Dear Friend,
and whom this may concern,
With the most recent exposure of the “Martial Arts & Gun training” training story in the media, also now known by many other names - puns and embarrassing terminologies of which I was associated with - I would like to make some things clear. I will not go into the plethora of Torah sources for self-defense and the like rather address the issue at hand.
Shliach’s Thoughts on Jews Defending Their Loved Ones
Dear Friend,
and whom this may concern,
With the most recent exposure of the “Martial Arts & Gun training” training story in the media, also now known by many other names – puns and embarrassing terminologies of which I was associated with – I would like to make some things clear. I will not go into the plethora of Torah sources for self-defense and the like rather address the issue at hand.
Gary Moscowitz is a member of our community and is a capable, experienced and highly trained professional martial arts and gun instructor. In order to understand this you need to watch him in action.
Since May 2009 I have hosted his basic Martial Arts Course in A.S.C which was open to the public as a basic course in fitness and wellbeing.
Recently, he felt it was a good idea to include Shul Security training as a product of his corporation, which is called “Tzedek Task Force on Counter Terrorism. When he approached me with his idea, I also thought it was good idea when formulated in the right way.
We had no intention, G-d forbid, of making a disgrace out of a shul, our congregants and Klal Yisrael. Any remarks or portrayals that were seemingly disrespectful were simply taken out of context. We are open and honest about this idea.
Initially this was a grass roots effort and was assumed to stay that way, until a small press release turned this into a partial farce.
To learn more about this training program you can email: ttfoct@gmail.com
In understanding a little bit of how our shul got involved in this training course is as follows. Tyranny & terrorism are real. From the Holocaust to 9-11 to Mumbai, they are all around us.
The partisans, in fighting against the Nazis in war torn Europe saved a lot of lives; and who, if given the chance, would not have joined them? The Torah permits arming oneself for self-defense and in some instances it is even mandatory, as the saying goes, “G-d helps those who help themselves.” G-d has also left the world in our hands to “work it” and to “protect” it.
Over the years, in NY, we have made great strides with regard to taking things into our own hands responsibly and respectfully with due regard to the establishment and all therein, to whom we are very grateful.
Take HATZOLAH, which has evolved into one of the greatest Volunteer Ambulance Corp. in the world, with record response times and responsible for the saving of thousands of people (also relieving huge tax burdens on our city), raising most of the monies from non-governmental sources.
Furthermore, in NY we have made great strides with regard to CHAVERIM–Volunteer Assistance. Taking tens of thousands of calls each year state wide and helping thousands of Jews with roadside assistance and other matters of assistance, thereby performing countless Mitzvos of Chessed Chinam –free kindness and Hatzolas Nifashos –saving lives etc.
Additionally, with regard to SHOMRIM, we need not elaborate how much these “guardian angels” have stood time and time again to defend us ann the list goes on and on (Yidei Chesed, Ohel, Mishkan, Bonei Olam, Efrat Crib, Tomchei Shabbos, Bikkur Cholim organizations, Jewish Political Organizations, Civil Rights Organizations, Child Abuse organizations, Getting back Jews married to Arabs – organizations, Cult busting organizations).
All of these organizations and the plethora of others have to come from the people of the community who will initiate the establishment of these ideas.
Although uncommon and perhaps new and surprising and even somewhat scary, security is in fact nothing new. Boruch Hashem- thank G-d that we have learned from History and have indeed maximized our rights and our G-d-given potential in these regards.
This idea of Shul security was made public knowledge in order to wake people up and ignite their spark to actually take the next step in doing something – something about defending ourselves and our loved ones. Much as Hatzolah and Chaverim and Shomrim are above ground organizations with professional trained staff so too is this shul security program which looks forward to public funding for this project and is in no way here to provoke anyone, but rather simply bring awareness to Klal Yisrael to protect itself.
Now, is no better or worse a time than ever to take our security seriously and this is the single goal of this organization.
I remain as a Yid, as a Chossid devoted to the perpetuation of Torah and Mitzvos, outreach to my fellow Jew and non-Jew, as well as being dedicated to the professional, organized and responsible safety and security of my family and community.
Sincerely,
Wishes for a Kesivah VaChasimah Tovah – Happy and Healthy sweet New Year and the coming of Moshiach and may it come speedily.
