Queens, NY – Just Before Holidays, Rabbis Take Combat Shooting Course at Synagogue

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    L-R Rabbi David Algaze, spiritual leader of Havurat Israel Synagogue Queens and CSA student Pastor Ken Pagano, spiritual leader Temple Beth El Church Kentucky, former USA marine, NRA Handgun Instructor Rabbinic Intern Shimon Rosenberg of Nefesh Breeah Synagogue NJ/PA, electronic security expert/7th Degree Black Belt David Goldenberg, Judaica Student - Westchester county- former NYC police/weapons trainer/martial arts instructor Rabbi Gary Moskowitz, Rabbinic Faculty Mishpat Tzedek Seminary, former NYC Police Officer/Trainer and in Israel 	Counter terror trainer, Combat Shooting and Apprehension founder/7th Deg. Black Belt Karate/Ju-Jitsu Rev. Dr. Michael Willet (not visible in photo) well known lecturer, 10th Degree Black Belt and Security expertQueens, NY – A group of religious leaders took the Combat Shooting and Apprehension First Responder Course at a synagogue in Queens, N.Y.

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    The100-hour course trains spiritual and lay leaders to be prepared for an emergency at synagogues and other places of worship.

    “These are people who are spiritual, who care about people, who are very concerned. Our job is to protect our congregations,” said Rabbi Gary Moskowitz, founder of the program.
    They call themselves The International Security Coalition of Clergy.

    But you can think of them as The God Squad — armed rabbis and priests ready to leap from the bimah, or the pulpit, to tackle and kill terrorists.

    Rabbi Moscowitz, 52, a fast-talking martial arts instructor and former New York police officer, who says he can transform the average synagoguegoer into a fighting machine, trained in unarmed combat and weapons.

    “Jews are not like Christians,” he says. “If we turn our cheek, we are spinning around to make a kick.”
    We’re not like Christians, if we turn the other cheek we are spinning round

    He launched the Tzedek Task Force on Counter Terrorism in 1997. Since then, he has issued dire warnings of Muslim extremists, foreign and domestic, intent on killing American Jews.

    He says that few people took him seriously until earlier this year, when the FBI arrested a four-man terrorist cell plotting to blow up two synagogues, in Riverdale, in the Bronx, and to shoot down a plane.

    “After Riverdale my phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” he said. To guard against future attacks, he has launched a 100-hour course in what he calls “Combat Shooting and Apprehension”.

    “Clergy must protect their flock from both spiritual and mortal dangers. This group of religious leaders is the sheepdogs and shepherds for the sheep they lead,” he wrote in a press release.

    Rabbi Moscowitz is also calling for synagogues and centres to purchase bullet-proof tables so they can be utilised as cover, “and bullet proof windows to prevent further injuries in case of terror attacks with guns and bombs.”

    Since individuals in the UK cannot carry handguns, he says that he can teach Brits how to throw pool balls or heavy rocks — which “can be deadly”.

    Meanwhile, Rabbi Moscowitz is pushing for a new law that would allow at least five trained people in every synagogue and Jewish day school in New York State to carry a gun.

    He says the New York Police Department is unqualified to guard synagogues or schools because officers do not recognise strangers in the community, they are not trained to shoot moving targets and they are unfit.

    “Look around the police department,” he says. “These guys can’t run a half mile. They’re nebachs.”


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    64 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Wow that’s one group of dangers rabbis!!!

    chacham levy
    chacham levy
    14 years ago

    “I’m Hashem lo yishmor eer! Shov shokad shomer”! B’tach ba’hashem v’aseh tov- will be TOV iyh!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Holy war.
    Try to imagine my rabbi with his shtrimel lulev and a gun.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Instead of doing tshuvah or saying tehilim, our rabbonim are taking combat training courses before yom tov…azoy this is wonderful news and sets a great example for klal yisroel.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This is very smart idea. Rabbis and yeshiva educators need to be proactive and ready to be first line defenders in case we ever see a Russian Beslan type scenario. It does not hurt to have groups of people that can try to protect and know how to do it right.

    dov
    dov
    14 years ago

    rabbonim with guns? and on yom tov? take a karate or krav maga class instead

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    if we have to rely on our rabbis to protect us from a potential terror attack c’v, then we are all in bad shape. considering the amount of training the terrorist get. May God protect us all and take us all home to E. Yisroel now, please.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    B”H
    elchonon r u serious? packing heat with heter on shabbos and yom tov?
    no eruv needed for yom tov….

