With threats against American Jews increasing, many who had an aversion to guns began taking firearms training and acquiring weapons, out of fear for the safety of their community and their family.
“Shortly after the October 7 attacks, I was sitting with my Jewish mom friends after a soccer game and for some reason I blurted out that I wanted to learn how to shoot a gun,” Mari O’Leary told the newspaper. JHV. “Unfortunately, guns and whether we should buy one has become a topic in our household.”
Fearing being judged harshly, the Emanu El devotee was surprised by the reaction to her statement.
“Everyone said they wanted to learn too. At that moment I knew we had to go to the shooting range as a group,” O’Leary said.
The group gathered at Top Gun Range to hone their skills and gain confidence while preparing to fend off anti-Semitism.
“It’s not what happened on October 7 that perpetuated these thoughts…it’s what happened afterward and what continues to happen,” O’Leary said.
“I never knew how much Jews were hated until Israel was left to defend itself. We heard about the Holocaust and were told, “Never again.” How naive we are to believe this to be true.
The rise in anti-Semitism has been documented by the Anti-Defamation League, which reports a more than 300% increase in the number of incidents in the United States.
The ADL recorded 312 anti-Semitic incidents between October 7 and 23 – 190 of which were directly linked to the war between Israel and Hamas – an increase of 388% compared to the same period last year. Globally, too, the number of anti-Semitic acts has increased significantly.
While places where Jews gather have responded by increasing their security measures, many people have taken security measures themselves.
Israeli Anat Friedman, who has lived in Houston since 2004, has always been afraid of guns. Feeling unsafe since October 7, her husband bought a gun. Together they took the Top Gun course.
“We have a gun in the house. You might as well know how to use it,” Anat told JHV.
The granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Anat remembers a lesson her grandmother, z”l, passed on to her.
“She always told me: ‘I’m happy to live here… but always remember that everything can change. We lived in Poland and felt safe and loved, and my parents were wealthy and very involved in the government. And then one day, that changed.
“I hope this doesn’t happen, but I have never felt such anti-Semitism in my entire life,” Anat said.
On October 7, Anat frantically called her sister in Israel. When she heard the terror in her little sister’s voice, Anat immediately bought plane tickets for the family and opened her home to them.
After a 10-hour delay due to rocket and missile fire, the plane finally took off. On October 10, Hadar Friedman arrived in Houston with her two children, ages 6 and 9. She left behind her 42-year-old husband, a pilot in the IDF reserves, to fight.
“For the first time in my life, I was so anxious and so scared. And that’s why I asked my sister to replace me,” Hadar told JHV.
“Since the day I landed here, I asked (his sister and brother-in-law) to get a gun and they were very ambivalent about it because in Israel we are learns to be afraid of weapons. that weapons are scary and dangerous and that only soldiers and highly trained people should have weapons,” Hadar said. “We have children here; it can be dangerous.”
Hadar’s helplessness in the face of the attack launched by Hamas and the audacity of growing hatred toward Jews fueled his perseverance. His brother-in-law bought a gun.
“We need to make sure that if this happens, we will be able to protect ourselves,” Hadar said. “You have to have peace of mind. Even though I am safe at home, there are places like synagogues or Jewish schools or even someone can hear me speaking Hebrew in the park – I don’t feel safe. And this is the first time this has happened to me in Texas. Something has changed. Something broke.
Hadar admits to having post-traumatic symptoms and is relieved to have Anat’s help. Having a gun at home relieves some stress.
“I hope this helps me feel like I’m back in control,” Hadar said.
Anat’s congregation, Beth Yeshurun, has welcomed Hadar’s family and provides resources for her children, including her counselors, at Beth Yeshurun Day School.
Anat and Hadar’s brother is a doctor from Dallas. He owns guns and came to class to be better prepared to patrol his synagogue and Sunday school.
The group of 18 completed the course feeling empowered. But O’Leary’s reaction to the course was more tempered.
“I burst into tears after I shot the first time,” O’Leary said. “It was extremely emotional thinking about the lives lost, the hostages and wanting to protect my family.”
After receiving encouragement from her parents, O’Leary said, “I shook it off and found the confidence to do what I set out to do: learn how to properly use a gun.” And that’s exactly what I did.
