On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Magen David Adom (MDA) will mark its 96th anniversary. Since its establishment in 1930, the organization has evolved from a small local body operating in Tel Aviv into the State of Israel’s national emergency medical service organization, providing emergency medical care, operating the National Blood Services and supplying blood to the entire healthcare system and the Israel Defense Forces, managing the National Human Milk Bank, and delivering humanitarian assistance to all citizens of Israel and, in many cases, to communities around the world.
MDA’s origins date back to June 7, 1930, when medical professionals in Tel Aviv gathered to discuss the need for a rapid medical assistance organization under the leadership of Dr. Meshulam Levontin. Shortly thereafter, the organization’s initial first aid course was launched, and in January 1931, MDA’s first ambulance entered service.
Throughout its years of operation, MDA has accompanied the Jewish community in pre-state Israel and the State of Israel through all of its defining moments and greatest challenges. The organization operated during the Arab riots of the 1930s, assisted Holocaust survivors following World War II, treated casualties during Israel’s War of Independence, and has continued to provide lifesaving medical care and rescue services throughout Israel’s wars, terrorist attacks, disasters, and emergency incidents over the decades.
In 1950, the Knesset enacted the Magen David Adom Law, formally establishing the organization’s status as Israel’s national emergency medical service organization. Since then, MDA has continued to expand, develop, and lead medical and technological innovation while remaining committed to providing medical care to every person in need, regardless of religion, race, nationality, or gender.
On October 7, 2023, and throughout the various military operations and emergencies that followed, MDA teams were among the first responders to arrive at scenes across the country. Tens of thousands of staff and volunteers operated under fire and in highly complex conditions to provide lifesaving medical treatment and evacuate casualties to hospitals. Some were murdered in the line of duty.
Today, MDA operates a nationwide network comprising tens of thousands of staff and volunteers, thousands of ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units, emergency medicycles, medevac helicopters, intensive care buses, and the 101 Emergency Dispatch Center, which operates around the clock. MDA also operates Israel’s National Blood Services, supplying all blood units to the healthcare system and security forces, and manages the National Human Milk Bank, which provides donated human milk to infants and premature babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed.
Alongside its operational activities, MDA leads an extensive annual program of medical training and education for tens of thousands of volunteers, staff, healthcare professionals, and youth, as well as for the general public. The organization works to promote first aid and CPR knowledge throughout Israel based on the belief that every citizen can play a role in saving lives. Following October 7, MDA significantly expanded its public education efforts, conducting thousands of training sessions in shelters, workplaces, educational institutions, and communities across the country, with the goal of providing citizens with practical tools to respond to emergencies and save lives until medical teams arrive.
MDA Director-General Eli Bin:
“Ninety-six years after the foundations were laid for a small organization in Tel Aviv, Magen David Adom has become one of the most advanced emergency medical service organizations in the world. Every hour of every day, thousands of staff and volunteers work with dedication toward one goal - saving lives. On this special occasion, we salute the generations of MDA personnel who served in the past and continue to serve today, and we thank the Israeli public for its trust and support throughout the years. MDA is one of the finest symbols of Israeli society - an organization built on mutual responsibility, volunteerism, and a deep commitment to human life. We will continue to stand at the forefront of emergency medicine, provide professional lifesaving care, and remain prepared for every challenge.”
We invite you to join our family of donors and partners and help us continue saving lives together. Support Magen David Adom: https://shorturl.at/AvQRK
