very important subject and close to Neriya's heart. This amazing gesture gave us immense strength to know that we did something related to what he loved which will also help save lives."
Photo: Eliran Avital
