From The Modern Jewish Experience

Feb. 5th 2020

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Feeling Safe with CCL Shul Members

By Terri Mlotek

 

These days, going to any large group event can cause a bit of anxiety. The adage of “security in numbers” falls short due to the recent events over the last ten years. But for the Jewish community at large, it’s increasingly tense. And every Shabbat, the with the collective that repeats in synagogues and shuls all over the country, it’s even more important to be aware of our surroundings.It was recently brought to my attention that an organization which up until recently was behind the scenes, has now been brought into the light.

 

This organization of men in the community are looking to protect our synagogues and our family of Jews. There are called CCL Shul Members.I recently sat down with one of the members to find out more about them, their mission and how their integration into the shul community has sparked a sense of safety and some apprehension as well. CCL Shul Members is a four year old grassroots organization of approximately 150 members, mostly men, who are mentored and trained to carry and successfully utilize guns for defense purposes. Their sole objective is to protect their shuls/synagogue members in the event of an intrusion by hostile forces. I asked the question; “How do you feel that this group of human beings is essential to the safety of their members?” The response was “Some shuls and synagogues have security guards. If someone wants to get in, those security guards will take the first hit. That is the warning sign. CCL Shul Members are the first true line of defense for the members inside the sanctuaries.”

 

Considering the recent events around the country targeting Jews, this appeared to be an important route to examine. But as you would expect, not everyone is on board with this approach. There is still a surprising amount of resistance amongst the Jewish Community members that see this kind of strategy as taboo. There is still some stigma attached to this, and the concern about guns in the wrong hands is always a worry. To address those concerns, CCL Shul Members have a clear and rigorous vetting and training program newly facilitated by Magen US. The vetting process verifies licensing, FBI and State fingerprint background checks, random drug testing, psychological evaluations, a “no alcohol usage” agreement while carrying, as well as a one million dollar conceal and carry insurance policy. Politics aside, there are more vetting elements, which are detailed on their website.

 

To date, there are over forty synagogues around the Chicagoland area with strategically placed members alert and intently watching over their fellow members. That seems relatively small considering the number of shuls and synagogues there are in totality. But the hope is that with knowledge and understanding, this continues to grow.Of course, the political debate with respect to the 2nd amendment will always come into play. However, consider these facts: There were 1,879 anti-Semitic attacks in 2018. The third highest in four decades. That was reported by the ADL. In 2019, the first six months of the year had more anti-Semitic attacks than in the previous 20 years. How do we protect ourselves in our most vulnerable state? Regardless of your political views, the safety of our family is increasingly in jeopardy. And Jews historically have survived throughout time by fighting for themselves first. There are number of Jewish Gun Clubs in California and Nevada and now in Chicago. The time for our devoted members to stand up and keep us all safe, may be now. The debate will always be there. But let us not fear what we don’t understand.