MANILA, Philippines – Elad had no idea the “stir” he would create in his home country of Israel when he volunteered to help typhoon victims in the Philippines.

The mission was simple enough: provide emergency medical care to Filipinos still reeling from the devastation caused by back-to-back typhoons.

It was the partnership with Operation Blessing, however, that would turn this simple mission into a history-making project.

Last month, Elad and a team of doctors, nurses and paramedics with the Israeli organization, IsraAID, arrived in the Philippines to assist OBI with their ongoing medical missions to bring relief to typhoon victims.

“The Jewish people and Israel have a special corner in our heart when we see poor people or people in big trouble,” said Elad who served as the team leader.  “It’s…in the DNA.”

For several weeks, teams of Jewish and Christian doctors worked side-by-side treating victims, often traveling by boat to reach isolated residents.

It was the first-ever Jewish and Christian partnership of its kind for IsraAID, an umbrella organization of 17 Jewish groups that provide humanitarian aid to developing countries.
 
“It has been amazing to work with OBI, especially as Jews and Christians,” Elad said.  “I feel like we are one, serving one God.”

As for the reaction from the homeland, radio stations and newspapers peppered Elad with questions about Operation Blessing.

“It has caused a big stir in Israel, Christians and Jews working so well together,” he said.  “I was proud to tell them about who Operation Blessing is.”

In all, OB Philippines teams and partners helped reached more than 168,000 typhoon victims with emergency relief such as food, water, medical care and cleanup assistance.

Tags: Asia, Disaster Relief, IsraAid, Israel, Manila, Medical Aid, medical clinic, Medical Relief, OB Philippines, OBI, Operation Blessing, Philippines, Typhoon

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