The rise of anti-Semitism is alarming Jews the world over. Hardly a day goes by without an
article written by Jewish leaders documenting this dangerous trend.
But in truth, when has it really been different?
It was the late 60’s, with the world slowly forgetting the enormity of the crime perpetrated
against the Jewish people when the attacks on Jews began to be more commonplace.
frequent.
Readers, of the Jewish Press, (the main Jewish newspaper in Brooklyn) were writing in to
complain about yet another anti-Semitic attack somewhere in Brooklyn. Others called the
paper to complain. The editor, Rabbi Meir Kahane, began to document these complaints. The
attacks on his fellow Jews bothered him deeply, like a hard blow to the belly. Shortly thereafter,
he started a self-defense group to fill the vacuum. He called the group the “Jewish Defense
League” or the JDL for short.
In 1968 Kahane reached out to me to join this group. I was a Black Belt in Karate by then,
graduating from one of the toughest “dojos” in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. I
was the only white kid in that club. Kahane’s call to action and his request that I teach Jewish
kids karate for self-defense, resonated with me. Also the JDL’s slogan of “Never Again”
especially reverberated to me, a child of Holocaust survivors.
The 15 or so activists that I joined, blossomed into hundreds and then into thousands.
Apparently, the JDL resonated with many others, as well. We responded against physical
attacks physically, as the group I was training was dedicated and capable. At other times, we
demonstrated in front of City Hall or a police station demanding increased protection. Our
activities garnered press coverage giving us much needed publicity. Each story in the papers or
on TV, amounted to hundreds of new members. Jews standing up for themselves defied the
age-old stereotype. For the press, we were the “man bites dog story”.
In addition to leading demonstrations, Rabbi Kahane spent many days and nights teaching
Jewish history to our growing membership. We learned about Zev Jabotinsky, the great Zionist
leader who warned the Jews of Europe to get out as a “fire was raging about to consume the
thousands of Jewish communities there”. But his warnings fell on deaf ears. We also learned
about the members of Menahem Begins’ underground fighters, the Irgun. I dare say, we were
moved by their sacrifice. Our ideology was shaped by the Revisionists of Jabotinsky and
Menahem Begin. That was our Zionist foundation.
Our membership was varied. We had Yeshiva students and religious Jews and we had alienated
and assimilated non- observant Jews. What bound us together was Kahane’s message of Ahavat
Yisrael, love of fellow Jews. We learned that we were all Jews!
I began to travel with Kahane to speaking engagements all over the tristate area and then to
many states further away. I learned his ideology that had impacted his thinking. Jabotinsky was
a frequent visitor to Kahane’s house in Brooklyn and left an indelible impression on young
Meir. I too became a Revisionist. I read numerous books on Israeli history at his suggestion.
Many others were treated to a similar education. Soon, I was knowledgeable enough to teach
incoming members. Many of my friends were trained similarly.
Our self-defense classes were spreading to more neighborhoods and cities. Anti-semitism was
not a Brooklyn phenomenon. We replicated our model elsewhere.
Then the plight of Soviet Jews caught our attention. Remembering the meager effort to save
Europe’s Jews by the previous generation, we were determined to be different. We began by
picketing Soviet cultural programs and graduated to disrupting them. As our activities garnered
headlines, many adults in the community ridiculed our effort. “Do you think you will take on
the Soviet Union”? “A bunch of teenagers defeat the Soviets”? But Kahane’s clever insight led
us to many successes. We embarrassed the Soviets as our activities became more daring.
Kahane understood that the Soviets, like roaches, hated to be exposed to light. Our activities
shone a spotlight on them. Not all our activities were safe and maybe not all of them were
smart. Most of them however were aimed at publicizing the plight of Soviet Jews. In this we
were hugely successful. While the Soviet Union ( and mainstream organizations ) called us
hooligans and thugs, the Soviet Jews called us heroes.
In 1971, Kahane moved to Israel and left no clear leader in charge of the US group. Leaderless,
we slowly disintegrated. In truth, we were also getting older and needed to move on with our
lives.
Why is there a renewed interest in Kahanism? The desperate times with the increased attacks
on Jews demand it. We learned about Hillel who taught : in a place with no men, you be the
Man”. Who is depending on the Bnai Brith to organize another fact finding commission? No,
people demand action. Kahane’s ideology promises action.
In Israel, Kahane recognized the danger from millions of hostile Arabs seething with hatred and
plotting the destruction of the Jewish State. Many in the Israeli establishment were still under
the delusion that Arabs just wanted to get some land back. They encouraged the nation to give
up vital land needed to protect the life of the nation. But Kahane warned years ago, that it was
not about land. The Arabs simply would never abide the presence of Jews on what they falsely
claimed as their land. Kahane was no racist. He just saw things before others saw them.
When cars are used to mow down innocent Israelis, doesn’t your adrenalin kick in whenever
you hear an engine roar near you? Are you a racist too?
Israel is facing an existential threat from the millions of Arabs in its fifth column. More and
more Israelis are realizing this and voting for like-minded candidates. The disenfranchised left
has no narrative and of course they resort to name calling. When you can’t fight the message,
fight the messenger.
In law school they teach: “when you have the law on your side-pound the law. When you have
the facts on your side-pound the facts. But when you have neither-
pound the table!”
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