Teaneck, NJ – Orthodox Gun Club Takes On Rabbinical Organizations’ Gun Control Stance

Teaneck, NJ – A New Jersey shooting club founded to cater to Shomer Shabbos gun owners is taking on two major Jewish institutions in its quest to have gun ownership gain greater acceptance in the Orthodox world.

Golani Rifle and Pistol Club was founded in 2003 to give both those looking for an extra measure of protection and those who enjoy shooting for sport the ability to hone their marksmanship skills as well as an opportunity to take part in gun club events, typically held on Shabbos.

Golani, located is in Teaneck, has over 50 members throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and serves only strictly kosher food at all events and its annual tzedaka fundraiser.

Golani, whose stated mission is “promoting responsible use and ownership of firearms for the Jewish community,” is frustrated by the positions of both the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America on gun control.

A five page statement released by Golani on September 15th bearing the signatures of 12 rabbis from all across the United States slammed both groups for their published views on gun ownership. The OU expressed its support in April 2013 for federal legislation aimed at preventing gun violence, urging elected officials in Washington to pass proposed legislation that would ban assault weapons and enact other measures to assure greater safety in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut school massacre.

In its most recent resolution on gun violence in America, dated July 2014, the RCA said that it condoned gun ownership only in cases of self defense, favored restricting easy access to weapons and ammunition and that it discouraged any gun usage for sport or recreational purposes.

Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, rabbi of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck was one of the rabbis who signed the Golani statement. A number of Rabbi Pruzansky’s congregants are Golani members and he considers himself to be an honorary Golani member. Rabbi Pruzansky, a member of the RCA, criticized both organizations for issued statements that were rife with ambiguity.

“A resolution decrying gun violence is irrelevant,” Rabbi Pruzansky told VIN News. “Everyone is against gun violence. While the RCA’s statement made some conciliatory statements towards gun ownership it was widely perceived as hostile towards Jewish gun owners.”

Rabbi Pruzansky noted that only ten percent of the RCA’s members voted on the gun violence resolution, saying that most members either abstained or voted against the measure.

The OU’s stance on gun control focuses on what director of public policy Nathan Diament calls “common sense gun safety legislation.”

Matters of policy at the OU on issues like gun control are developed through input received at the organization’s conventions, which are held every two years. The next convention is scheduled for the last weekend in December.

“In a certain sense it is an open process,” explained Diament. “People from our member shuls are able to come to the convention and propose resolutions. On issues like this where this a diversity of rabbinic opinions, there is more of an open process, where people who are constituents of the OU are able to influence potential policies.”

Golani member Josh Levy, a Teaneck father of three, said that the club offers a unique opportunity for Shomer Shabbos people to receive proper gun training.

“We’re not pushing any particular line and we don’t have any particular stand apart from Jews and any other people should be able to learn how to use a gun if they want to,” said Levy. “It is a relaxed environment where anyone of any background can get training or simply learn a little more about shooting and self-defense.

We want everyone to be prepared to do whatever they feel comfortable doing should they be attacked. We want people to be prepared to defend themselves, their families and their communities in a sober and prudent manner that is consistent with Torah law.”

Noting that extreme vigilance is clearly required when handling firearms of any sort, Levy commented that safety is obviously of paramount importance, but that when handled properly, guns can literally be lifesavers.

“We should be very careful with guns but Jews are a careful people,” remarked Levy. “Any reasonable adult could learn to do this safely. Knives, hammers, chainsaws, they are all dangerous things we use but when used properly they are fine. Guns are portrayed as instruments of murder but they can be instruments of protection, especially for those of us who are weaker when it comes to protecting ourselves against dangerous men. Guns are equalizers: they allow a 40 year old office worker like myself to defend myself successfully against three felons.”

Levy argued that the RCA’s position on gun control runs counter to the biblical commandment to defend oneself against an attacker, a point that he feels both the RCA and the OU ignored in their respective resolutions.

“They really didn’t consider anything like the full range of Jewish history,” said Levy noting that both Chanukah and Purim celebrate Jewish military victories.

“They went ahead and advocated for greater restrictions based on a narrow and selective view of what Judaism teaches. I think that it is important for people to know that any adult Jewish man or woman is fully capable of teaching him or herself the basics of shooting and self defense. Obviously regular practice is encouraged, but this is a skill that can be acquired like any other basic life skill, like cooking or driving.”

Rabbi Barry Kornblau of the RCA noted the organization’s disapproval of gun usage as expressed in its most recent resolution, extended only to those who use guns for recreational purposes.

“In addition to halachic and legal issues, the resolution also addresses religious, moral, and cultural concerns,” said Rabbi Kornblau. “It describes weapons as a ‘necessary evil’ before the coming of the Messiah, and rejects activities which desensitize individuals to the deadly seriousness of war, killing, physical violence, and weapons. It protests the parts of ‘American culture which glorify’ weaponry.”

Levy criticized the RCA for quoting Tanach in its resolution in an effort to lend halachic weight to its views.

“What was particularly disturbing was the use of the a couple of selective passages from Jewish text to endorse a single position that favored disarmament when in fact, there is no solid basis in Judaism whatsoever for advocating for gun bans and discouraging Jews from owning guns,” said Levy. “With Israel and America both under attack, this was exactly the wrong thing to say and completely unrepresentative of a very rich commentary on the subject in Judaism.”

Online:
http://golanirpc.com/