Behind the Scenes at Yad Sarah's Oxygen Filling Station

Benji Bension is originally from New Delhi and made Aliyah in 1974. Since retiring from a successful career in the armed forces and tech industry, he began volunteering at Yad Sarah's Oxygen Filling Station in Ra'anana. He volunteers with Yad Sarah twice a week to fill oxygen tanks, which are transported across Israel and given to those in need.

In the three months following Oct 7, Yad Sarah had allocated a year's worth of medical equipment – including oxygen generators – to address the urgent needs of civilians and soldiers affected by the Israel-Hamas war. This caused a shortage of medical equipment, which was further exacerbated due to shipping delays caused by Hezbollah strikes in the Red Sea.

To replenish the stock of medical equipment and meet the needs of the people of Israel, Yad Sarah launched Operation Breath of Life. As part of this campaign, Yad Sarah purchased and airlifted 1,000 Mobile Oxygen Generators and established Oxygen filling stations in Haifa, Jerusalem, and Ra'anana. Volunteers at each center refill oxygen cylinders and distribute them to Yad Sarah's nearby branches for residents to borrow in case of widespread blackouts due to potential strikes on Israel's power grid.

This need for oxygen in Israel is clear. At the peak of Hezbollah's attacks, the Yad Sarah branch in Haifa distributed 193 oxygen cylinders and all available portable oxygen generators in one day.

Despite the inherent risks of handling compressed oxygen canisters, Benji finds great purpose in his work. "Each canister represents a person, and that person needs this urgent care," said Benji.