Ronnie Cohen was a passionate supporter of Israel’s cause. He served in the 1967 Six-Day War in the IDF. Later serving in Lebanon, he then came back to Manchester, married Suzie and raised four children. He was an active member of the Whitefield Hebrew Congregation and a vociferous advocate for Israel. In a private capacity he was a staunch supporter of many friends within the community, always prepared to give wherever he could.
Magen David Adom was delighted when friends and family, led by Simon Rosenthal and Lucy Singer, decided to raise money for a new motorcycle dedicated in his name at the Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, site of the Magen David Adom Blood Centre. In her dedication speech Ronnie’s wife Suzie said that there could be no more fitting tribute to his memory than the donation of this vital piece of equipment.
The centre operates all of Israel’s blood screening services, matching and processing over 1,000 units of blood per day. The hospital is one of the top 10 leading hospitals in the world between them and guarantees to deliver safe blood to victims of war, terrorism and emergency with startling efficiency to civilians and service personnel within and beyond Israel’s borders.
The bike has been operational since April 2019 and last May, when rockets were raining down on Ashdod and the surrounding area, it was used more than half a dozen times in one weekend. Overall it has been called out over 300 times already.
Cousins of Ronnie and founders of MDA Manchester Lucille and Sydney Cohen, who were present at the dedication said of Ronnie: “He was the quintessential Zionist. Passionate about Israel’s defence and the protection of its people he was both warm hearted and brave as well as strong and vibrant.”