What is the ambulance number in Israel?

The national ambulance number in Israel is 101 (Magen David Adom). In Jerusalem, United Hatzalah — the volunteer rapid-response EMS service — also responds on 1221. United Hatzalah often reaches incidents faster than MDA in dense urban areas because volunteers are stationed throughout neighborhoods. Both services are free to call.

Which hospital is closest to Geulah and Romema hotels in Jerusalem?

Shaare Zedek Medical Center (Shmuel Bait St 12) is the closest major hospital to the Geulah and Romema hotel corridor. It has English-speaking staff, a kosher cafeteria and patient meals, and a Level 1 trauma department. Hadassah Ein Kerem is the primary trauma referral center but sits further southwest of the city center.

How do I reach the US Embassy in Jerusalem in an emergency?

The US Embassy Jerusalem is at 14 David Flusser Street. The main switchboard is +972-2-630-4000, which also handles after-hours emergencies for US citizens. For a lost or stolen passport, call this number first — they will direct you to the American Citizens Services unit and advise whether an emergency passport appointment is needed. File a police report before presenting at the Embassy for a replacement document.

What do I do if something is stolen in Jerusalem?

File a police report at the nearest station — this is required by most travel insurance policies for any theft claim. Police can be reached on 100. For pickpocketing or theft in a public area, also note the exact location and time; Israeli police are cooperative with tourists. Keep a copy of the report number for your insurance submission.

Jerusalem Emergency Contacts (Hatzolah, ER)

Emergency Numbers

Tap any number to dial directly from your phone.

100

Police

Israel National Police

101

Magen David Adom

National ambulance service

1221

United Hatzalah

Volunteer EMS — often first on scene

102

Fire Department

Israel Fire & Rescue

United Hatzalah (Ichud Hatzalah) deploys ambucycles throughout the Geulah–Romema–Mea Shearim corridor and typically arrives within 3 minutes; reach them on 1221. They triage and stabilize while MDA transports to hospital.

Hospitals Near Central Jerusalem

Sorted by proximity to the Geulah–Romema hotel corridor where JRM families typically stay.

Shaare Zedek Medical Center

Shmuel Bait St 12, Jerusalem

Closest to JRM hotels

✓ English-speaking staff throughout ER and wards
✓ Kosher food — cafeteria and patient meals are fully kosher
✓ Level 1 trauma, full ICU, pediatric ER
✓ ~10-minute drive from Geulah / Romema

Hadassah Ein Kerem

Kalman Ya'akov Mann St, Jerusalem (Ein Kerem)

✓ Major academic medical center — highest-level trauma referral
✓ Specialized departments: neurology, cardiology, oncology, NICU
↳ Further from city center (~20 min from Geulah); MDA/Hatzolah will route you appropriately

Hadassah Mount Scopus

Hadassah Medical Center Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem

✓ Full-service hospital serving north Jerusalem and beyond
✓ Strong orthopedics and general surgery
↳ North of the city — primarily relevant if staying in French Hill, Ramat Eshkol, or Sanhedria

Pharmacies

For non-emergency medication and first-aid supplies.

Super-Pharm

Multiple locations throughout Jerusalem — major chains on Jaffa Road, Malcha Mall, Geulah area

✓ English-speaking pharmacists at most city-center locations
✓ Full OTC inventory: pain relief, wound care, infant supplies
⚠ Closed Friday afternoon through Motzaei Shabbos

Prescription Medications from Abroad

Israeli pharmacies cannot fill a foreign prescription — only a prescription written by an Israeli-licensed doctor can be dispensed. An English-speaking private or tourist clinic can see you and write a valid Israeli prescription; bring the original packaging (medication name, dosage, prescribing physician) so the doctor can match it quickly.

Controlled substances always require a local Israeli prescription. Bring an adequate supply of any critical medication from home — do not count on being able to refill abroad.

US Embassy Jerusalem

For US citizens — passport emergencies, citizen welfare, and consular assistance.

Address

14 David Flusser Street, Jerusalem

Main switchboard (also after-hours emergencies)

+972-2-630-4000

After-hours: same number — press the option for American Citizens Services emergency line

Lost or stolen passport

File police report (keep the report number)
Call Embassy on +972-2-630-4000
Request emergency passport appointment
Bring: police report, 2 passport photos, proof of travel

Non-US citizens: Contact your own country's embassy. Most European, Canadian, Australian, and South African embassies have 24-hour emergency lines for citizens abroad. Save your embassy number before you travel. Two of the most common for JRM families:

British nationals — British Embassy Tel Aviv
24/7 consular emergency line: +972-3-725-1222 (192 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv). The same number handles routine and after-hours emergencies.
Canadian citizens — Embassy of Canada to Israel
Embassy (Tel Aviv): +972-3-636-3300. For 24/7 emergencies you can also reach Global Affairs Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1-613-996-8885.

Lost & Stolen Items

Lost on Public Transit

Egged bus lost & found
Call Egged customer service or inquire at the central bus station (Tachana Merkazit)
Jerusalem light rail lost & found
Contact CityPass at the Yitzhak Navon station customer service desk or call the light rail helpline
Items are typically held for 30 days. Retrieve within 48 hours if possible — turnover is fast.

Stolen Items

Call police on 100 or visit the nearest station
File a formal written report — required for all insurance claims
Request a copy of the report in English if possible, or have the report number noted
For passport theft: also contact US Embassy immediately after filing the police report

Dental Emergencies

Walk-in dental care with English-speaking staff is available in Jerusalem for urgent cases.

K&J Dental Care Clinic

02-625-0870

29 Keren HaYesod Street, Jerusalem (city center, near the German Colony / Talbieh edge) — English-speaking emergency dental care

✓ Open daily until 10:00 PM, including Motzaei Shabbos and Chol HaMoed; Friday until Shabbos begins
✓ Treats tourists and visitors — no Israeli health insurance required; pay at time of treatment
✓ Prioritizes patients in severe pain and aims for same-day emergency slots — call ahead

Dr. Ari Greenspan

02-679-8040

Jerusalem — English-speaking dentist offering emergency dental first aid (practicing since 1988)

✓ Handles acute pain, broken teeth, lost fillings and crowns
✓ Call ahead to confirm availability for same-day emergency care

Before you go: Phone first to confirm current hours and that an emergency slot is available — clinic hours change, and Shabbos and Yom Tov fall outside normal opening times. Your hotel front desk can also point you to the nearest English-friendly clinic in your neighborhood.

JRM Hotels Emergency Protocol

For families booked through JRM Hotels.

Any Emergency — Weekday

✓ Call your trip coordinator directly — number provided in your pre-arrival brief
✓ Your coordinator can liaise with hotel management, arrange transport, and help navigate the local system in real time

Shabbos Partner Protocol

✓ JRM-booked families receive a Shabbos partner — a local contact reachable for halachic emergencies on Shabbos
✓ For pikuach nefesh situations: call Hatzolah 1221 first, always — no hesitation
✓ For non-urgent Shabbos questions: Shabbos partner details in your pre-arrival brief

Reminder: Save this page to your phone home screen before you travel. In an emergency, your cellular data may be slow or your signal weak — an offline-accessible page is faster than searching.

iPhone: tap Share → Add to Home Screen
Android: tap the browser menu → Add to Home Screen

Emergency contacts in Jerusalem, save this page.