Bar mitzva boy dedicates ‘ambucycle’
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Bar mitzva boy dedicates ‘ambucycle’

Jared Gehn with United Hatzalah president Eli Beer and the ambucycle he dedicated.
Jared Gehn with United Hatzalah president Eli Beer and the ambucycle he dedicated.

Jared Gehn of Short Hills celebrated becoming a bar mitzva by inaugurating a new ambulance motorcycle for United Hatzalah of Israel, the volunteer emergency medical response organization, on Aug. 23 at the Haas Promenade in Jerusalem. 

The “ambucycle” was dedicated by Jared, along with his family and friends, in honor of the 67 Israeli soldiers killed during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge. It is equipped with medical supplies and GPS technology to help volunteers respond to emergencies in three minutes or less. 

Jared, the son of Beth and David Gehn, and his family are members of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, where he became bar mitzva last December. For his mitzva project, Jared raised more than $30,000 as a team leader for Amar’e Saves, a campaign launched by young fans who recruited family and friends to pledge donations for every point six-time NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire scored throughout the 2014-15 season. The initiative raised $441,318 for United Hatzalah’s emergency medical response work. 

Jared prepared a presentation about United Hatzalah and made appeals to philanthropists, businesses, and organizations to donate to the project. “I made a PowerPoint, and afterward I went to a lot of people,” he said. “They gave a lot of money, and I’m grateful.” 

“We are so impressed with Jared, who is an innovative and eager young man,” said Eli Beer, president and founder of United Hatzalah. “We wish him and his family a tremendous mazal tov on his bar mitzva, and want to bless him with much success in the years to come. We are so grateful and inspired that he has dedicated himself to helping our mission of saving lives in Israel.”

The Gehns were part of a B’nai Jeshurun bar/bat mitzva mission to Israel with dozens of friends and members of the congregation.

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