Saving lives and ensuring the proper burial of Jews and non-Jews alike in tension-filled Israel is the goal of a group of volunteers called ZAKA, said the group’s leader Monday.

Founded in 1995, ZAKA is a “wholly volunteer organization” that serves as a first responder to terrorist attacks and other tragedies in Israel, said founder Yaakov Uri, who spoke to nearly 40 people in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union.

The group was founded to ensure all victims who die from a terrorist attack or from other unnatural causes are identified and receive a proper burial. Uri said the group has expanded its duties to help treat victims and save lives. ZAKA has about 700 volunteer members.

In the event of a terrorist attack or tragedy, ZAKA volunteers use motorcycles to reach victims. The motorcycles allow easy maneuverability, Uri said.

The idea for using motorcycles came to Uri following a bus bombing in Tel Aviv seven years ago. Uri, who at the time worked at a pizza restaurant in Israel, said his company used motorcycles to deliver pizzas. “The only way to get a hot pizza to you is by motorcycle,” he said.

Uri said that is how he got the idea to “make the pizza box the ambulance.” He said there are “four golden minutes between life and death,” and ambulances can not reach the scene within those four minutes.

Uri illustrated the benefits of using motorcycles with an example of a bombing that occurred six months ago at one of Jerusalem’s busiest markets. A suicide bomber killed six people, but ZAKA “saved hundreds of lives,” Uri said. “Many more would have died if they had to wait for ambulances.”

In accordance with its founding principles, Uri said a group of about seven volunteers traveled to New York following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to help search for victims. Uri said there is a large difference in how America and Israel respond to large-scale tragedies.

“In the World Trade Center attacks, [look] how important it was to get all [of the victims’] body parts.” In Israel, Uri said officials are not as concerned with doing that. “Body parts are thrown away [in Israel].”

He said one of ZAKA’s goals is to end that. On one occasion, Uri said the headless body of a young girl was taken to the morgue following a terrorist attack.

Uri said, “We provide services for all. There is no difference between a Jew or a non-Jew.” He said ZAKA’s willingness to treat everyone sends a “message to the world” about unity.

Prior to his speech at the Memorial Union, Uri said a Palestinian student thanked him for coming and told him he is doing important work. He said this shows how people of different religions can come together.

Along with traveling to New York in 2001, Uri said several ZAKA volunteers recently traveled to Texas to help search for the remains of the astronauts following the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia, and one volunteer is still there. Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, died in the explosion.

In the United States, there are three ZAKA offices — in Vinton, Iowa; New York; and Texas.

John Dieter, the chairman of the Iowa ZAKA office, said his goal for his office is to “get the Christian community involved in Israel.” He said he also hopes to spread word about ZAKA and the “remarkable work” the group is doing.

Dieter said he has been invited to the White House in April, where he and Uri will meet with top political figures from both the United States and Israel at a conference called “Stand For Israel.”

Jason Abendroth, junior in political science, attended Uri’s speech.

“It was interesting to get a different perspective; to hear from someone who is actually there,” he said. Abendroth called Uri’s presentation “very powerful.”

Uri said ZAKA receives funding from the Israeli government and private donations. Anyone wishing to make a donation to ZAKA can do so by contacting John Dieter at (319) 474-2596.