Simcha Greiniman, a veteran ZAKA volunteer, shared harrowing experiences from his three decades of service, reflecting on the unimaginable scenes following the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel. "I have dealt with blown-up buses, restaurants, hotels, and butchered synagogues, but seeing hundreds of bodies at a rave laying in a field... you can't ever train yourself to be ready for that," he said.
Greiniman recounted walking into rooms soaked in blood with no signs of gunfire or explosions. "Hamas terrorists didn't use a gun to kill their victims; they used an axe to chop them into pieces," he explained. The massacre left 1,200 Israelis dead, and 800 ZAKA volunteers have been working tirelessly to recover their remains. "I am there every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., ensuring families can properly mourn their loved ones," he added.
Founded in 1995, ZAKA specializes in responding to unnatural deaths, working alongside emergency and security services. With over 3,000 volunteers, ZAKA operates 24/7 and addresses terror attacks, accidents, and natural disasters. Greiniman, a volunteer for 32 years, oversees Chesed Shel Emes, the mitzvah of honouring the dead by ensuring their proper burial.
As mandated in Jewish tradition, he emphasized the importance of recovering even the tiniest fragments of remains. As a member of ZAKA International, Greiniman has assisted in disaster response efforts worldwide, including in Haiti, India, Turkey, and Morocco, and after the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City.
The events of Oct. 7 hit incredibly close to home for Greiniman. "This time, it happened in our backyard. Hundreds of people who supported Palestinians were massacred in their homes," he noted. He described the poignant scene of a birthday cake left uneaten in a house where its residents had been brutally killed. "We didn't come to eat cake; we came to take care of bodies," he reflected.
In one house, he found the charred remains of a family huddled together in a safe room. "At the top, there were three adult-sized skulls, and at the bottom, two small skulls attached. They were burnt to death while hugging each other," he recounted. In another instance, he uncovered the remains of a child beneath cement rubble, with evidence of horrifying violence. "Every house has a story," he said.
The meticulous process of collecting remains, often involving DNA testing, can take up to 18 hours for a single location. Despite years of experience, Greiniman confessed, "Nothing prepares you for it." He referred specifically to the Supernova Music Festival, where 360 people were slaughtered. He also expressed his shock at those denying Hamas's crimes, attributing such denial to antisemitism. He spoke at the United Nations in December to counter this, presenting evidence of the atrocities.
ZAKA has begun documenting scenes to combat denial while respecting the dignity of the deceased. Yet, challenges remain immense. Burned bodies often lack bone marrow or teeth for DNA testing, requiring samples to be sent to the U.S. for identification.
Greiniman emphasized the emotional weight of the work: "You can't give up. Families can't carry on living without knowing what happened to their loved ones. " ZAKA's commitment to bringing closure to families and honouring the deceased underscores its critical role in supporting the Jewish community worldwide.
Israel Magen Fund of Canada is the official partner of ZAKA Search & Rescue in Canada.
Originally posted by Amelie Botbol from the Jewish News Service.