In a ceremony held Monday afternoon at Magen David Adom’s (MDA) headquarters, Becky Brimmer (CEO) and Jess Gibson (Chairperson) of Bridges for Peace presented an ambulance to the MDA branch in Jerusalem.
The presentation was made in memory of the organization’s founder, Dr. G. Douglas Young, and was presented to Yoni Yagodovsky, head of MDA Israel’s International Desk.
Bridges for Peace is a Christian Zionist organization that builds relationships between Christians and Jews in Israel and around the world. According to the groups mission, it is their “desire to see Christians and Jews working side by side for better understanding and a more secure Israel.”
Founded in 1976, Bridges for Peace seeks to be a ministry of hope and reconciliation throughout the country. The organization is creating a campaign to raise funds to donate more ambulances to MDA over the coming year.
The ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries including the Director of Heart to Heart, Jonathan Feldstein, and managing editor of The Jerusalem Post, David Brinn.
Feldstein said in his address to the gathered crowd how thankful he was for the donation. “I want to run to the highest mountain and, the same way we used to declare the sighting of the new moon marking the new month, lighting a fire from mountaintop to mountaintop, I want to tell everyone how grateful I am and how all Israelis should be as well. Today I can do that.”
“I also want to thank you [Bridges for Peace] for your friendship and support. It means more than you know,” said Feldstein.
Discussing the memory of Dr. Young, Feldstein said that “Dr. Young was a model for us all, and still is. He was a man of faith, and a man of action. Among other things in his noteworthy life, he moved to Israel and placed his lot with the people of Israel.”
“If Dr. Young would be with us here today,” Feldstein said about the efforts of Bridges For Peace, “he’d be very proud.”
Brinn mirrored Feldstein’s comments and also praised Bridges for Peace’s work for the city of Jerusalem. “Bridges for Peace has done so much to strengthen Israel and make the country a better place,” he said. “Dr. Young was a great friend of Israel and achieved a special status throughout the country and among Christian Zionists, being awarded the prestigious ‘Yakir Yerushalayim’ award in 1978”.
Brinn extolled upon Dr. Young’s legacy as well as the good works that Bridges for Peace does on a continuing basis. “Dr Young’s organization Bridges for Peace has carried on that devotion and long ago established itself as one of the leading lights of Christian Zionism in its efforts,” he said.
He finished by bestowing a blessing upon Bridges for Peace that keep up their inspiring and life-saving efforts.
“We know that this ambulance will aid all of the residents of Jerusalem and its vicinity regardless of race religion or financial status. May that democratic principle, which characterizes the state of Israel, continue to be strengthened by the important work that all of you [Heart to Heart and Bridges for Peace] do.”