Mordechai Z. Hecht
anon
“perhaps has a very challenging personality indeed”
How stupid must one be to put a statemnet like that out on a public website?!?!
Chachomim hizaharu b’divreichem!!!!!!!
tired of idiots
Mordechai,
Dont listen to the naysayers.. after mumbai, every shliach MUST be armed… To those that argue against it, the rebbe always quoted shulchan aruch hichos shabbos siman shin chuf tes regarding eretz yisrael’s security.
Shootin tootin rabbis
Shootin tootin rabbis! Wow! I’m gonna be careful not to get the rabbi angry…ya jus neva know! I gots me enuff holes in ma hed, one mor an i be ded.
I don-t feel safe
So now all knows your shul is a target. All Chabad Centers are a Target. Is this what we want to announce? Or should we keep our ‘plans’ secret? Such statements should be cleared with Headquarters. I do not see such statments inviting a secular Jew to your shul!
Teshuvah
i think this is a great idea. let them know we will not be sitting ducks. a person should not have to fear going into a shul G-d forbid. my son always goes to 770 we should not be afraid. everytime people try and help someone has to say somthing. come on people Tishrei is coming stop for one second try to be nice. there is nothing wrong with protecting your life and your families.
joe
Hay Rabbi if you would help start a pro 2nd amendment culture in NYC, I would join you, and many of my friends would also.
its not a secret that some of the stupid laws that NYC has where made by misguided lubavitchers after the Ari Halberstam murder
maybe we can help change the situation that way armed people in a shul won’t be such a weired site
Me myself and I
you took the time to answer critics, so i am impressed, but you didnt need too, as you know from your zaidy good things gets opposition.
i look fwd to opposing for more things YOU DO verses all the critics who DONT DO.
deep down under shhhhh no one knows
yeh mister not so feeling safe
lets hide it under the rugs, dont think about it
and just keep posting that chabad has a open door policy
Zolen Zay Gain Fayfen Of Der YHam Hagodl
Rabbi Hecht,
Chazak Vammatz !
Zol der NY Post un ale Sonei Yisroel Gain Fayfen Of Der YHam Hagodl!
Vedal ……
syntactic ambiguity!
please don’t take this the wrong way:
Your intentions are good, but you lack the articulatory skills to best convey your message. That was the most unprofessional, convoluted, disjointed, ungrammatical letter.
If you are going to send out correspondence on such a scale, take the time to edit it and seek advice of others who may be better equipped to help you.
Only good intentions– but that was a 5th grade level paper. I’m sorry, but any educated ballebos who would see that would be embarrassed of their Rabbi.
I’m just trying to let you find out the easy way, right away. I hope you take this unsolicited advice to heart
KV”T
Glock Model 19/26 or Happiness is a warm
B“H
Way to go Rabbi! First, we H-A-V-E to check and re-check mezuzas.
Yet, with Tishrei coming, and with all our guests, b”h, I am reminded of Pres. Reagan’s old saying about the Soviets, y”s:
Trust but Verify!
Gun control equals hitting the target! !
Moshiach now!
syntactic ambiguity! is absolutely right
“Yidden arming themselves is as old as the Bible itself”
Do your Yiddish friends study Bible?
Nearly each paragraph contains one or more terrible blunders and whatever the authors point is – it doesnt formulate.
Please CH.info don’t publish notes that are sure to humilate their authors.
Buyer Beware
From Rabbi Hecht’s essay, clearly I am not alone in voicing concern of Gary Moscowitz. I wish him a Kesivah V’Chasimah Tovah, and Hashem should send his children a refuah shlaimah b’karov. Being leery of Gary Moscowitz doesn’t contradict wishing him well.
And Rabbi Hecht, Come on, you know what everyone is talking about. What’s the motive?
Again, Shomer Kol Yisroel should protect us all.
ohmygod
Wow. This is a true example of an amazing yid who cares for his fellow congregants. I think something like this should be done in CH. After all, like many other said, the Rebbe wanted us to protect oursleves! Stop insulting or name calling because it just creates a tangle of problems.
Musar for Mr. Hecht
You have the right to learn how to properly defend yourself, but I must agree with syntactic ambiguity! and anon. You need to properly learn how to express yourself and bring to light what it is you wish to convey because after reading your entire letter, the only thing that was clear and the only thing I came to understand is that for some reason you are blaming Mr. Gary Moscowitz and his need for money so he can help his sick children.
What was the point of your letter? No idea! I know Chabad is not big on mussar, but the loshon hora was completely unnecessary and I hope you ask Mr. Gary Moscowitz for forgiveness before R’H.
Good luck Mordechai.
SYUG L-CHOCHMA
R’ Kahane – where are you going with that! Merkos Should require a review board to authorize any “To wHom IT May COncern’s” that any Shliach releases!
These blogs ARE read by the media and sadly many items in this letter can be understood as wacko.
grammar
This letter was a sporadic email response no heavy press release as I know him well with english.
u ok?
oh and don’t forget G-D is STILL runin this world
Don-t be fooled
I agree completely that in today’s climate shuls have to do whatever they can to try to protect themselves from possible terrorists, etc. Gary Moskowitz, however, is NOT the way to go. I knew him 20 years ago when he tried to steal a shul building in the South Bronx whichk the trustees of the shukl were allowing him to use as a “senior center.” If you allow yourself to be scammed by him, you deserve everythilng you get. You’ve been warned.
Not fun and games
Sorry, this sounds like little boys playing cops. Martial arts are important but they are really for excercise and discipline which helps in a frightening situation. It does not save lives unless someone is super professional. The worst weapon against someone innocent is a gun in his own hands. If chalilah, a terrorist attacks that gun will be in his hands and aimed at the victim in 3 seconds. If people are serious about needing security at shuls and chabad houses, the best security guards in the world are guys trained in Tzahal, IDF. The former Israeli soldiers are sought after by every agency and person able to pay for security. They underwent grueling and rigorous training. No civilian is equipped to fight a terrorist. And yes we should be able to defend ourselves on the streets. Moslem terrorists and teen harrassers are two different scenarious. This story is a bunch of bluff, and as they say, “The difference between the men and the boys is the size of the drinks and the price of the toys.” But the gun does not end as toy.
Nat
When the Bobover Rebbe zt“l heard the JDL’s slogan ”Every jew a 22“, he said ”every jew a 26!”. (26 is the numerical value of Hashem’s name.)
Please don’t compare Hatzolo to fighting with guns! The rambam was a great doctor without a gun!
Carrying guns can have a revers effect and escalate a burglary into murder. Not that simple.
Although you don’t want to wait for Rabbis to organize an organization like this, you need to consult with many Rabbis, here and abroad, before doing this.
We can help the gentleman with parnosoh without shooting people’s brains out.
Every jew a 26. Not I said it. A Rebbe fromt the previous generation did.
green
i thought the article was fine – where did anyone see a chilul hashem? it was a good article!
Esther
This is a great idea Rabbi. What would be even better is if all the members of the congregation were carrying concealed at all times during their daily lives, and could protect their families and themselves if CV”H a situation arose outside of shul. In certain areas the gun laws make this impossible, but certainly shluchim and indeed every Jew should be taking action rather than waiting for the worst. Guns are not bad in the hands of a law-abiding citizen who has been educated to use them safely-they can save innocent lives. How many times have we heard of disastrous attacks averted in Eretz Yisroel when an armed citizen in the crowd would shoot the terrorist before he could detonate his bombs, since there were no soldiers or police in the area to help.
We should see only revealed good.
Moshiach now!!
Esther
This is a great idea Rabbi. What would be even better is if all the members of the congregation were carrying concealed at all times during their daily lives, and could protect their families and themselves if CV”H a situation arose outside of shul. In certain areas the gun laws make this impossible, but certainly shluchim and indeed every Jew should be taking action rather than waiting for the worst. Guns are not bad in the hands of a law-abiding citizen who has been educated to use them safely-they can save innocent lives. How many times have we heard of disastrous attacks averted in Eretz Yisroel when an armed citizen in the crowd would shoot the terrorist before he could detonate his bombs, since there were no soldiers or police in the area to help.
We should see only revealed good.
Moshiach now!!
Leave it to the media
Leave it to the media and the NY Post to make a mockery of everything it hears.
This is why something like this should never have been leaked to any media. Selling ads is their only goal no matter who they disparage.
Rabbi Hecht is a victim of his mitzvah intentions. It seems to be proven again that no good deed goes unpunished.
aquintance of mordy
good going Mordy.
beretta 92fs
why not be trained and ready just in case?
