The Talmud—the primary source of Jewish interpretation of the Torah—states: “If someone comes to kill you, rise and kill him first.” This clear commandment to defend one’s life with lethal force if so threatened is central to Jewish belief, namely that life is the most-sacred thing God has given us, and it must be protected from all threats.
As Americans, we are fortunate to have the natural right to keep and bear arms enshrined in our Constitution, which allows Americans of all creeds to “rise and kill him first” if threatened with grievous physical harm. Sadly, this situation was not true in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, nor was it true in Nazi-occupied Europe from 1939 to 1945. Yet, for most American Jews, firearm ownership was seen as something non-Jews did. It was definitely not an option to be pursued or supported by the vast majority of Jewish citizens.
That is rapidly changing. What many American Jews have belatedly realized is that no one is coming to help us. Those who seek to harm Jews have never been louder or more openly antisemitic in this country’s history, and the only way for an individual to adequately protect themselves is to take that responsibility into their own hands.
“Since Oct. 7, I have seen an unprecedented surge in demand for training from American Jews,” said Yonatan Stern, founder of the Cherev Gidon Israeli Tactical Training Academy, a firearms training school devoted to teaching responsible Americans combat-shooting skills of the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli security forces. “The horrendous attacks in Israel were a wakeup call, but more than anything else were the sickening, violent, antisemitic, pro-Hamas protests taking place on college campuses and urban areas all across America. That really brought it home to many American Jews and shattered their sense of security that they had held for so long.”
Like Stern, Yehuda Remer, the popular YouTuber known as “The Pew Pew Jew,” has seen a similar trend. “Since Oct. 7, I have seen an incredible uptick in Jews who are not only curious about firearms, but also are taking action by buying a firearm, getting range memberships and training. I have lost count of all the Jews who I’ve taken. From older couples to families to mothers and daughters and fathers and sons, there is a genuine interest in Jewish defense, which I am happy to be a part of.”
“The amount of people considering firearm ownership since Oct. 7 has been astonishing,” said Rabbi Yossi Eilfort, founder of the community defense group, Magen Am. “We ran a series of eight lectures on ‘Responsible Firearm Ownership’ in the weeks following the attack, and we had more than 1,200 people in those talks. Approximately 40% said that they would never have considered owning a gun prior to Oct. 7, 2023. The encampments and protests have shown more people how prolific and dangerously active these hate groups have become, especially on college campuses.”
Gun shops report a similar trend. “Jewish patrons have absolutely increased,” said Greg Khitrov, owner of Vintage Firearms in Yonkers, N.Y. “The answer is 100% yes. Folks are simply scared.”
While many Jewish Americans are—or perhaps were—stalwart supporters of the anti-natural-rights agenda, many politically conservative and religiously observant Jews have long been among the most-vocal activists on the side of Second Amendment advocacy. All the individuals I spoke with had impressive backgrounds in the firearm world prior to Oct. 7, and your humble author has been working in the firearm industry for more than two decades, with the last 16 years spent as an NRA employee and the last 10 as editor-in-chief of the NRA’s official journal covering personal defense, Shooting Illustrated.
“I’ve been blessed with a truly diverse group of followers,” Remer told me. “Many are Jewish. Some are Orthodox, and some are Jews who practice in a way that works for them. I have people who have reached out to me who are Jewish, but have no real affiliation to the religion, who have told me that it’s fantastic to see a Jew on the frontlines of the raging Second Amendment battle representing our people. I don’t take it for granted, and I am proud to be a leader for the Jewish American community defending the Second Amendment. I am a firm believer that the Second Amendment is for everyone—Jew and non-Jew alike. I am proud to be a Second Amendment activist, fighting to defend all Americans’ God-given right to self-defense.”
Not only are more Jews seeking help defending themselves through firearm purchases and training, but the demographics of those armed (or soon-to-be armed) Jews are also changing in significant ways. Since Oct. 7, many of those Jews who never imagined owning a firearm for personal defense are seeing things differently.
“I see more folks who were against firearms before Oct. 7, coming to me to either take the New York-required 18-hour classes or simply to buy a shotgun for their home,” said Khitrov.
“Among the demographics of American Jews’ interest in firearms, I find Orthodox Jews being at the forefront. Now, this isn’t a blanket statement—it isn’t a judgment, but merely an observation,” said Remer. “Many Orthodox Jews have always believed in the power of a firearm and supported the Second Amendment. But the majority of them didn’t want to have anything to do with firearms. I have seen a change in that attitude. Now, while many remain intimidated by firearms, there is a greater interest than ever before. Reform and Conservative Jews (not politically conservative), in many cases, tend to be more Left-leaning. Again, that is not a blanket statement. I know countless Jews from all walks of life who are pro-gun. But, because they tend to be more Left-leaning with their politics, there has been a dislike for firearms and the Second Amendment. Yet, I have still seen an uptick in liberal Jews who are becoming more interested in the power of a gun. I think many Jews are realizing that no matter their background, people are showing their antisemitic nature, and that is scaring a lot of Jews into wanting to defend themselves. That is why I think there is an overall uptick in Jews showing interest and getting involved in the gun world.”
