The Tzedek Anti Terror Task Force which was founded  in 1996 by activist Rabbi Gary Moskowitz came together in Havurat Israel the Synagogue of Rabbi David Algazi Queens New York with Pastor Pangano, Rabbinic intern Stuart Rosenberg who’s a well known martial arts expert and president of Philadelphia Detection Systems Inc. a Philadelphia based security alarm firm and David Goldenberg a former NYPD officer and special weapons and tactics trainer.

The group met to discuss Homeland Security issues facing religious communities and particularly houses of worship.  The group believes Clergy need take a stance and lead the way toward responsibility to defend their flocks. Rabbi Moskowitz and Tzedek have developed a complete course to train community leaders and clergy on how to organize, defend, and implement a local security team in their community. It’s a religious edict from the Torah “Guard your Soul” states Rabbi Moskowtz. 

After the general meeting the group got down to some serious combat shooting training and gun defense skills which requires a minimum of a 50 hour course to learn the basic skills. Tzedek is a lot more than the average Rabbis but almost every person involved is a serious martial arts instructor, former military or police officer or in the field of professional security. Rabbi David Algazi mentioned in his capacity as a Rabbi ”I’m not yet comfortable myself with firearms however I know people are out there that want to kill us and I feel that training to use a firearm and establishing a local security team is an act of  preserving life”.

 Pastor Paganno a former marine, who now serves as a police chaplain, NRA handgun instructor, and full time pastor started an open gun policy in his church as way to protect himself and his flock as well as a way to draw people into his church. In Kentucky hand gun laws are liberal and law abiding citizens have the right to openly carry a firearm. Pastor Paganno said he wants people to feel comfortable with guns and realize good religious people with guns is not a contradiction and people have nothing to fear. Many people see the religious as sheep who won’t defend themselves but people should know we are the sheep dogs. Rabbis and Pastors must work to protect their flocks said Pastor Pagano. We all know police are great but they usually don’t come until after the fact “That’s why we carry guns because we can’t carry police officers.”

Many people are in the US are unaware about the easy availability of firearms in the State of Israel. Nearly everyone interested in the preservation of the Second Amendment in America points to Israel as proof of how ordinary citizens, armed and trained, are a deterrent to crime and terrorism. Tezdek believes proper security, education and training will send a strong message to every criminal and make our clergy and congregants much safer.  

Stuart Rosenberg is the Regional Director for PA, NJ, DE. and can be reached at (856) 380-1999. We are available to all faiths for security consulting, firearms training and self-defense courses for clergy, houses of worship and religious communities.  The National Director Rabbi Gary Moskowitz can be reached at (917) 916-4681.

Attn: For Clergy, Lay People and Interested Martial Artists

Contact Person:

Rabbi Gary Moskowitz 917-916-4681 gavriael@aol.com

Christian Jewish Security Trip

to Israel

Rabbi Gary Moskowitz, president of the Tzedek Task Force on Counter Terrorism a not for profit organization is working diligently with Pastor Kenneth Pagano in planning the first Christian-Jewish Security Trip to Israel.

This will not be just another tourist trip to Israel.  We will be meeting, observing and training with some of the top Israeli private and public security specialists to bring home a practical program in personal and community protection against would be terrorists.  The tour will also serve to help strengthen the bonds of religious people from our two faiths for we have an immediate common interest facing an exigent threat from Muslim extremists.

The tour will include classes given daily by Rabbi Moskowitz, a counter terror expert and a former NYC police officer/trainer here as well as a former guest combat counter terror instructor for the Israeli anti-terror unit of the border police.  Pastor Kenneth Pagano a former American marine who has been seen recently all over the American and international media including Fox TV, CNN, ABC etc will be also hosting this trip.

Our itinerary will include visiting with police, army and governmental officials who work on homeland security issues in Israel.  Our group known as the “Chevra Shomrim” (Friendly Group of Guardians) will also visit settlements in the Yehuda and Shomron areas (known as the West Bank) to gain perspective on the security threat Israeli towns and communities face and how they respond.  The tour will also serve as a spiritual strengthening for both groups in support of each other.

We are seeking to take at least 20 people initially and as many as 50 with the first training tour.

Some college or graduate credit may be granted for related academic studies.

Those completing the training tour will receive the initial security certification and will be part of our National Security Committee, which will meet regularly with the Department of Homeland Security’s Faith based initiatives Division.  The tour will be 10 days and daily religious services will be available and the food will be kosher.

Typical day will include:

• Morning Prayer and Fitness workout
• Combat Shooting and Apprehension Classes
• Hand – Hand and Hand to knife Combat Training
• Daily visits to Police, Military, and private Training facilities
• Meetings and Briefings with senior Israeli Officials
• Daily interviews with Israel and International media
• Trip to the Wingate Institute and visits to Settlements and their leadership
• Security inspection at Israeli Schools, shopping centers and Houses of Worship