New York’s all-women Hasidic EMTs are requesting an ambulance licence from the city — sparking outrage from an Orthodox men-only crew that doesn’t want them to exist in the first place.
Ezras Nashim — America’s first ladies-only EMT group — argued Wednesday for permission to operate an ambulance within a two-square mile area of Borough Park to serve Orthodox women who feel uncomfortable being cared for by male first responders.
“It’s the cultural norm of women in the Brooklyn Hasidic community to lead their lives in modesty,” Jim Deering, the group’s attorney, said during a public hearing at Methodist Hospital Wednesday evening.
“It is that cultural modesty and the trauma that can result from it not being honored that forms the need for Ezras Nashim’s ambulance application,” Deering said.
Ezras Nashim – Hebrew for “helping women” – launched in 2012 after the gals were denied membership in the Orthodox ambulance corps Hatzaloh.
The men have have continued to oppose the crew, arguing that it’s immodest for the women to take up EMS roles and that their services are redundant since a group of rabbis said it was OK for Hatzaloh to treat ladies.
Hatzaloh supporters came out in full force Wednesday to oppose the women’s bid for an ambulance.
“We have considered the modesty issue many times over the years … [and] have concluded that the associated risks of having two emergency services so disparate … far outweigh the benefits to the community,” testified Borough Park Rabbi Yechiel Kaufman.
“Having multiple EMS services in the same community will [cause] confusion as to who should treat the emergency, causing delay and potential catastrophe.”
Kaufman is one of 49 rabbis who officially appose Ezras Nashim’s application.
Several women at the hearing stressed that they should have the choice to be treated by a female EMT.
“As a woman it’s her inborn nature to be comfortable with another woman,” said Miriam Sprei, a doula, EMT and a mother of 12.
Leah Levine, daughter of Ezras Nashim founder and president Rachel Freier, added: “It’s the dream of so many women to have their needs met.”
“Make room for another organization,” called Rachel Schmidt, a psychotherapist who serves Brooklyn’s Hasidic communities. “Make room for a woman who prefers the services of a female medical professional.”
Celia Pomerantz, a nurse who volunteers for Ezras Nashim said the stress of being treated by a man, for some, can cause “lasting physical trauma.”
“We are taught that certain parts of our bodies must be private and cannot be seen or touched by another man, except our husbands … this is the culture of modesty,” Pomerantz said.
But school principal Rachel Mandelbaum, who was helped by Hatzaloh when she was in labor, said she had no problem being treated by a man.
“They acted so appropriately which calmed me to an extreme degree,” Mandelbaum said.
The city’s Regional Emergency Medical Services Council will make its decision on Ezras Nashim’s petition at a later date.
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