In 2008 we reported on a trip of Bergen County First Responders visiting Israel as part of an exchange program. The trip was sponsored by the United Jewish Agency Federation of Northern NJ (UJANNJ) and the federations “Partnership 2000” Program. “Partnership 2000” was launched in 1994 by the Jewish Agency together with United Jewish Communities. An extraordinary global platform connects some 550 communities around the world in 45 partnerships, P2K is building living bridges among these communities, by sharing ideas, strengths challenges and models of success; and empowering BOTH communities to generate waves of changes.
In New Jersey, under the UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey, “Partnership 2000” links those in northern New Jersey with those in Nahariya, a seaside resort town in the north of Israel. The partnership is about building relationships between the two communities via the exchange of ideas and joining cooperation and participation in different projects.
The visiting American Team to Israel was made up of emergency service personnel from Bergen County’s police, fire and paramedics. Executive Assistant for Fire at the Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah and long time member of the 200 Club, Larry Rauch was one of those members that made up the American team. Rauch has been involved for years in the business of fighting fires here in Bergen as well as in the State of New Jersey. He is the Coordinator of Safety programs and County Fire Coordinator. Rauch also heads up the training for firefighters in Bergen and has served as a firefighter and Chief for the Upper Saddle River Fire Department for 39 years.
Rauch recalls three years ago when the Israeli First Responder team came to northern New Jersey. “The experience I had with the firefighters was unbelievable, it was more than I could have ever expected. I hated to see it end” said Rauch. “There was so much more that I wanted to do and go over with them but unfortunately time ran out.”
When discussion began on sending a contingency from northern New Jersey to Israel, Rauch was ready to go in 2008. “I knew I needed to continue what I started here. I really couldn’t wait to see for myself the challenges the firefighters were facing daily and to do more to help.”
What Rauch found when he arrived in Israel was a tough lesson. “I’m so used to having a facility to train in like here in northern New Jersey. Their Fire Academy was built back in the 1960’s and although they are in incredible group of very committed firefighters, they don’t have much of what we have here in terms of training and equipment. When you realize how many years they have been dealing with terrorism and add to that the day to day calls, it’s really amazing how much they do and do it well. You know, for us here in the U.S. we had September 11, 2001 and that gave us a sense of what they have been dealing with for years.”
“Israeli Firefighters are the best when it comes to their devotion, determination and their professional expertise. They serve close to 7 million people with 500 firefighters per shift, compare that to four thousand firefighters for 1 million people here in Bergen County and the amount of preparedness is incredible. It was amazing to realize that the people of Israel know that when you hear the alarms and radio announcements you have 15 seconds to get into your shelter. From the evacuation process to the unfortunate aftermath of an incident, their First Responders do an incredible job” said Rauch.
Rauch continues to communicate with his Israeli counterparts, sending them training disks and information on firefighting. “I would love nothing better then to see these guys and gals with some new equipment and updated simulators like we have here at the Law and Pubic Safety Institute.”
A schedule is being worked out, for how the time will be spent here in New Jersey, with the Israeli First Responders in September of 2009. Rauch is already trying to figure how much firefighting training he can squeeze in before their time runs out here in northern New Jersey. Rauch left with saying, “At the end of the day, even though we are worlds apart, were all in it for the same reason – saving lives.”
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