“What’s really interesting is specifically what type of Jews I’m seeing requesting this training now,” said Stern. “Between the Pittsburgh attack in 2017 and Oct. 7, most of my Jewish students were politically conservative. These were Orthodox Jews who were never opposed to gun ownership to begin with, but who had (prior to those attacks) simply not seen the need for firearms. Whereas now, after Oct. 7, I’m seeing a deluge of Left-wing, liberal Jews, the types of people who actively opposed gun rights in the past, and who by their own admission had in some cases contributed money to anti-gun groups and voted for anti-gun politicians. It has been quite a shock to me, because in the past, such people would have actively opposed everything I’m doing and would have done everything in their power to make it nearly impossible for average Americans to own a gun. But now that they feel that their lives are threatened, many of them are panicking and have betrayed their ideological beliefs in order to keep themselves safe.”
“We’ve had members join from across the spectrum of Jewish communities; differing levels of observance, diverse political views, various demographics,” said Eilfort. “Honestly, I love how our organization is a place where the mission comes first and we all support each other. We have certainly had a growth spurt since the tragedies of Oct. 7.”
Beyond the individual level, Jewish Americans are joining groups to train with and to defend their communities, with Magen Am being one of the more prominent examples. Based in Southern California, the organization was founded in 2017 to help train rabbis to secure their synagogues and community centers. It has since expanded to become a fully licensed, armed-security company operating in Los Angeles, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz., where it provides protection for Jewish facilities and events.
“After becoming a rabbi, I had a unique opportunity to be a sponsored MMA fighter for a short time and published articles about the importance of fitness and self-defense for the Jewish community,” said Eilfort. “I used to hit the local range with my MMA trainer. Later, this led to my co-founder reaching out and wanting to develop a training program for rabbis everywhere, to learn to keep themselves and their communities safe, which turned into a curriculum on security principles, situational awareness, de-escalation and use of force, including firearms. This is when I really started formal training as a shooter. I discovered that there needs to be a more holistic approach than just the training itself. It’s no secret that Jews are regularly targeted (throughout history), including many recent terror attacks. I’m tired of the ‘victim Jew’ mentality and was blessed to be part of developing a path for an empowered community.”
Other groups of Jewish gun owners that previously had perhaps a few dozen members, saw their rolls grow to hundreds following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. Range days that used to include fewer than 10 participants now require renting entire shooting ranges to handle the increased interest, which has grown even more following the flagrantly antisemitic encampments at major universities across the country. Synagogues that used to ignore security altogether or that would rely exclusively on local law enforcement are now asking those community members who are able to carry firearms (where legal) to do so at services and are forming community security groups to protect facilities and congregants.
While this trend is ultimately a good thing for community safety, it is a sad reflection on the rising, virulent and increasingly violent antisemitism in a country that has been so welcoming to Jews.
This history of American acceptance goes a long way back. It was, indeed, exemplified by President George Washington’s letter to the Touro Synagogue in 1790:
The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support … May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.
Today, through neglect, political cowardice at the highest levels of government and general ignorance of history, there are all too many who make Jewish Americans justifiably afraid. The reaction of arming, training and preparing to defend ourselves is the only rational response. But more is needed, including a reassessment of long-held political beliefs and behaviors.
“I sincerely hope that their newfound embrace of gun ownership also translates into changing their voting patterns, now that they realize that these ‘evil conservative gun nuts’ are the ones enabling them to defend themselves,” said Stern. “I am definitely seeing a change in the wider Jewish community’s position on guns. There was a time not long ago when guns were almost completely absent from any and all aspects of American Jewish life, and many American Jews feared guns—and, in some cases, actively opposed gun ownership. The change started with the Pittsburgh attack in 2017, and only increased with the Poway attack, the Jersey City attack and the Monsey attack; but has really climaxed since Oct. 7. Nowadays, it’s not weird or taboo anymore to see visibly armed Jews praying in Synagogues or walking around Jewish communities. While many of the more-liberal Jews have a hard time swallowing the fact that their lifelong opposition to gun rights has led to them being vulnerable to attack by hate-crazed antisemitic mobs, many are quietly turning their backs on their support for gun control and are in fact embracing gun ownership. Sadly, it took a tragedy like Oct. 7 and the antisemitic campus protests to wake them up to reality. Today, there are more armed Jews in America than there have ever been at any time in history, and those numbers just keep growing every day. American Jews are finally accepting the fact that the Second Amendment keeps them safe.”
“Unfortunately, what we see in the country is forcing people to take up arms, but it’s about time,” said Remer. “Jews should be using their voice to defend the Second Amendment and take up arms with other Americans. I have people calling and messaging me on social media daily, asking for advice and guidance on how they can get more involved.”
“Changing a culture takes time, and there have certainly been several hurdles along the way, but we have gradually gained more support and understanding from almost every facet of our community,” said Eilfort. “Certain people simply refuse to consider it, but the majority are now accepting, with a growing, positive response.”
Jewish history is often described as being an example of tragedy leading to triumph. From enslavement in Egypt to our redemption in the land of Israel, from the ruin of the First Temple to the enlightenment of the Babylonian Exile, from the destruction of the Second Temple and expulsion from Judea by the Romans to the incredible achievements of the Diaspora and from the ashes of the Holocaust to the refounding of the modern state of Israel, Jews have constantly faced violent persecution, yet have always persevered and brought light to darkness. Today’s antisemites will find themselves facing a Jewish community in the United States that is better able to defend itself—to “rise and kill him first”—than at any point in history, thanks to our sacred, natural right to keep and bear arms and, indeed, thanks to the NRA for defending that right for the last 153 years.
While that development may not be as profound as Moses parting the Red Sea, it is nonetheless significant, and will—Baruch Hashem (God Willing)—help to secure the rights enshrined by the Second Amendment for all Americans.
