Paintball… the thought conjures up images of face-masked weekend warriors leaping over obstacles and laying down gelatinous cover fire. It’s fun, exhilarating and believe it or not, a tool for achdut.

This Chol HaMoed Pesach on Tuesday the 26 and Wednesday the 27, Captain Even-Esh of Shomer360 is bringing together Jews from communities as varied as Borough Park and Teaneck together for some seriously fun paintball action at High Velocity Paintball, located in Coram, Long Island.

Eilon Even-Esh is a prior service Captain in the United States Marine Corps as well as a veteran of the IDF, where he saw action in Southern Lebanon. Before and in between the games, the Captain will coach players on tactics and strategies from his very unique perspective. He says, “The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. so I don’t want the players to waste their time and paintballs by hiding and pretending to snipe. The camaraderie is much greater when the players feel they are working a solid game plan. Even if they lose a game, at least they lose to a worthy adversary. The better I coach, the more fun the players have and the more friendships are made. I love it!”

On Tuesday April 26 the games are for men only ages 13 and up, while Wednesday April 27 will also be limited to ages 13 and up but will be co-ed.

Even-Esh says, “There’s opportunity for achdut between Jewish communities but there’s also opportunity for achdut within the family. In our last paintball event that we ran during Chol HaMoed Sukkot, there were a few father/son teams who came to play. Now with the co-ed day on Wednesday there is a wonderful opportunity for fathers and daughters as well as mothers and sons to bond.”

Tickets as well as transportation to and from the game from Teaneck can be bought at www.shomer360.com/store.