Rabbi Yossi Eilfort wants you to understand that there are more antisemitic incidents than you think.
“I hear stories all the time, like the rabbi who was walking with his pregnant wife and his son to shul and someone called them names, used profanities and tried to intimidate them,” he said.
Eilfort’s story couldn’t be confirmed, but what’s not in doubt is the surging demand for the services of his non-profit organization, Magen Am.
Courtesy of Magen Am
Magen Am security outside Ohel Moshe synagogue in Los Angeles
The name means “Shield of the Nation” in Hebrew, and that’s what Magen Am offers: protection to the Jewish communities in L.A and Orange counties. The licensed security organization offers its services free of charge, courtesy of former Israel Defense Forces soldiers and a group of volunteers in the community, some of whom are rabbis.