Avraham Ben SHalom

Founder

Avi has been an avid lover of the outdoors since childhood when his father, also an outdoorsman, enjoyed taking him camping and hiking.

​It was this same inspiration he gained from his father that later led him to enlist into the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantryman "grunt" in 1997. Avi served with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in Twentynine Palms, CA and was an excellent rifleman having been awarded 2nd award expert and carried the M203. He went on deployments to Okinawa and Kuwait learning many survival skills both in the jungle, desert as well as in the mountains. 

​ In the Marines, Avi trained in jungle warfare in Okinawa, desert warfare in the deserts of Kuwait and the Mojave Desert, and mountain warfare in Bridgeport, CA where he thrived in learning everything he could. 
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One thing was evident to him how important good, quality gear is.
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"When push comes to shove, you want your gear to be durable, reliable and it get's the job done no matter how harsh the conditions are. But most of all if you aren't trained to use it properly your gear won't make you good at using it, that takes knowledge and the need to know how it works." 

He knew the skills training he received made him a good rifleman and infantryman in the field, but without the right gear and equipment, you won't be able to succeed like you need to. "Grunts know good gear and training is the key to having success in the field. Why waste money and time on junk? I wouldn't in the field nor would I want anyone else to go out and have their gear break down on them either!" Our desire here is to allow our customers to know what they are buying and to offer free bushcraft educational opportunities as well. This was how ​Maccabbee Bushcraft & Outdoor gear was born. 

​​Avi has been happily married for more than 20 years to his wife, Tzviah, whom he met and married in the Marine Corps. Together they are the Maccabbee Bushcraft team and take all their military training and experience to bring the best, practical gear and tools for the outdoors in one place. When they are not working, they are enjoying making their own outdoor adventures with their 8 children and being together as a family.