Recent Thoughts....

Since the past year, with the growing threats to Jews worldwide, I've been pondering the role of Bullets & Bagels. When I originally founded Bullets & Bagels in 2015, my focus was on providing a social "safe space" for Jews and non-Jewish friends to learn the safe and skillful use of firearms. This goal was in addition to providing a positive social environment for those who wanted to practice shooting for whatever reason, and not be subject to any negative social repercussion or be ostracized by their community. Amazingly to me, even after 7 October and the intervening 2 years, there remains an ongoing antipathy —  particularly within the “non-observant” Jewish community —  to those who enjoy firearms and shoot for whatever reason, defense related or otherwise. I have always felt this to be unfortunate and misguided.

However, with the obvious growing threat to Jews, other organizations have been instrumental in creating a cadre of well-trained security volunteers. They provide a much needed and worthwhile service to Jewish community in general and Jewish facilities in particular. However, once an unarmed individual leaves the confines of a Jewish facility, that unarmed individual is on their own. The trained, certified and insured volunteer security basically ends at the threshold of the “protected” Jewish facility. The capability to “self-defend” is needed beginning 30 feet beyond the entrance doors. The killings of two Israeli diplomats after leaving the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. are an unfortunate poignant example of this.

It is my desire to expand on the premise that Jews should be able to protect themselves wherever they are located, be it on the street or in their home. You do not need the time, financial, and mental commitment to become a "security guard" but you should expend the degree of effort to obtain the mind and skill set necessary to potentially protect yourself and your family.  Being a soft target invites those with bad intentions to act, because they have no fear of repercussions for their violent deeds. And this is where Bullets & Bagels comes in. Members learn how to safely and skillfully use firearms. And they have an opportunity to practice their newly gained skills in a social setting, one that is supportive of their needs and guides them to a level of proficiency required to feel confident to move on to more “defense” oriented training, if interested. Bullets & Bagels offers the first step on the continuum to self-defense independence.