by Ram ben Ze'ev
Rabbi Meir Kahane, a polarising figure in Jewish and Israeli history, left behind a legacy that continues to provoke intense debate. Born in 1932 in Brooklyn, New York, Kahane was a rabbi, political activist, and founder of the Jewish Defense League (JDL). His philosophy, characterised by a fierce advocacy for Jewish self-defense and a controversial approach to Israeli nationalism, remains influential among a growing segment of Jewish and Israeli society. To understand Kahane’s philosophy is to delve into a world that strives to ensure Jewish survival in a world hostile toward Jews.
At the core of Rabbi Kahane’s philosophy is the principle of Jewish self-reliance. Growing up in the shadow of the Holocaust, Kahane was acutely aware of the existential threats facing the Jewish people. He believed that Jews could no longer afford to rely on the goodwill of other people and other nations for their survival. This conviction drove him to establish the JDL in 1968, an organisation dedicated to protecting Jewish communities through direct action. The motto of the JDL, “Never Again,” encapsulates Kahane’s commitment to ensuring that Jews would never again be passive victims of persecution.
Kahane’s advocacy for Jewish self-defense extended beyond the physical realm. He was also a fervent proponent of Jewish pride and identity. In his view, assimilation was as much a threat to Jewish survival as external anti-Semitism. Kahane argued that Jews needed to reclaim their cultural and religious heritage, fostering a sense of pride and unity within the Jewish community. He saw this as essential not only for the survival of individual Jews but for the Jewish nation as a whole.
This emphasis on Jewish identity and unity was closely tied to Kahane’s views on Israel. He was a staunch Zionist, but his vision of Zionism was more focused than that of many of his contemporaries. Kahane believed that the State of Israel should be a distinctly Jewish state, with Jewish law, or Halacha, serving as the foundation of its legal and political systems. He argued that Israel’s identity as a Jewish state was compromised by its Western democratic nature, which he saw as allowing non-Jews too much influence over the direction of the country. Kahane’s solution was to advocate for the expulsion of Arabs from Israel and the occupied territories.
Kahane’s views on Arab-Israeli relations were rooted in a deep-seated belief that coexistence was impossible and recent events have shown that his views were correct. He argued that the presence of a large Arab population within Israel’s borders posed a demographic and security threat to the Jewish state. For Kahane, the only solution was the separation of Jews and Arabs, with Jews maintaining exclusive control over the land. This position, articulated in his book “They Must Go,” remains one of the most controversial aspects of his legacy, though supporters argue that his proposals were and remain a realistic response to an intractable conflict.
---> Follow on Twitter/X @rambenzeev and read all of RAM's articles on X
In addition to his views on Arabs, Kahane was also critical of the Israeli government and what he saw as its failure to adequately protect Jewish interests. He believed that Israeli leaders were too willing to make concessions to international pressure and too concerned with maintaining a positive image abroad. Kahane argued that Israel’s security and Jewish identity should take precedence over diplomatic considerations. This often put him at odds with the Israeli political establishment and led to his eventual marginalisation within mainstream Israeli politics.
Despite his controversial positions, Kahane’s philosophy continues to resonate with a growing segment of the Jewish and Israeli population. His emphasis on Jewish pride, self-reliance, and the uncompromising defense of Jewish interests appeals to those who feel that Israel is under constant threat and that more moderate approaches have failed to secure lasting peace and security. The political party he founded, Kach, was eventually banned from Israeli elections in 1988 because leaders then realised that Kahane's policies were growing in popularity and would eventually threaten their plans to Westernise and dilute Jewish identity. Yet, his ideas live on through various right-wing and nationalist groups in Israel and around the world.
Agenda driven critics of Kahane wrongly argue that his philosophy is inherently divisive and promotes a form of Jewish supremacy that is incompatible with democratic values and human rights. They contend that his advocacy for the expulsion of Arabs and the implementation of Jewish law in Israel undermines the principles of equality and justice. Moreover, they warn that Kahane’s ideas, if implemented, would lead to increased violence and further entrenchment of the Israeli-Arab conflict.
Supporters, however, see Kahane as a visionary who was willing to speak uncomfortable truths and propose bold solutions in the face of existential threats. We argue that his emphasis on Jewish strength and self-reliance is not about supremacy but about survival in a hostile world. For us, Kahane’s philosophy represents a necessary wake-up call for a Jewish people that can no longer afford to be passive or complacent.
Sadly, in November 1990, Rabbi Meir Kahane's life was abruptly cut short when he was assassinated in New York City. After delivering a speech at a Marriott hotel in Manhattan, Kahane was fatally shot by El Sayyid Nosair, an Egyptian-born American with ties to radical Islamic groups. Kahane's assassination was a shocking and violent end to a life marked by intense controversy and radical activism. His death not only silenced a strong and growing voice in Jewish and Israeli politics but also underscored the deep and often dangerous divisions surrounding issues of Jewish identity, Israeli security, and Arab-Israeli relations.
Rabbi Meir Kahane’s philosophy is a complex mix of Jewish self-reliance, uncompromising nationalism, and a deep commitment to Jewish identity. While his ideas continue to polarise, they also force a critical examination of the challenges facing the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Whether one agrees with his methods or not, Kahane’s legacy serves as a reminder of the enduring struggle for Jewish survival and the lengths to which some are willing to go to secure it.
###
Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews and is the Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue