Who is Yossi Eilfort? MMA-trained rabbi from teaches self-defense to Jewish community amid rise in antisemitism
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rabbi Yossi Eilfort, a former MMA fighter, is the founder of Magen Am USA, the only Jewish, nonprofit organization licensed on the West Coast to provide armed security services.
Operating in Los Angeles and Phoenix, the organization trains volunteers and community members in extensive classes on gun safety, hand-to-hand self-defense, de-escalation, verbal tactics and the use of intermediate weapons such as Tasers or batons.
Eilfort told Fox News Digital, "Growing up Orthodox, people hating Jews has been a part of my life. A lot of people complain; I want people to act. And so I was trying to inspire people to take some level of action."
The Hamas’ attack on Israel on Octoer 7 has spiked antisemitism and flared tensions among the Jewish community in Los Angeles, who are increasingly turning to gun ownership, self-defense classes and armed security for safety, stated the rabbi.
Yossi Eilfort was a full-time rabbi until 2020
When riots were ignited by the death of George Floyd amidst the pandemic in 2020, Eilfort claimed that his security teams stepped in to assist with preventing home invasions.
Eilfort devoted his time completely to Magen Am by May 2020, which functions to ensure the protection of schools, synagogues and other Jewish centers from potential attacks and crime.
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The rabbbi stressed on not being a Second Amendment lobbyist, but said, "Gun stores are calling us saying, ‘Please tell your people to calm down. We have relationships with several gun store owners because we've set up discounts for our team members, things like that."
Yossi Eilfort stated that Magen Am is 'apolitical'
The rabbi won his first amateur MMA fight in 2014 at the age of 22.
"We believe in prepared Jews. I think that more people with less training with more guns is more dangerous. I think people with more training is more prepared," he stated.
According to previously compiled data by the Anti-Defamation League, instances of antisemitism in Los Angeles have incrased by 29% from 2020 to 2021, and 217% from 2017 to 2021.
Magen Am was officially launched in 2017. The nonprofit has trained more than 1,000 people, including 47 volunteers who qualify under FBI standards to help patrol community schools and shuls. The hired security teams of Magen Am includes both US and Israel Defense Forces veterans.
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"We don't do executive protection just because somebody's got money, and they want help," Eilfort explained, addding that the group responds to calls that fit within its mission of both protecting the Jewish community while also training the community to actively protect itself.