    Allan
    Allan
    14 years ago

    It’s at times like this that I miss the late and great Rabbi Meir Kahane more than ever. He was a visonery that understood the realities of the world and the need for Jews to be self defensive. Prayer is beautiful but doesn’t always seem to work. Every Jew with a .22 or even more may just do the trick when it comes to self defense of ones community. As poster # 7 states a bunch of yidden standing near or outside a shul is a very tempting target for those bent on bring terror to our front doors. The law doesn’t even need to be broken…permits to carry can be obtained to carry concealed weapons and if I am correct non concealed larger weapons can be carried if registered here in NY. To all those that may object on religious grounds or the anti gun folks which would you rather have …the saving of Jewish lives if needed or the shedding of Jewish blood?

    josh
    josh
    14 years ago

    no problem with the concept.. but let me point out that one is not suppose to enter a bait kenesset with a weapon unless it is covered…I learned in Hesder yeshiva and when students that were in the army would come an visit thatwere not allowed to enter the bais medrash for this reason. Even yomim noraim when a number of people were armed for security resons the Uzi machine guns were kept in a gym bag they were not uncovered… so I object to the photo it is not true to the spirt of what a beit kenesset is all about …prayering and peace !!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    1) A Combat Shooting and Apprehension First Responder Course does not mean that the rabbis are arming up coming to shul in flak jacket looking like a zz top+ rambo= rabbi. It just means they are receiving training on how to respond in a high stress situation where their congregations and themselves are threatened.
    2) It is extremely important to have a person in a position of authority knowing how to react, in times of extreme stress people look to their leaders for guidance , rallying around a stable point amid the chaos.
    3) In response to #5 and #7 we find by yaakov avinu we must prepare for all eventualities “hamachneh hanishar lifleitah” .Yes, it is sad that this is the reality we live in, it differs greatly from “status quo “of three years ago yet we have to face the music and adjust to our current reality. (IY”H may it change quickly for the better)
    Chelkas Yaakov ( Rav Yaacov Breisch z”tzl) holds a very lenient view that in a case of necessity (“ais sakana”), a weapon may be worn (but not carried by hand) by either a soldier or citizen. His reasoning is that if it would be a prohibited action one would be forced to stay in his home and be unable to attend prayer services in the synagogue with a quorum as is preferable to praying alone.
    Rav Shlomo Goren z”tzl ruled that in an “ais sakana” we may go armed on shabbos and yom tov.
    !!!!each person needs to ask their rabbi if this is situation is considered such!!!!

    I.J.
    I.J.
    14 years ago

    Dear #7 Elchonon: CHAZAK CHAZAK V’EMATZ! If you are for real, there is HOPE for KLAL YISROEL. May all readers of this site take heart! Let us follow Elchonon’s excellent example with gladness & seriousness & the strength to protect and defend ourselves, our families, our communities.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Remember # 16 the power of tefila is its as capabable from a remote location as it is on scene.
    One need not be on the front line to pray and succeed.
    Thanks to tefila the god given power and weapon of the jews.
    “Becharbi ubekashti”
    (See commentary to those words.)
    We as a nation have thwarted many attacks and have been saved from harm.
    Do not under estimate the potency of the jews secret weapon.
    For non jews while their prayers are heard they rely on their physical migjt to a greater extent.
    Had they shown a picture of rabbis with a full house doing “teshuva tefila tzedaka” we could be certain that the “roa hagezaira” would be removed.
    Now that they show hanging tzitzit with a crouched rabbi its pretty iffy.
    Stick with the tried and proven. Better chance of success.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    By halacha every shul must have a few members of the cong. And community With Elite training in weapons and explosives, following this trend may save many many lives, Pertze Kora Lganev, if there are well trained armed members in each community who know how to defend their congrats in case of an attack the attack will probably not happen in the first case.
    For those who call this behavior on-jewish please look in the Mechaber in Hilchos shabbos re: carrying weapons back from a war, and this is not in the time of the bies hamikdosh since he’s referring to an occasion that the town was run over by Pirates Etc.

    thunderbird
    thunderbird
    14 years ago

    Many years ago,when crime was rampant in NYC, i received a heter to carry a pistol [for which I had a carry permit] to carry a pistol on Shabbos as long as the eruv was good. This P’sach was given to me by one of the most recognized poskim of our generation. I still carry my pistol when going to and from Shul. It’ not a mitzvah to be a victim.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    How dos one obtain a carriers permit here in NYC?
    I know its easier upstate, however here in the City its close to immposible.
    Anyone cares to enlighten?

