Jewish Philanthropy Podcast · Dovid M Cohen

Topic: Hatzolah Air Guest: Dr. Avishai Neuman

·50 min·3 clips

A girl in Toronto with autoimmune encephalitis had to be flown to Israel in an induced coma.

David M. Cohen opens the show by framing it around money, impact, and the way people put resources to work in lives around the world. He welcomes Dr. Avishai Newman as a friend and neighbor, and the introduction folds together Newman's medicine, his role at Centurion, and his Hatzalah service. The tone stays warm from the start. Cohen mentions that this is the 86th episode and says the number has special meaning for Newman, which gives the conversation a small personal thread. The talk then moves to Hatzalah Eir. Newman explains how it fits into the larger Hatzalah world and how the different branches stay distinct while still working together. He describes the setup as collaborative rather than centralized, and that point becomes one of the clearest parts of the episode. The conversation moves through examples of cross-border coordination, including places like Panama and Lakewood. Newman makes the case that the work often depends on knowing how to work with whichever local Hatzalah team is closest to the patient. Cohen keeps the questions simple and curious, which keeps the exchange easy to follow. Newman also talks about the stories people hear publicly versus the many cases that never get much attention. Some rescues travel well on social media because someone tells them clearly, while plenty of others stay invisible even though they matter just as much to the families involved. The episode makes room for those quieter cases. It also keeps coming back to the idea that service is tied to Jewish responsibility and communal obligation. Newman's identity as a doctor, business owner, and volunteer comes through as one connected life rather than separate roles. Cohen lets that land without turning it into a slogan. New York Presbyterian comes up as part of the care network involved in these transfers, which helps ground the discussion in real logistics. By the end, the listener has a clear picture of Hatzalah Eir as a connective layer among branches and institutions. The episode closes with gratitude for the people and systems that make urgent help possible, and a sense of the coordination most people never see. It feels practical and personal, with enough detail to make the system legible and enough warmth to keep it grounded.

As heard by us

A warm, practical look at Hatzalah coordination and the trust it relies on.

This episode stays in Jewish philanthropy and communal service. David M. Cohen speaks with Dr. Avishai Newman, who is introduced as the president and proprietor of Centurion, a medical doctor, and a devoted Hatzalah member.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For when you want a Hatzalah conversation grounded in real-world coordination.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Jewish Philanthropy Podcast