Chevra Hatzalah of New York Hires New CEO

By Yehudit Garmaise 

  After conducting a comprehensive, nationwide search for a new chief executive officer, the board of Chevra Hatazlah of New York, the largest volunteer ambulance corps in the United States, has hired Rabbi Yehiel Kalish.

    “Yehiel’s energy and enthusiasm are contagious,” said Mr. Zelig Gitelis, a member of the executive board of Chevra Hatzalah New York, which serves the city’s five boroughs, Nassau County, and other areas upstate. “With his highly professional background and experience, he is uniquely qualified to maximize and build upon the tremendous accomplishments of the organization.

   Before serving as a member of the General Assembly for the 16th District of Illinois for the last two years, Rabbi Kalish logged 12 years of experience as the vice president for development and state regulations at Agudath Israel. Rabbi Kalish has also served as the CEO for the S4 Group, which is a consulting firm used by the U.S. government and businesses. 

   “I look forward to meeting with volunteers, care recipients, coordinators, rabbis, and government officials to better learn and understand the intricacies involved,” said Rabbi Kalish, who will lead an organization that boasts more than 1,600 volunteer emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and doctors. 

   In addition, Chevra Hatzalah, which is world renowned for its immediate, legendary, and life-saving response times, owns close to 100 ambulances. 

   “Our search for CEO focused on two key priorities,” said Mr. Isaac Stern, another Chevra Hatzalah executive board member. “We wanted a CEO with strong, proven leadership qualities, and someone who shares the organization’s passion for service to others.”