Kars4Kids Cites Man Brandishing Machete at Oorah Summer Camp to Press for Armed Staff

Edited by: Fern Sidman

A recent incident at the Orthodox Jewish camp, The Zone, operated by Kars4Kids’ Jewish education charity arm Oorah, has led the charity to advocate for arming staff, as was reported on Thursday on the Vois Es Nais web site. The incident, which occurred on July 23^rd, involved a man allegedly brandishing a machete when approached by a staffer at the camp located in Gilboa, New York. VIN reported that the man, who was driving a green Jeep Cherokee, reportedly yelled at the staffer and displayed a large knife when approached.

According to a statement given by Robert O’Malley, a facility manager at The Zone, the man’s actions caused fear and apprehension, the VIN report noted. The incident did not escalate into violence and did not involve any explicit mention of the camp’s Jewish identity.

In response to this incident, Kars4Kids CEO, Rabbi Eliohu Mintz and a camp staff member are challenging New York State’s concealed carry law in court, according to the VIN report. They argue that the law, which prohibits private citizens from carrying guns in places where religious activities are conducted, leaves staff and children vulnerable to potential anti-Semitic attacks. The camp officials challenging the law are not part of the camp’s security staff, the report added.

In July of this year, the JTA reported that the lawsuit filed by Kars4Kids challenges the Concealed Carry Improvement Act, which was enacted last year following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down an earlier firearms ban. The JTA also reported that the act imposes restrictions on carrying firearms in certain locations, including schools, medical facilities, and houses of worship.

Rabbi Mintz, in a declaration attached to the lawsuit, expressed concerns about the rising number of violent attacks on Jewish people, particularly in places of worship and where children are present, the JTA report said. He emphasized that these attacks are often random and provide no advance warning. Rabbi Mintz insisted that he and other licensed staff members cannot be left unprepared and unarmed in the face of potential evildoers who may target the camp, the JTA report indicated.

“The violent attacks on Jewish people targeting places of worship and places where children are — the most vulnerable of the population — are random and provide the victims with no notice or advance warning,” Rabbi Mintz said in a declaration attached to the lawsuit, the JTA report indicated. “I cannot be left unprepared and unarmed in the event that an evildoer decides to attack one or both of the [camp’s] campuses, nor can the other licensed staff members.”

Eric Schwartz, a camp administrator who resides year-round on the campgrounds, provided a declaration supporting the lawsuit. Schwartz highlights that he and his fellow staff members are easily recognizable as Orthodox Jews, making them potential targets for discriminatory acts, the JTA report said. He states that over the years, they have faced ethnic slurs, hateful comments, and even incidents involving the throwing of objects, including Molotov cocktails.

Wendy Kirwan, Kars4Kids’ communications director, highlighted the incident as an example of the need for staff at the camp to be armed, the VIN report said. She emphasized that the incident took place within the view of campers and underscored the importance of ensuring their safety.

Security specialists within the Jewish community have noted that arming non-security personnel might not be an effective means of deterring anti-Semitic attacks. Instead, attention has been directed towards trained security guards in such settings.

The Schoharie County sheriff’s office is currently investigating the incident, and criminal charges have been pursued against the alleged perpetrator, as was reported by VIN.

As the discussion about security measures continues within the camp and religious facility sectors, stakeholders are grappling with finding a balance between ensuring safety and the potential challenges posed by allowing non-security personnel to carry firearms.