Iin response to the shooting in Poway Chabad, Yeshiva Pirchei Shoshanim is forming its third Shomer Shabbos Civil Air Patrol Squadron. The Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary of the United States Air Force. It was founded in 1941 and currently has 60,000 volunteer, 1500 squadrons and the largest private air fleet in the Country.
Pirchei has founded other Squadrons in New York and Newport Beach, California.
Pirchei Shoshanim, founded in the mid 1700’s, was restarted after the war under the guidance of HaRav Avigdor Miller zt’l and HaRav Leibel Berenbaum zt’l. Pirchei is sanctioned by the Undersecretary of Defense as a Military Endorser of Chaplains, as well as having of the largest Semicha Programs in the World.
“Almost daily there are horrendous attacks being carried against traditional religions around the world,” says Pirchei. “Pirchei Shoshanim intends that the Lakewood squadron will have their cadets learn Counter Terrorism programs and teach all Shuls and Schools in the Community. There are many who condemn horrible acts, but they offer no solution to help protect the community. Today, Lakewood’s CAP Cadets will send their youth to battle this War.”
Steven Reinman the Executive Director of the Lakewood Industrial Commission and overseer of the Airport, greeted Colonel Joe Abegg, who is the Commander of the entire CAP in the State of N.J. Col Abegg has been a member of Cap for 47 years. He as well was a former USAF pilot, and now a Pilot for United Airlines. Accompanying Col Abegg in his Lakewood visit was almost the entire chain of command for the State of N.J.
Rabbi Jason Cohen has been named as the Commander of the Squad. He has been a pilot since he was 14, as well as being a Veteran of the US NAVY where he was a medic and a hero. As a medic in the Gulf War, in the heat of battle, he was surrounded by Marines while he attended to the wounded. Rabbi Jason Cohen is very involved in the Lakewood being the community relations representative for Amerigroup.
CAP consists of Cadets 12 – 21. Cadets that qualify can receive their pilots license by the age of 16. The squad as well consists of senior members. The squad will be trained in assisting the community shuls in setting up a mechanism so that the approximately 150 congregations can put into effect FEMA recommendations in defending their Congregations.
After the Colonels visit, he wrote: “A new squadron is born. Our meeting lasted three hours. We have great community support, current and former members joining, and a team of four experienced CAP members mentoring.”
“We are requesting charter number NER-NJ-613 via a CAPF 27 which is in progress,” says Pircehi. “It was a great honor for both Yeshiva Pirchei Shoshanim and the Lakewood Community to host the Colonel and his staff.”
(There are enormous opportunities for cadets to learn about Aerospace, Stem, camping. Drones and unlimited possibilities of growth. There are many senior positions open for both Pilots, administrators and Mentors. The squad will be meeting at the Lakewood Airport Sunday evenings 7 – 9:30. For those who would like to join the squad, you can call 732-370-3344 or write to [email protected].)