10 March 14 • 2019 jn After Pittsburgh … Local security policies may vary, but no one is talking about who might be packing at shul. A aron Tobin does not widely advertise his gun safety and training courses. Since the Pittsburgh shootings Oct. 27, 2018, when a lone gunman killed 11 workshippers, his business, about 95 per- cent word of mouth, has spiked. He trains many in the Jewish community, including rabbis, how to handle a weapon. After they complete their train- ing, they ask him not to tell anyone they took the course or own a gun. He has no problem with Jews carry- ing guns to synagogue; but only if they have been granted permission from rabbis or the board, are highly trained in active-shooter situations and then only if they think they can keep a cool head if the unthinkable arises. “ A gun is like an instrument you must practice on a regular basis, ” Tobin cautioned. “If you are not trained for an active-shooter situation, or if you do not know or do not think you are going to react in a calm responsible manner, it is best to leave your gun at home. ” Around the country, many Jews are taking up this conversation about the unthinkable, about being targeted in a space where they should feel safest: the sanctuaries of their synagogues. While most sources would not give a definitive answer if they are allowing congregants to carry to services — lead- ing to a “don’ t ask, don’ t tell” climate — the response to the presence of guns in synagogue ranged widely. While some said they would not mind and would welcome the presence of a gun in the hands of a CPL owner, others adamantly said they did not want any guns in their building or, at the very most, only to be carried by trained and paid professionals. Though no specific synagogue would disclose, there are some worshipers packing heat in Detroit’ s synagogues. Tobin’ s eight-hour training course, given at private locations at a client’ s request, is far more thorough than the standard two-hour classes typically given to new gun owners. To Tobin, 57, who attends Congregation Shomer Israel in Oak Park, two hours is not good enough; neither is infrequent practicing. Safety and responsibility are of the utmost priority for every gun owner, he said. “People like to say that nice Jewish boys don’ t own guns, and I say, ‘ Have you been to Israel?’ ” said the nationally certified Concealed Pistol License (CPL) instructor. “I believe that every Jewish person needs to know how to defend himself or herself. There is a stigma among Jews about owning and carrying a gun. ” MICHIGAN LAW Gary Sikorski, who heads the commu- nity-wide security department of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, explained that under Michigan state laws it is up to the individual lead- ership of each house of worship to work out their own policy of allowing congregants to carry. If a synagogue does allow members or trained profession- als to carry, Sikorski said they are not mandated to inform Federation who these people are. But if a synagogue does permit congregants to carry, he advises they should create a well-word- ed written policy to be signed by the CPL congregant. Ultimately, Sikorski said best practices include strengthening preventative secu- rity measures to avoid a gunfight, such as hardening access to the building and extra surveillance in lobbies and other areas of the building. “I am aware of synagogues and other jews d in the on the cover continued on page 12 Some of the memorials outside Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, where 11 people were killed on Shabbat, Oct. 27, 2018 OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY ANDREA HANKS Aaron Tobin Gary Sikorski STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER