United Hatzalah’s Fitness Challenge

Eli Beer has devoted his life — and nearly given his life — to save lives in Israel and beyond through the life-saving system he developed in United Hatzalah.

But he has a challenge.

In the words of Eli’s great friend, and the United Hatzalah Chairman Mark Gerson, “Eli needs to lose weight.”

Eli agrees. However, losing weight is — for Eli as for almost everyone — easier said that’s done. But there is something that will motivate Eli to do anything and that is to strengthen United Hatzalah, and in doing so, save more lives. As Eli has often said, “without the generosity of our donors, our volunteers would be working with Band-Aides.”

A United Hatzalah lunch in Miami in early February was held at a club that also had a locker room. The locker room had a scale. Eli weighed in — at 240. Mark said that is 70 pounds too many, but accepted Eli’s admission that it is 50 pounds too much.

Consequently, Mark and Eli made a deal. Mark and his wife, Rabbi Erica Gerson, will pledge $20,000/pound for every pound that Eli loses — assuming that he loses all fifty by Rosh Hashanah (September 25) and other donors match them. Recognizing that Eli might put back on the weight, they came to another stipulation: If Eli is 190 pounds or under by Rosh Hashanah 2024, all of the donors will make the same donation.

Please join Mark and Erica in helping Eli to lose weight — and to strengthen United Hatzalah, and to save lives, simultaneously.