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The Story of the Jewish Defense League |
bpletely supported and aspired to. The Jewish Defense
bLeague member is one who loves the Land of Israel and who
bdedicates himself to its protection and to its upkeep. It has a
bspecial place in our hearts which in no way negates our
bloyalty to the lands in which we are resident.
b“There is no greater aspiration for the Jew than that of
bplanning a life in the Jewish State. Especially in our days, as
bthe dark clouds of anti-Jewish hatred begin to blacken the
bhorizon and the realization that there is no safety for the Jew
boutside his homeland becomes so clear to all who would only
bsee, aliyah to Israel becomes paramount in our concept of
bAhavat Yisroel. There lies the ultimate safety, there lies our
bsurest hope.
b“Finally, Ahavat Yisroel implies a deep respect for the
btraditions of Israel. The Jewish Defense League is not a
breligious organization and is open to all Jews. But one need
bnot be a religious Jew to understand that the pride of a Jew is
birrevocably tied to the greatness of Jewish culture and tradi-
btion. We proudly respect a tradition that gave the world the
bgreat concept of social justice, the concept of One Great G-d,
bthe concept of the discipline of the human being which
belevates him above the animal. An integral part of the
bgreatness of the Jewish nation is its cultural heritage. It is the
bessence of our pride and we respect it and accord it the
bdignity which it deserves.”
2. HADAR
b“Hadar—Dignity and pride. The concept of Hadar, a
bconcept which the great Jewish leader Zev Jabotinsky at-
btempted to instill in the oppressed and degraded masses of
bEastern Europe, is still a principle that we carry within us at
ball times. The hatred and contempt of the anti-Semite is an
battempt to degrade the Jew. It is an attempt to instill within
bhim a feeling of inferiority. It is an attempt which all too
boften succeeds in promoting Jewish self-hatred and shame
band the attempt to escape one’s Jewishness. Hadar is pride.
bHadar is self-respect. Hadar is dignity in being a Jew.
b“The words of Jabotinsky echo in majesty: