Gun possession in California’s Jewish neighborhood is spiking as Jews take self-defense into their very own arms whereas the conflict in Israel continues raging, in accordance with a rabbi who trains the neighborhood on gun security.
“Magen Am’s mission is to train and empower the community to deter and respond to security threats. We’re trying to give everybody the tool to be empowered to protect themselves,” Los Angeles-based Rabbi Yossi Eilfort stated in a video produced by the NRA solely obtained by Fox News Digital.
Eilfort is an NRA teacher and founding father of Magen Am USA, the one Jewish, nonprofit group licensed on the West Coast to supply armed safety providers.
Magen Am, which operates in LA in addition to Phoenix, trains volunteers and neighborhood members in in depth courses on gun security, hand-to-hand self-defense, de-escalation, verbal techniques and the usage of intermediate weapons similar to Tasers or batons.
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Rabbi Yossi Eilfort speaks to the NRA about his nonprofit Magen Am. (NRA )
The video options a number of ladies who Eilfort and Magen Am have educated on gun security, in addition to safety personnel who work with the corporate to strengthen safety round Jewish establishments, similar to faculties and synagogues.
“Magen Am means ‘nation’s shield.’ I like to say we’re like a shield. Were about 30-30-30: Where one-third is hired professionals dealing with institutional security; one-third dealing with community training; and then one-third is working with government law enforcement,” Eilfort, who can be a former MMA fighter, defined within the video of how Magen Am operates.
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War broke out in Israel on Oct. 7 when the terrorist group Hamas launched assaults on the nation, which sparked protests and antisemitic rhetoric stateside as supporters of Palestine took to the streets of cities similar to New York and Los Angeles.
“I feel like a target. Explosives have been thrown at the synagogue right behind my house,” one girl educated by Magen Am stated within the video.

A Magen Am worker trains a girl on gun security and use. (NRA)
“[It’s] unbelievable, the fact that these people can be on the side of terrorists,” one other girl stated.
Eilfort stated that in 2022, Magen Am had roughly 950 calls from the Jewish neighborhood for safety providers, which exploded to greater than 1,200 calls between October and final month.
The NRA’s govt vice chairman and CEO Wayne LaPierre lauded Eilfort and Magen Am’s efforts coaching 1000’s of individuals on self-defense in remark to Fox News Digital.
“Rabbi Yossi and Magen Am have always been at the forefront of empowering and protecting their community, a commitment that took on even greater urgency after the horrific October 7 massacre. They’ve trained thousands of men and women in their community, including many first-time gun owners, while also protecting everything from synagogues to schools,” LaPierre stated.
“As an NRA instructor, Rabbi Yossi embodies the Association’s commitment to self-defense and community safety. We are proud to count him as one of the NRA’s 125,000 dedicated instructors – the unsung heroes who help train Americans to safeguard themselves, their loved ones, and their communities every day,” he added in remark to Fox Digital.
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Fox News Digital additionally spoke with the proprietor of Beverly Hills Guns, Russell Stuart, who has identified Eilfort for years and stated there was an explosion of California Jews dashing to buy firearms for self-defense because the conflict in Israel continues and situations of antisemitism enhance stateside.

Magen Am safety personnel assist bolster security at Jewish establishments and occasions. (NRA )
“The firearm sales have been absolutely through the roof. It has been a 3X minimum increase in typical sales around this time of year,” Stuart instructed Fox News Digital in a telephone interview final week. “But what’s been more concerning to me … from my humanistic side, is listening to people say that this is a second Holocaust. Listening to people say they’ve never seen just the outright Jewish hatred in the streets from people that have no idea what they’re even talking about.”
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Stuart defined that he and his crew communicate with every buyer who involves the shop to go over why they need to buy a firearm, which has left staff shocked by the tales they hear from Jewish shoppers terrified of assaults.
“You don’t even see a gun until we’ve had a discussion, and I kind of know where your head is at,” Stuart defined of how he and his crew work together with shoppers. “And hearing these stories has probably been the most gut-wrenching thing because – it’s almost like a psychologist – listening to hundreds and hundreds of horrific stories, including family members with kids who are still serving in the IDF.”

Magen Am trains the Jewish neighborhood in self-defense, in addition to providing safety providers for Jewish establishments. (NRA )
He stated his current inflow of Jewish prospects has stated that they’re particularly shopping for firearms out of “fear.”
“There’s a difference between wanting to defend your family by owning a gun and exercising your Second Amendment rights, and coming in because you are afraid. And you are afraid of being you because you were born under a certain religious or geographical or ideological designation. That strikes fear into you,” Stuart stated.
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California gun legal guidelines are a few of the most strict within the nation, and prospects in Beverly Hills do not need quick access to capturing ranges, with Stuart explaining the closest vary is at the least half-hour away.

Jewish California gun house owners on the capturing vary with Magen Am. (NRA )
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“That’s a big, big, big part of what I love about what Yossi is doing, is that he is bringing the training to them. They’re using a lot of simulator training and getting the word out of just, ‘Think about your gun, dry fire your gun at home. You don’t always need to have the bullet leave the gun to practice fundamentals.’ And he’s really been a leader at that in the Jewish community. I’m incredibly proud to know him,” Stuart stated.
The ladies featured within the NRA video highlighted that with Eilfort’s coaching, they’re “ready to protect ourselves and do what needs to be done.”
“Going in, I felt kind of powerless. I felt kind of scared,” one girl stated. “And at the end of the session, I feel empowered. I feel stronger, and I feel I can better defend my family and myself.”
https://www.foxnews.com/us/gun-toting-rabbi-leads-push-arm-train-jewish-community-high-tensions-video