Coexistence Through Breast Milk: Israel’s Shared Milk Bank Feeds Thousands of Babies
Israel's largest breast milk bank brings together Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze mothers, distributing milk gallons to infants in need, transcending religious divides.
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In the heart of Israel lies one of the world’s largest breast milk repositories, housed underground in a secure facility known as the Magen David Adom (MADA) Milk Bank. Each year, around 500 gallons of donated breast milk from mothers of all religious and ethnic backgrounds flow into this remarkable center, a true symbol of coexistence amid a complex and often divided society.
The donated milk, contributed by Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze women across Israel, is carefully tested, purified, and stored at controlled negative temperatures before being distributed to infants in need. MADA, Israel’s national rescue and emergency service, oversees the entire process, ensuring the milk reaches hospitals and babies whose mothers cannot breastfeed.
“The milk is sent from here in a cooler directly to the baby,” explained a MADA staff member, describing the meticulous care taken in handling these vital supplies.
What makes this program extraordinary is its neutrality: milk donated by a Jewish mother may nourish a Muslim infant, and vice versa. The bottles carry no identifying labels, preserving anonymity and ensuring that the act of giving transcends religious and cultural boundaries. This system fosters a unique form of solidarity, where the focus is solely on the shared humanity of feeding Israel’s youngest citizens.
Remarkably, despite ongoing war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas among other conflicts, donations have surged in waves, tripling in volume during times of war, with mothers across all faiths contributing selflessly.
“Even throughout the war, the number of women donating from all religions across Israel has tripled,” a MADA official said, highlighting the powerful unity expressed through this act.
Though anonymous, these donors share an intimate gift: nourishing babies they may never meet. In a land often marked by division, this communal effort stands as a profound testament to compassion, bridging communities through the simple, universal need for care and sustenance.