Someone in Europe
I am a sofer.
Many years ago I trained at Kung Fu on a regular basis – by the way this is the real “street-fighting” martial art rather than a nice sport. A number of people complained as “how can a sofer train at martial arts as it involves hitting others (a person who only raises his hand to hit another is called a rosho).
In view of this, we discussed the matter with the Av Beis Din (it is a major Beis Din) who stated that not only was it mutur but a mitzva – the sofer status is of no consequence in this matter.
Do not equate kli kodesh to sitting targets – that is a mistake. Just take a look at Tnach and talmud – you’ll many examples of those who combined their religious aspirations with the ability to fight and kill when necessary.
And to those who say the it is HaShem who is running the world and these things are not our business, we still have to do our part. Just in case anyone wants to quote what happened with Chizkiyohu – study the texts and you will find there were many major steps he took prior to finally davening to HaShem.
one brother to another
I am surprised and shocked at most of the responses. Shame on you all! where is your ahavas yisreal? In chodesh ellul that is how you talk to a brother of yours. chasidim do Teshuva it is never to late. Hashem should have rachmanos on us for the sinas chinam we expose on this site.
from one brother to another
anon
Hatzlacha! I am sure there is a lot we need to learn. And his children should have a refua shelaima.
chabad NRA member
Everyone here in CH has to get a firearm. Handgun, shotgun, whatever!! Get it, get trained, teach your wife and children how to use a gun safely.
NEVER AGAIN!!
Metaphor to good to pass up
What an appropriate metaphor!
When one wishes to “defend” oneself from negative comments, innuendo and bad press it is always best to leave it to a professional e.g. a professional writer or person with greater experience.
So too with regard to defending ourselves and putting a gun in untrained hands (100 hours is like a –pass smicha.)
In this case everyone gets hurt. Good intentions and all.
Go Mordy!
The fact is that publicity acts as a deterent to anyone that may want to try something stupid at ANY Jewish institution. Mordy is right when he says that active Jewish defense is today’s unfortunate reality. People need to be vigilant, notice things that are out of the ordinary, and inform the people that have the training to deal with it.
This article should act as an inspiration for all shuls to take the potential threat of attack seriously, and do something about it now, before something happens that could have been prevented.
My belief is that everyone should learn sefl-defense and awareness – because like first aid, when you need it most is not the time to be thinking about how much you wish you knew. And then its too late.
Ksiva Vechasima Tovah,
Angel
happy
STUPID now the idiots[the arabs] will try to prove a point. why did it have to be in the paper and front page?
Mendy Hecht (from California)
The New York Post and all the other publicity has done the New York Jewish community the biggest favor–now when our friendly neighborhood homegrown would-be terrorists look at shuls, they’ll think “guns!” Which, of course, is great–it’s about time for THEM to be scared, not us.
Reb Mordy: yasher koach! You have my full and undivided support. The publicity should not have happened, but now that it did, it’s a good thing.
Boruch ben Tzvi (A H)HaKohaine Hoffinger
BS”D
Dear ‘Mendy Hecht (from California)’,
Todah Raabah for stating your name. This is
something that seems to be lacking in all the
responses.
Why someone would praise a writer, rabbi, etc. and not
state their name, I’ll never know.
I also say ‘Yasher Koach!’ to Shliach Rabbi Mordechai Z. Hecht.
Terrorists, should start thinking: ‘guns!’ because such people are not thinking: ‘G-d!’ since non of them have any conception of who HE is. Witness the Bombay (Mum-ai heard it was ‘Avoda Zara’) horror. The one caught and convicted terrorist preferred to be shot now than suffer G-d’s punishment later.
Can you imagine such a shallow, stupid and vain person? He believes that murder is acceptable to G-d!
Basically, in Torah, one has to proceed ‘lefi teva.’ Thinking that the terrorist will turn the 100 hr. Jewish shooter into a victim, etc. is negative thinking.
How do you know? Isn’t it better, in today’s sad climate, to be prepared with A. Torah, B. Bullets? Also, not all terrorists are Muslim Fanatics, etc. There are many types and different motivations. Some will be scared of guns and resistance, and, perhaps, others not so scared.
Common sense, no? (Common sense is called The 5th Shulchan Aruch).
boruch hoffinger
anonymous
i like the comment “every jew a 26” – love that