    Monsey Man
    Monsey Man
    14 years ago

    Oh this is precious…..most of them completely fail at the jobs they are being paid to do, and now they are being given guns. G-d help us.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Looks like a few here have NYC carriers permits.
    Can anyone please share how you can get one when you can’t produce receipts from a bank that you carry lots of cash ETC.

    I’m licensed upstate, however when entering the City I’m supposed to seperate the bullets & lock it up seperatly.

    Can someone advise how we can obtain a permit to carry a conceald?

    Eliahu
    Eliahu
    14 years ago

    Let police and army do their job……..if rabbis start to carry firearms….whats next………large families should get tanks instead of minivans……..they really will atract more violence like that………

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    reply to #26
    you made 3 points , that you truly care is apparent. but it seems that some clarity is warranted so confusion doesnt prevail.

    the respectful rebuttal in my opinion is,

    just as a parent can pray for a child at war even though they arent near them,yet they are feeling ,caring and praying intently for their child.
    so each jew can and should pray for their brethern who are in any form of danger.

    “acheinu kol beis yirael hanesunim ….” just walk into any yeshiva/shul when they are davening at a time of sakannah for yidden where ever they may be . russia, iran,japan,israel,america,argentina,…. the genuine caring,cries,and pain are capable of piercing and penetrating the heavens. and they do!

    no need for them to leave a shul or yeshiva to be effective.

    to the second point, i sure would rather have tehilim in my mouth than a nazi next to me.
    when the end is near and i will face my creator momentarily. i’d rather focus on preparing myself for eternity than worry about a nazi dying.
    let god deal with them.
    (there were those that fought the nazi beasts, and sure if we prepared to beat them in their game we might have fewer victims. but one must realize that overall it was decreed from above.
    the world was silent as the jews were murdered. killing a few nazis here, a few there, wouldnt have altered the big picture.

    and thirdly no question that war is required (yehoshua isnt needed as proof) plenty of proof in chumash. there is though a need for both.tefila and milchama.
    from klal yisrael different people are suited for different roles. the torah describes who is to be chosen for what. see parshas ki seitzei.
    its not the gang type of crowd that wins for us its a lethal combination of prayer,piety and righteousness.
    while its hard to believe this at face value,once you learn the sources you will have a different appreciation for tefila.
    each jew has that power, you need to train yourself ,its allot longer than the 100 hour arms course.but more powerfull guaranteed to succeed.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    #36
    youre no female and if you are you sound like a loony nut job.

    where were you that sukkos, ladies dont need a sukkah

    Jake
    Jake
    14 years ago

    Im all for it!!!
    Take your eyes out of the sand.
    The Torah itself that Yaakov Avinu Prepared in 3 Ways.
    Davening Bribe and Las But not Least TO FIGHT.
    Yes we dont fight Lchatchila but if need be We do what we have to do.

    Shmuel
    Shmuel
    14 years ago

    Dovid Hamelech (who knew a bit about sayng tehilim as well as fighting) says “rom’mos Keil b’gronam v’cherev pipiyos b’yadam” both are important – HKBH wants us to do our hishtadlus as well. Obviously the photograph is a little bit juiced up for shock effect. Rabbi Algaze, who I’ve known for many years is a sober individual, extraordinarily physically fit and a dynamic leader. It makes perfect sense for one of his “caliber” to be on the first line of the defense of his chabura.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    OMG look at the photo people!! Anyone that knows basics about gun safety will see elementary violations in how they’re using weapons in the photo op. Whoever is their instructor should be fired because these fools are ripping the rabbis off and not teaching them proper stance, sight alignment, and most important FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER. Good idea to get trained, but please don’t hire hollywood rambos

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I never knew that there is so much violance around shulls..

    yes, at the high holidays and sometimes on Saturday there is some ascilated police presence.. but I dont think that we live in such a dangerous place that more is nedeed..

    if you think other wise, then take guards… its easier and more respectfull.. (just as the President doesnt train for self defence, so shouldnt a Rabbi.. or maybe these Rabbis were bored?? I can use a few workers..)

    Neil
    Neil
    14 years ago

    Gary Moskowitz is great Jew & a man of many talents!!! We need tens of thousands more Jews just like him in the galut!!! However, aliyah to Israel is always the best way to go!!!

    joe
    joe
    14 years ago

    The Chafetz Chaim said: “It’s good to know how to shoot!”