Judaism teaches that to save a life is to save an entire world. Muawiya Kabha, a Muslim paramedic in a response unit of United Hatzalah, did exactly that. His determination, resilience and steadfast faith, brought Shahar Kugelmas back to life. And ten years later, at her wedding to Nir David, he spoke at their marriage ceremony to thank her. Yes, to thank her! While he gave her the greatest gift possible, her life, as he so beautifully explains, she gave him his soul. Saving her life showed him the importance of his work, even when so many times, all he saw was the failures, the pain and the death. Kabha so powerfully shows how the ultimate giving is simultaneously receiving. And this is the inner meaning of the heart in Jewish Mysticism. Kabha performed CPR on Shahar for a full 40 min. after the doctor declared her dead. In CPR, one gives 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths. The Hebrew word for “heart” is “lev” which is numerically equivalent to 32. Kabha literally and figuratively gave Shahar her heart back, and in doing so, received himself the gift of a most meaningful life.
Source: United Hatzalah
