It’s not all jokes and games for Fiveish.
Oorah, the prominent kiruv organization well-known for its catchy Kars4Kids jingle, has taken legal action against the state of New York, filing a lawsuit that claims the state’s concealed carry law exposes the children under their protection to potential antisemitic attacks.
Eliyahu “Yahoo” Mintz, CEO of Oorahand a Lakewood resident , along with Eric Schwartz, the Zone’s administrator, have jointly initiated a federal lawsuit, contending that the implementation of the Concealed Carry Improvement Act has compromised the safety of Oorah’s upstate camp, known as “The Zone.”
The lawsuit specifically targets the Concealed Carry Improvement Act, which imposes restrictions on the carrying of firearms in various locations throughout New York. The law designates certain areas, including schools, hospitals, and synagogues, as “sensitive locations” where carrying firearms is prohibited.
In a court-filed declaration, Rabbi Mintz emphasizes the rising threat of violent attacks against Jewish people, particularly targeting places of worship and areas where children, who are among the most vulnerable in society, gather. He states, “The violent attacks on Jewish people targeting places of worship and places where children are…provide the victims with no notice or advance warning.” Rabbi Mintz argues that he, as well as other licensed staff members, cannot be left unprepared and unarmed in the face of potential harm directed at Oorah’s campuses.
Schwartz, adding his voice to the lawsuit, highlights the experience of being “easily recognizable and identifiable Jews.” He asserts that over the years, they have faced open targeting, including incidents of ethnic and hateful slurs being yelled, as well as objects, including Molotov cocktails, being thrown at them.
