By Aryeh Levin, COLlive reporter
Ever since the brutal massacre at Chabad of Mumbai in November 2008, the importance of security has been on the minds of many Chabad Shluchim in practically most countries in the world.
Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch formed a security commission, Chabad Houses installed security cameras, and the location of Mumbai’s reopened Chabad House remains a secret.
While the extent of the security measures is in question – due to lack of funding and the risk of alienating potential members and guests – all are in agreement of its need.
Here is where a pistol may come in handy.
“We rely on G-d and spiritual means of protection, such as tzedakah and mezuzos. Yet, we need to take physical steps to protect ourselves,” says Frank Pomeranz, a member of Chabad of Venice, Florida.
When he first approached his rabbi Sholom Schmerling about wearing a gun to shul, the Shliach asked him to keep it hidden from others.
“Ideally, every Chabad House should have its own security person,” says Pomeranz, who is advocating awareness through his website ChabadSecurity.net.
He found that “some of the liberal-minded men in shul thought it was unnecessary, but soon came around to feeling more comfortable with the idea.
“It actually surprised me that Chabad women adjusted more quickly than the men to this reality,” he noted in an article for the December 2009 Nshei Chabad Newsletter.
In separate instances, two Shluchim from Tennessee and Arizona told COLlive.com that a community member offered them a fully loaded handgun for their personal safety. Both declined.
“It’s a very serious issue,” Steve Sheinberg, Director of Community Security at Anti-Defamation League (ADL), told COLlive.com when asked about rabbis carrying firearms.
“It is a question of who is most qualified, as this is a task with enormous consequences,” he said following a speech at this year’s Kinus Hashluchim in New York.
Jewish destain of weapons dates back to Esau, “blessed” to live on his sword and King David, forbidden to build the Temple “for you are a man of battles and have shed blood.”
A solution might be a program by the “International Security Coalition of Clergy” which teaches martial arts and fighting techniques to rabbis.
But a terror attack this week in Pune, which according to an Indian Minister was intended to hit the nearby Chabad center, proved that won’t be enough.
A program by Israel’s Counter Terrorism Bureau, backed by Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Merkos, will begin to train Lubavitchers April 4, 2010, COLlive.com has learned.
The 2 day course is offered free of charge to Shluchim and bochurim (Shiur Bais and Gimmel of Yeshiva Zal) who will be helping Chabad Houses over Pesach.
This is the first time Lubavitch Headquarters is encouraging such proactive action. It is not clear whether the program will be available for Shluchim elsewhere.
WAKE UP PEOPLE WHAT HAPPENED MUMBAI COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE EVERY JEW A 22.
My article, “The Need For Active Self-Defense” can be found at http://tinyurl.com/chabadsecurity as published in the N’shei Chabad Newsletter this past December.
The reporter who wrote this COLlive article mentioned that my rabbi said that I should keep my gun hidden. Of course that is a requirement for any gun owner with a concealed weapons permit. Any weapon has to be readily available since every wasted moment puts innocent lives at greater risk. Frank
every self concious person should carry a gun its a dangerous world out there without a gun ur a sitting duck
It’s wonderful to have such discourse. As the author of “The Need For Active Self-Defense” published in the December 2009 issue of the N’shei Chabad Newsletter and the ChabadSecurity.net website, I have long thought that Chabad centers would be a lightening rod because of our outreach philosophy. I also agree that there is a need in our centers and special events for martial arts, concealed handguns and shotguns (with the proper ammunition) in addition to other non-leathal weapons. We only get one opportunity to defend ourselves, and B”H we have to stand strong together. I have enjoyed reading all of… Read more »
teenagers farbrang by r dalfin volume 2 or 3 under self defense
stop trying to do everything you can to count on everyone but yourself to protect you [email protected]
what is the source for this ‘fact’ ?
Jew’s don’t “disdain” weapons any more than they disdain kitchen knives; it all a matter of what they’re used for.
