The best indication that the bodyguards for Israel’s Yom Tov guests are doing their job is that you can’t even tell they’re around

Photos Elchanan Kotler, Daniel Nefoussi

While Avigdor Dreksler’s “Avigdor 226” Israeli security company deals primarily with crowd control for large events in the chareidi sector, the Jewish holiday season is especially hectic for him — and not only because of Chol Hamoed concerts. Drexler is the address for the dozens — perhaps hundreds — of wealthy Jews of influence who won’t travel to the Holy Land for Yom Tov unless they have a bodyguard.

Of course, he doesn’t mention names — that would be the first breach in a profession requiring tight-lipped discretion — but you can probably guess who at least some of those gvirim might be.

Many VIPS around the world consider a bodyguard, or what’s known as “executive protection,” something of a status symbol while on vacation, although others hire personal security because of real fears of kidnapping or terrorism. While some visitors to Israel are nervous about lone-wolf terror shootings or stabbings, many of Dreksler’s clients need another kind of protection: As famous (and easily recognized) givers renowned for their generosity, they need a balance between tzedakah opportunities and family time, while passionate, driven collectors can be quite creative when it comes to finding out where wealthy visitors are staying.

“Of course, they also want to feel safe going to kivrei tzaddikim, Chevron, Har Hazeisim, Kever Rachel, and other places that might seem risky,” says Dreksler, whose company is also in charge of security at Jerusalem’s Binyanei Ha’umah convention center.

“The first thing I check is what the primary need is. If it’s making sure a philanthropist gets private time outside of his tzedakah hours, then sometimes I’ll arrange for a burly crowd-controller. But some of these people have bodyguards year-round because of fear of theft or even kidnapping. And there are those who need a bodyguard because their insurance forces them to.

“And if the client specifically requests an armed bodyguard, we can provide one as well — generally a graduate of a commando unit who’s gone through culture and sensitivity training to fit into the chareidi world.”