http://www.nypost.com/seven/09042009/news/regionalnews/go_ahead__make_my_high_holiday_188045.htmGO AHEAD, MAKE MY HIGH HOLIDAY
MAZEL-TOUGH GUYS GUNNING FOR TERRORISTS
By REUVEN FENTON and ANDY GELLER
September 4, 2009
It's high noon for the high holidays.
Fearing jihadists will attack synagogues during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a group of badass rabbis has developed a program to turn your average shul-goer into a lean, mean fighting machine.
The group, which calls itself the International Security Coalition of Clergy, was founded by Rabbi Gary Moscowitz, who boasts a black belt in karate, teaches martial arts and was an NYPD cop for nine years.
He's teaching others basic and advanced fighting moves -- how to take down a terrorist by the neck, how to use a table as cover from gunfire and how to execute a nifty running somersault while drawing a gun -- that he says can be used by Jews if they're attacked by terrorists during prayer.
"Jews are not like Christians," Moscowitz said. "If I turn my cheek, I'm coming around to make a kick."
Moscowitz said he doesn't think Muslims in general are a threat, but "extremist groups are."
"We're just worried about the safety of the houses of worship that are being threatened with rhetoric on regular basis and extremism," the 52-year- old rabbi said.
Moscowitz said few people took him seriously until May, when the FBI busted homegrown Muslim terrorists for allegedly plotting to blow up synagogues in The Bronx.
Since then, he said, his phone has been ringing off the hook and he created a 100-hour course for synagogue self-defense.
Moscowitz said NYPD officers aren't qualified to guard synagogues because they don't know members of the congregation.
"A terrorist could put a yarmulke on, say, 'Happy holidays,' and blow the place up," he said.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said the rabbi had been fired in the early 1990s from the force, but didn't know details. Asked about Moscowitz's criticism of the NYPD, Browne opted for a biblical-like statement.
"Blessed are the tight of lip," he said, "for they shall resist speaking ill of the ill-informed."
reuven.fenton@nypost.com
