US Jewish community looks to defend itself as attacks rise

Armed guards, safety assessments and now even a "Tactical Rabbi" to train volunteers on the use of weapons -- such is the reality today at synagogues in the United States facing mounting anti-Semitic attacks.

It is at a shooting range in the hills overlooking Los Angeles that a team of AFP reporters met recently with Raziel Cohen, dubbed the "Tactical Rabbi," who was sporting a 9mm pistol on his hip and carrying a semi-automatic rifle over his shoulder.

Cohen was trying to determine how well books can stop bullets.

The idea is to transform a library at a synagogue or Jewish school into a shelter in the event of an active shooter situation.

"We're trying to bridge the gap between the time that the shooting begins and law enforcement arrives," he told AFP.

"The expression that goes on is that we carry guns because we can't carry police officers, which is not just a joke," added Cohen.

"The reality is that there can't be police everywhere all the time."
"It's not 'Thou shall not kill,' it's 'Thou shall not murder.'
"In fact, in the Bible it says that you have the obligation to protect yourself."
"We put 98 per cent of our energy into left of bang -- recognising, preventing and mitigating the effects of an attack."