I am all for self defense. However, a hand gun will do absolutely nothing in case of armed attack. As it has been proved many times a hand gun is not even helpful in case of home burglary, it is recommended to have a shot gun. Not sure about details but it has something to do with sociology and people are not being able to shut hand gun versus shot gone.
So, are we prepared to have shot guns in chabad houses? And if yes, it will take month of ongoing training, not two days.
shluchim have every right to protect themselves and families!
I am a Shliach and I proudly carry my Ruger LCP!! pistol!! it so small its a mechaya.. no one has to ever know .. may we never need to use it!! AMen
http://www.ruger.com/products/lcp/features.html
I am one of the people running [email protected] I just want to make it very clear we have no connection to the JDO and any other org of its kind we are a 100% independent and just want to help people get in contact with top of the line trainers and depending where you live Gun training looking forward to helping feel free to contact us with your Questions
its not that that the muggings wont be affective because we carry guns, rather if the word gets out that every other jewish home has a gun and alot of jewish men carry around guns…….. the 71st precinct will be out of business so fast that the crown heights branch of dunkon doughnut will lose 95% of their costumers in a month
I think that Dick Cheney should give “shiurim” on aiming and proper handling – to ensure that “accidents” don’t happen!
2009 has been the most anti semitic ear since the holocaust. 2010 has so far been even worse. Accordig to history ts boud to happen again. lets not flock like sheep to the gas chambers this time round!
email chprotection@gmail or go to jewishdefense.org today
The Rebbe Rayatz carried a gun. It’s a fact!!
#18,
because im in florida and your in new york.. its VERY hard to get a gun for the house in ny..impossible to get a carry permit.. thats what voting for democrats get’s you.
#19,
Your just spewing typical liberal garbage.. Most armed average citizens I know can shoot better than the cops..it was armed civilians that stopped terror attacks in israel the last 20 years.. and in the USA too..
By mumbai, everyone was dead by the time the army came.. how can you judge ?!?
Wake up people….Mumbai is just the beginning.
The fact is that Chabad is on the list for terrorists to hit. Recently, last year the Muslim world falsely fabricated that Chabad is responsible for the deaths of Arabs in Gaza. Chabad was accused of financially supporting the Israeli army and Chabad was blamed for the killings of Palestinians in Gaza last year. 770, Montreal Yeshivah, etc. have had threats from Hamas & other extreme groups during the Gaza intifada last year. Make no mistake….we’re not immune.
Every Shliach should have a gun!
you keep knifes poison car keys and matches at home why not a gun .
In properly trained hands guns save hundreds of life’s every year . I personally have been training in martial arts and firearms use for several years thanks to which I am still around .
remember Dovid hamelech who knew a thing or 2 about Tihilim and Torah was also proficient in the use of the sword shield and bow. if you have any ?s about doing your hishtadlus feel free to email me at [email protected]
Heres a real website about Jewish Defence http://www.jewishdefense.org
In my state guns laws make it possible for law abiding citizens to purchase and carry (concealed) arms. I own a pistol although I don’t carry it since I am not adequately trained. Nevertheless, I’d rather know it’s available in my house should the need arise. A fellow shalich with whom I work carries concealed and you’d never know it by looking at him.
what is very common for some shuls in israel is to have a safe/room with an arsenal of tactical weapons and lots of ammo. have a team of as many people willing to get proper training to be ready if anything should ever happen in shul they would all be armed and ready to defend the entire kehila in a matter of seconds. lets see terrorists try to attack shulls with that kind of security!! people should be armed at all times but dont need to be. every shull in america should have this kind of security. we can not… Read more »
i think its imp. 4 shluchim to have a gun there has been too much going on 4 them not to get one!
it is impossible for a normal citizen in NYC to get a gun carry permit w/out major government connections and $$.
The only citizens (not law-enforcement/security) with carry permits in NYC are people who need it for business (like some diamond dealers) and even those business permits come with enormous restrictions.
