The October 7th attack and the ongoing war have significantly impacted the personal sense of security among Israeli civilians throughout the country. In addition to conflicts at Israel’s borders, recent terrorist attacks within cities have heightened concerns about personal security and expanded the need for civil defense initiatives. The Ultra-Orthodox community in Israel has responded actively. Hashomer HaChadash and the “Brothers for the Home Front” forum have jointly established the “People’s Guard” project, aiming to train ultra-Orthodox individuals interested in contributing to security tasks within their communities and enhancing the sense of personal security. Hashomer HaChadash provides training for the volunteers, drawing on its 15 years of experience primarily in safeguarding agricultural lands but also in urban defense missions.
There is a significant protection layer in volunteer neighborhoods, consisting of unarmed patrols, armed individuals, standby classes and urban emergency teams. The Israel Police approves of the project and views it as providing a more significant defense response in these times of war. So far, approximately 1,500 ultra-Orthodox volunteers have joined the remarkable project, receiving training from Hashomer HaChadash, including identification of suspects, first aid in emergencies, and efficiently contacting security forces. The project opens up ultra-Orthodox society to a direct relationship with security forces and, perhaps, even the possibility of introducing national service in the ultra-Orthodox sector.
In practice, these are civilian security communities inside the neighborhoods of Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem, and Beit Illit, as well as other neighborhoods throughout Israel with an ultra-Orthodox background. The volunteers conduct unarmed patrols day and night, equipped with communication tools connected to relevant emergency centers, aiming to generate deterrence and alertness in cases of suspicious events and provide an immediate and initial response. As part of the project, according to the training of Hashomer HaChadash, there is also protection activity and increased presence around public institutions and synagogues in a designated manner. Many residents in various cities testify that the presence of ultra-Orthodox patrols, who have received top-notch professional training, allows them to walk around city centers without fear and with a better sense of security. The project has close cooperation with local authorities, law enforcement, and security agencies, and it is evident that there is significant cooperation with the residents.
On Rifman, VP and co-founder of Hashomer HaChadash, leading the training of the People’s Guard: “Following the terrible disaster in the south, the ultra-Orthodox sector also understood the existential need for local protection of ultra-Orthodox communities, as well as the imperative need to volunteer and help where necessary. This is how Hashomer HaChadash volunteered to help with the training, teaching, and activation of the volunteers who will join the People’s Guard initiative. The training is carried out in cooperation with the security forces. The decision to establish the People’s Guard is a defining event in Israeli society, and everyone who can come and support the process and the volunteers should join.”
Roni Ayalon, one of the founders of the People’s Guard, said, “We have established a defense body that will help the ultra-Orthodox public as well as every neighborhood, town, and agricultural farm that needs it. Both the rabbis and the residents cooperate; the public came in droves because they understood the importance of taking a personal initiative and the need to be present in field, according to professional training. The “People’s Guard” volunteers are the eyes of the community. They know how to alarm the relevant security forces when there is concern and suspicion of an incident. The initiative receives excellent feedback, and we are already seeing the change in the communities with the many volunteers who come to the field every day.”
Moshe Potolski, a volunteer patrolling the Har Yona Nof Galil neighborhood, shared: “Our encounters with residents of the neighborhood during the patrols draws a lot of encouragement and reinforcement from all types of civilians. The community is very happy to see members from the community they know walking around the neighborhood and providing security and a sense of protection. Even on Shabbat in the synagogues, they are very excited to see that there are ‘Mishmar’ volunteers who make sure to secure all the synagogues in the neighborhood. In this sensitive period, this is really important.”