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Senior Israeli first responders to greet Tucsonans at Q&A

The Weintraub Israel Center and the Greater Tucson Fire Foundation will present “Israeli Response and Readiness —Terrorism and Natural Disasters,” a meet and greet and Q&A with the senior officials who develop and implement Israel’s emergency preparedness, response and recovery services, on Monday, Oct. 19, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.

The Israelis’ 10-day visit to Tucson continues the “Firefighters Beyond Borders” relationship between local and Israeli first responders that began with a delegation of seven local firefighters visiting Israel in October 2013.

Special guests will include Shmulik Friedman, brigadier general and vice commander of the Judea and Samaria district of Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service; Abraham (Avi) Borger, chief of policy for the Israel Emergency Management Authority; Maj. Sivan Inbar, head of civil defense training for the Israel Defense Forces home front command; and Guy Caspi, chief multi-casualty incident instructor and director of hazmat exercises and operational training for Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical response, ambulance and blood services organization.

There will also be presentations by Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild; Stuart Mellan, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona; and Yaki Lopez, consul for political affairs at the Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest U.S.

A light dinner cooked by Israeli chefs Nir Margalith and Guy Marom will be provided. The event is free.

The Weintraub Israel Center is a joint program of the JFSA and the Tucson J. For more information, call 577-9393 or email israelcenter@ jfsa. org.