Your $600 isn’t going to take you too far, I’m afraid.
No Need For costly Din Torah’s!!!!!!!!!
carry guns!???!! first, in order for this to be a drop effective it would mean the pistol will have to be loaded the risk of there being an accident of accidental killing is so real that if evrey chabad rabbi carried one its only a matter of time before there is a death by accident. 2. even in Bombay if there was a gun at hand and was able to kill the first attacker (chances of being able to be that ready would mean training to perfection something only a navy seal can master, after all hundreds of police are… Read more »
Why are you able to carry legally but you say I wouldn’t get a license? Is that because I’m not in law enforcement?
Thanks,
signed #1
PS I’d like some tips on getting a license. And i don’t just want one in the house! I really want protection when I go out. Daylight muggings are not unusual any more round here.
chabad shluchim are NOT targets! Jews as a whole are the target today look at the statistics, not even 1% of the anti Semitic violence against jews is on chabad! chabad in mumbai was only hit because that was the central jewish center. if it was hillel or a secular jewish group – the terrorist would have striked too. i have personally spoken to an f.b.i. official and he confirmed this and to comment #3 who said this is “advertising that every chabad house is a target”: did you forget mumbai? even 20 articles about the need for security in… Read more »
#12 the hat goes on your head ;.)
#13, and so? Rabbi Dani Cohen in chevron has ke’h 5 boys and 2 guns and they dont touch..
Or you just lock it away..
To have bitochon in hashem-that He will protect us/help us is more than just believing.
When a person is sick, we daven to Hashem, but we also go to the doctor-we have to do our part
you cannot expect to win the lottery if you dont buy a ticket.
Hence when shluchim are targets, we can daven to Hashem to protect them, but they have to do their part by either learning to use a gun or hiring security.
Proud Lubavitcher. NRA member. Gun owner. Trained in self defense. In todays day and age, to not have the above under your belt should be against Halacha. Given all the things happening in the jewish world at large for years, and the current events at Chabad houses around the world, it is imperitive that every Shliach be trained and own a firearm. Just as he is saving jewish souls, so should he be able to save jewish bodies. For further info how to go about any of this email.
the applications for shluchim will have risen by 200% by 2011
Most Shluchim have young children therefor it is not a good idea to have guns.
Go hand in hand Just ask Elchonon #7
Plenty of shluchim here in Israel have guns.
As it says in the gemora in mesechta berochos,”If one comes to kill you,kill him first!!!
shluchim r not suppose to be scared of anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shluchim – no
mekuravim – yes
a rabbi should not have a weapon – it does not match his image and might undermind his position as a spiritual leader
on the other hand, having a mekurav (member of a chabad house or shul) carry a gun is a must in my opinion
this is real. the most real it can be.
Shluchim in Europe and Israel who would like to join email: [email protected]
I carry a gun concealed legally and so do many others in this community.
#1 you’ll never get a carry license in NY
And yes shluchim should carry or at least keep a gun in their shtender
Oh great! Now the meshichistim and antis will be armed!!
I live in CH. I own a firearm and I’ve taken my kids out to the range numerous times. In fact, I trust my kids with a handgun more than I would trust half of the NYPD!! Everyone who feels that they can safely keep a firearm should get one.
this is insane we are now advertising that everey chabad house is a target ,which normal family in the us will come to a chabad house if this needs to be done please do this quietly!!!!
Many Jews think of guns as “un-Jewish”, but when you think about it, back in Europe, the only reason Jews didn’t carry guns to defend themselves with was because they weren’t allowed to. While I am nervous about having guns because I have children in the house, I am in priciple all for Jews defending themselves. I don’t think we need to get all excited about it and be like collectors who have mini arsenals in their homes – but a discreet handgun with proper safety precautions and training, why not?
I want to carry a gun. I’ve used one. I’m a CH mother. When I’ve got $600 to spare I’ll apply for a license, unless someone wants to sponsor me now.
And yes….Shluchim SHOULD carry.