On September 17, 2025, Manya Marcus spoke with Raphael Herbst, a senior paramedic with Magen David Adom (MDA) and head of its Emotional Resilience Program, at the offices of American Friends of Magen David Adom in New York City.
Raphael discusses MDA’s vital role in Israeli society—from delivering world-class emergency care across the country to leading national responses to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, terror attacks, the 12-day war with Iran, and the October 7, 2023 massacre in southern Israel.
He also highlights MDA’s technological innovations, like using WhatsApp to guide patients before medics arrive and securing blood banks as strategic national assets. Raphael shares his personal journey, including his response to a 2001 terror attack and how it inspired his commitment to fostering emotional resilience among MDA staff through peer-to-peer support.
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: “Ahavat Olam” by Elnatan and Yaakov Schwekey
More from What Came After
Subscribe to What Came After on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you receive your podcasts.