One of the most complex characters of post war Jewish history was undoubtedly Meir Kahane (1932-1990). Controversial yet lover of the Jewish people, provocative yet charismatic, endorsed violence yet known for his brilliance and sense of humor, yeshiva educated talmid chacham yet trained Jewish militias to patrol the streets of New York, author of endless articles on Jewish activism yet also a sportswriter and Yankees fan. So many facets and even contradictions. His problematic legacy continues to hover over Jewish society till today.
Born into a rabbinic and Zionist family and educated at Mir Brooklyn, he went to a short stint in the rabbinate in Queens. He later went on to found the Jewish Defense League (JDL), a controversial organization that was outspoken about combating anti Semitism and active in other Jewish causes as well
YZ'B.
ReplyDeletehttps://newtransformation6.wixsite.com/meahshearimnews
ReplyDeleteReally funny stuff over there
DeleteThe Messiras Nefesh Yidden canceled the hafgana because of the rain. Great Messiras Nefesh over there!
Were the biryonim also just 'controversial'?!
ReplyDeleteIs bloodshed of countless Yidden hy'd until today just a 'problematic legacy'?!
I didnt expect to find the kefira of 'never again..' on this blog!!
I'm no fan of Meir Kahana. Even so I remember a story that took place one Shabbos about forty years ago. There was a major fight with some goyim in my Brooklyn neighborhood. Two people even had their arms broken. A member of the Moetzas Gedoley HaTorah (he was niftar decades ago) said afterwards that they should have called the JDL. On Shabbos. Despite his personal vehement opposition to the JDL (Had the JDL done nothing other than respond to situation where Yidden were attacked he would not have opposed them)
ReplyDeleteOnce, there was an elderly Jew mugged and killed coming home from shul leil Shabbat. Caused big discussion in Orthodox community in Brooklyn.
ReplyDeleteRabbonim started discussing heterim to carry "mug money" a few bucks to pay off the muggers.
Rav Meir Kahane said, if you can carry mug money, you can carry a .22
R’ Shmuel Berenbaum : {Translated]
ReplyDelete“If you use fisticuffs ,they’ll subsequently respond with knives..
If you use knives ,they’ll respond with guns..
If you use guns ,they’ll subsequently respond with machine guns…
If you use machineguns ,they’ll subsequently respond with bombs….It’s not for us to attempt Eisav’s methods.”