By day, Hillel Neuhaus is a hardworking senior at Boys Town Jerusalem majoring in Information and Communications Technology, and a key member of the school’s prizewinning Robotics team. By late- afternoon and night, Hillel is a lifesaving volunteer fireman, meeting danger face to face.
Hillel started volunteering in 10th grade
After a long school day, he contributes 20-30 hours weekly to firefighting. “I’d never seen a fire before I began volunteering from Grade 10 through Boys Town Jerusalem’s Community Service program,” Hillel admits. “I was drawn to firefighting by wanting to help protect Nature.”
After completing a preparatory course, Hillel started rescuing civilians (and pets) trapped in cars or buildings, in conjunction with the fire department and police. “I first began fighting fires as a backup for veteran firemen, but soon became one of the team,” he notes proudly. “I’ve fought major fires ever since.”
Hillel has trained others to be a firefighter
As older volunteers joined the Israeli Defense Forces, Hillel advanced to take charge of the volunteers, and recently headed his second training course. Asked whether he is concerned about getting hurt on the job, the young firefighter admits, “In major fires, I fully concentrate on fighting the flames. Only afterwards do I let myself think about what really happened here.”
It isn’t always easy to fight fires and be a student
Hillel confesses that at the start, his passion for volunteer firefighting took its toll on his BTJ studies. “Fortunately, my teachers worked with me to make up what I missed and to keep on track,” he says gratefully. Now, as graduation approaches, Hillel has been tapped to serve in the elite, acclaimed IDF Oketz Canine Special Forces unit using specially-trained dogs for missions in counter-terrorism and search and rescue. At a recent BTJ event saluting student volunteers, Hillel Neuhaus was honored for his outstanding accomplishments, to a standing ovation by the entire school.