Fitting In and Finding Yourself with Retired Hatzalah CEO Yehiel Kalish
None of Your Business Podcast · Michael Greenfield & Abraham (Ushy) Schwartz
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Show Notes
What happens when an outsider is brought in to run one of the most trusted emergency organizations in the Jewish world?
In this episode of the None of Your Business Podcast, Michael sits down with Yehiel Kalish, former CEO of Hatzalah, for a raw and eye-opening conversation about leadership, pressure, and the realities behind the scenes of lifesaving work.
Yehiel shares how a political loss unexpectedly led him into the world of emergency medicine, what it was like leading Hatzalah without ever being a responder himself, and why he ultimately made the difficult decision to step down after five years.
From lightning-fast response times to the unseen emotional toll on volunteers, this episode pulls back the curtain on an organization most people only see in moments of crisis.
Together, Michael and Yehiel dive into:
• The inner workings of Hatzalah — how it’s structured, funded, and why it operates so differently from other organizations
• Response times that can be under a minute — and the pressure that comes with it • Who gets accepted into Hatzalah (and why it’s not about money or connections)
• The emotional and psychological toll on responders — and how they cope with trauma • The challenges of expanding into new communities like Lakewood and Jackson
• Women in Hatzalah — how real-life situations are handled with sensitivity and urgency • Leadership lessons from stepping into a role you’re not fully prepared for
00:00 Not A Hatzalah Guy
02:03 Outsider Perspective Matters
03:36 Podcast Intro And Retirement
04:36 How He Became CEO
16:02 Response Times And Expectations
21:50 Women Responders Protocols
28:54 Personal Background Origins
32:49 Chicago Culture Of Caring
36:19 What the Agudath Israel of America Does
38:43 Abuse Laws Defense
48:38 Agudah Camping Legacy
50:11 Leaving for Private Sector
56:21 Legislating in Office
01:06:30 Parnassa and Responsibility
01:12:46 Future Plans Lobbying
01:19:32 Health Lessons from Calls
01:28:37 Suicide and Mental Health
01:33:07 Closing and Guest Picks