Actor Jonathan Lipnicki, who became famous at age six when he played the part of Renee Zellweger's son in "Jerry Maguire," has now taken on a new real-life role as a martial arts instructor who is helping defend Los Angeles Jews against antisemitic assaults.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Lipnicki has joined a volunteer effort launched in May, during Operation Guardian of the Walls against Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, which led to a spike in antisemitic incidents in the US and elsewhere, notably Los Angeles, where such events had been relatively uncommon.
Remi Franklin, a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, began accompanying members of the local Jewish community to and from synagogue, and enlisted a few friends with fighting skills. Lipnicki, 30, is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and has competed internationally.
Speaking to the entertainment website TMZ, Franklin explained that Jews had recently been the target of increased hate crimes and violence, and said that the goal of the volunteer initiative was to help Jewish worshipper feel safe going to and leaving synagogue.
"Everyone has the right to pray without being harassed," Lipnicki said, adding that in Judaism, there is a tradition according to which two angels accompany people on their way to and from synagogue.
"So a lot of people in the community started calling us their 'Shabbat angels,'" Franklin added.
Franklin said that the synagogue where members of the project had provided security had been the site of antisemitic incidents, with worshippers subject to Nazi calls on Friday evening and Saturday – when Orthodox Jews are without cellphones and cannot document the incidents.
Franklin said that "showing presence" was the most important aspect of deterring attacks.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
