Mr. Moshu Hadaya was last seen chopping wood in his backyard in Staten Island, New York, on Sunday, February 20th. When his friend did not get a response after repeatedly trying to reach him on the following day, he went to Moshu's home to check up on him. Moshu's lifeless body was found in the backyard where he had last been seen chopping wood a day earlier.

Emergency personnel were called to the scene and unfortunately, Mr. Hadaya was pronounced dead at the age of 52. Since Mr. Hadaya lived alone, it was the obligation of the Medical Examiner to ascertain whether the deceased had a prior medical history that might have contributed to his sudden death. Local officials, on the other hand, were trying to notify a next of kin. The process turned out to be particularly challenging and the officials did not have much luck with the contacts that they reached. It was at this point that Misaskim was called in.

Misaskim dispatched a full crew to Mr. Hadaya's home. While some volunteers escorted the niftar to the Medical Examiner's office to ensure kavod hames, other volunteers remained behind at the scene. The volunteers spoke to friends and neighbors in an effort to assist in locating family members. This was important as only a next of kin can legally object to an autopsy.

Misaskim learned that the niftar had relatives in Israel. The organization reached out to Mr. Eli Beer, Director of United Hatzolah of Israel, which has thousands of volunteers scattered throughout the country, and with whom Misaskim already has an established working relationship. Mr. Beer mobilized United Hatzolah's resources. Within a short time, two relatives were located - the niftar's sister who lived in Ramat Yishay near Haifa, and an uncle in Eilat. Once the family members were notified of the circumstances surrounding Moshu's death, they directed Misaskim to two cousins in Brooklyn who took care of the paperwork rejecting an autopsy. The niftar was brought to kever Yisroel the following day.

Misaskim is deeply grateful to Mr. Eli Beer and United Hatzolah for being of assistance in this situation, and in similar circumstances in the past. "Our working relationship with United Hatzolah proves to be a valuable resource, particularly when we are presented with situations that involve individuals from Israel," remarked a Misaskim volunteer after the burial was over.

Misaskim and United Hatzolah are now fine-tuning a system that will enable both organizations to continue working hand-in-hand in establishing an efficient response to situations involving family of the deceased living in the United States or in Israel.