ZAKA
ZAKA is a voluntary community emergency response organization in Israel, primarily known for its specialized work in identifying disaster victims and ensuring the dignity of the deceased according to Jewish law (Halacha).
ZAKA (an acronym for Zihuy Korbanot Ahson, or Identification of Disaster Victims) is a non-governmental rescue and recovery organization that operates as a critical auxiliary to Israel's official emergency services. Founded in 1989, the organization is comprised largely of ultra-Orthodox Jewish volunteers who are trained to respond to mass-casualty incidents, terror attacks, and natural disasters. Their primary mission is 'Chesed Shel Emet' (True Kindness)—ensuring that the remains of the deceased are collected with the utmost respect and prepared for burial in accordance with Jewish religious requirements. Beyond the recovery of remains, ZAKA volunteers often serve as first responders, providing initial medical aid alongside Magen David Adom (MDA) and the Israel Police. The organization maintains specialized units for divers, canine search teams, and international rapid-response missions, having deployed to major disaster zones worldwide. In the domestic Israeli context, ZAKA is a fixture at security incidents, where volunteers perform the grueling task of forensic collection under difficult conditions. Their presence is vital both for maintaining the integrity of religious burial and for providing practical support to the state's forensic identification efforts. During the rolling terror attack in the Sharon region in June 2026, ZAKA personnel were among the first on the scene to manage the aftermath of the fatal shootings, working in coordination with security forces to identify victims across multiple locations including Kochav Yair and Tzur Natan.