Wednesday 13 April 2016

Does Hatzala of Melbourne Have a Constitution?



Chevra Hatzala of Melbourne was founded by members of the community in 1995. Since then it has become famous as a professional and a truly indispensable organisation.

Yet some questions are now being asked about the governance of the organisation, as well as accountability of its members.

FrumInMelbourne has uncovered  a number of emails sent to Hatzala from  a private individual, complaining about the alleged undignified behaviour of a Hatzala responder. FrumInMelbourne wrote to Hatzala Melbourne a fortnight ago asking a number of questions but did not receive a response.

We also wrote  to the community member who made the complaint but have not heard back from him either.

Following is our email to Hatzala  Melbourne, dated 30th March 2016:


Hi Danny,

We have sighted some emails to Hatzola from <name removed>  regarding requests to dismiss a longstanding responder and requests for information about your constitution. We are writing an article on Hatzola Melbourne and would like your input and feedback.
Questions:
  • Can you explain what the allegations are, and what Hatzola has done to satisfy the complainant?
  • Does Hatzola have an official complaints policy? If so can you send us a copy or link?
  • Does Hatzola have a legal constitution? If so, can you please send us an electronic copy? Preferably in pdf format.
  • Has the longstanding member been suspended while an investigation takes place?
  • Is Hatzola Melbourne subject to the same rules or regulations and or codes of practice as the Victorian Ambulance paramedics?
  • We understand Hatzola has a governing board. If so can you advise us who the members are, and by what process they are elected?
  • We understand Hatzola refused to provide a copy of their Constitutions to the public, can you confirm this is the case, and are you aware that other Hatzola organisations do provide their constitutions?



Further discussion:


  1. Should people have the right to complain about a Hatzala member’s behaviour when he is not “on the job”?
  2. Should Hatzala make their constitution publicly available as many other Hatzala organisations do?
  3. Should they provide their constitution when specifically requested to do so by a member of the community?


37 comments:

  1. i always thought hatzola was transparent.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Its about as transparent as all the other adass mosdos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thats what you call fishing.
      Bring proof when making a statement. As well as putting your name to it, this is cowardish.
      (And so am i apperantly, oeps)

      Delete
    2. Implying and fishing.

      Come forwards with your name, do not hid if you make baseless general accusation.
      Thanks
      Pascal

      Delete
  3. What is "undignified behaviour"?

    Was he drunk?
    Did he mistreat a patient?
    or what??

    ReplyDelete
  4. I happen to know that there is NO "governing board" of Hatzolah Melbourne at all, and there hasn't been one for a number of years, ever since Danny Elbaum cemented himself as Dictator with the help of a couple of lackeys with power.

    Danny has a LOT to answer for and we as a community demand answers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am under the impression that mr. Elbaum was asked to join and lead by the board.
      Can anyone get something positive on this organisation?
      Thanks
      Pascal

      Delete
  5. To the blog owner and author:

    Would it kill you to admit that Hatzolah was founded by Adass Israel? This anti-frum hatred of the general Melbourne community is sickening.

    I think the President at the time was Izzy Herzog, a true leading light of Melbourne and sorely missed by every decent person. Even though he was an Adassnik to the core.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Aron Grossman (another Adass Israel member) was an influential board member of Hatzolah for years. He was then sent by Adass leaders to sort out the mess at Melbourne Chevra Kadisha.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Aron Grossman she be asked to join the board for six months to help sort it out

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mark Ernst deserves all the credit for the hatzolah

    ReplyDelete
  9. Who is in charge of hatzolah ??

    ReplyDelete
  10. very true well written ----

    I happen to know that there is NO "governing board" of Hatzolah Melbourne at all, and there hasn't been one for a number of years, ever since Danny Elbaum cemented himself as Dictator with the help of a couple of lackeys with power.

    Danny has a LOT to answer for and we as a community demand answers.

    ReplyDelete
  11. the community has every right to know the truth, hatzola is a closed shop , after all the community is paying for it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please let us know who you are.
      You hidding behind anonymous or are you one of those one a be and have been rejected. And now you full of grief.
      Shame on you.
      Thanks
      pascal

      Delete
  12. Hatzolah is only controlled by Danny Elbaum and Eli Benedikt nobody else.

    ReplyDelete
  13. when was the last board election ??
    why are they hiding the constitution ??
    its time for a change
    Fred and others need to get involved

    ReplyDelete
  14. Does Hatzolah have a constitution ????
    is Ruvi Herzog on the board ?

    now is the time to do a fair constitution, the community demands it, not controlled by two people, need to be transparent

    ReplyDelete
  15. I always thought hatzola is an honest transparent organization, just shows we are not always right.
    its time for a new board !!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. no community would put up with this ! We should learn from Sydney

    ReplyDelete
  17. who audits the books ? i hear its all under the table

    lets all put an end to this, we are in 2016, wake up

    ReplyDelete
  18. hatzolah belongs to the whole community, its time for a change

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anyone checked out Hatzola's website? Try and get some info from that old dinosaur. Hellooo? The 90s are calling you!!!

    Things have gone downhill there since they let Ruvi leave.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I don't think there's any issue with the books, they're all religious Jews after all, but I am concerned about the amazing lack of transparency.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I agree there is no board.

    Hatzola is run by their operations manager danny, who muscled his way into the board and with the help of jeremy and eli then they made a coup and threw off poor Freddo and turned it into an anti-adass dictatorship.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I think thanks should be given to HaTomim Moshe Gordon, a talmid of RebArel without whom Hatzola wouldn'thave the funds to exist.
    I wonder how he feels about how things are being run.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm sitting here reading and quietly crying. Danny please just reply and let us know what's going on. We think you're amazing. You saved my great-aunt personally.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Perhaps if Rabbi Rabi gave them some guidance...

    ReplyDelete
  25. the community should insist fred grossman mark ernst ruvi herzog need to be on the board its time to wake up
    hatzolha has gone down hill
    what are we waiting for
    wake up
    enough

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funny that is, 2 of the 3 are past reponders, have withdraw there status as responders own their own accord.
      You, anonymous, demand? Who are you? Let yourself be known and face your demons!

      Delete
  26. above comment so true
    the only way it will be fixed is stop the $$$$$$$$
    and lets do a petition

    ReplyDelete
  27. To answer your question. Yes. Hatazolah should provide their constitution. hatazolah belongs to all of us, not just the boys club bosses.

    And why can't women join? What does the constitution say about that?

    Oh, I know! Wait, I don't know! I don't have access to the constitution.

    ReplyDelete
  28. David Jacobs, Hatzolah responder2 May 2016 at 14:36

    It's quite sad that people hide behind Anonymous to make claims regarding people, institutions etc. Surprising that there is a clamour for transparency from behind an anonymous mask. Be brave and put your name behind your comments. I believe the Internet term is a Troll

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am ashamed to read all this hate mail. I am even more ashamed that a blogger what associates it self as religious and or the religious community can allow this to go on.

    It is personal, hate incitement. What is more desturbing is the hidding of those who spread all the hate.

    All in all Hatzolah, and i have had to use them multiple times, is an wonderfull volunteer organisation and a asset to our wider community. Lets not forget that.

    ReplyDelete
  30. why are they hiding the constitution ??????????????????????

    ReplyDelete
  31. they should put grossman back !!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. the place needs a clean up like the yeshiva centre

    ReplyDelete

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