Jewish Defense League Chapters

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Jewish Defense League Chapters is an article listing official Jewish Defense League chapters as well as national and regional offices of the organization.

Jewish Defense League Jewish far-right organization

The Jewish Defense League (JDL) is a Jewish far-right religious-political organization in the United States, whose stated goal is to "protect Jews from antisemitism by whatever means necessary". It was classified as "a right wing terrorist group" by the FBI in 2001 and is considered a radical organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center. According to the FBI, the JDL has been involved in plotting and executing acts of terrorism within the United States. Most terrorism watch groups classify the group as inactive. The JDL's website states that it rejects terrorism.

Contents

National (United States)

Arizona chapter

In October 2000, after an absence of more than 20 years, the Jewish Defense League once again had an Arizona chapter. Its first event coincided with a solidarity rally for Israel at Temple Chai of Phoenix, held on October 29, 2000, hosted by the Arizona Jewish community. At that time, there were 27 members; 20 in Phoenix, five in Tucson, and two at the University of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. Irv Rubin, then national JDL chairman, worked closely with Arizona chairman, Ian Rakow, to establish the chapter. Rakow stated, that one of the main goals of the chapter, "is to educate," and said that, "depending upon their level of comfort," members can attend meetings, protests, and rallies, or write articles for the website. [1]

Arizona U.S. state in the United States

Arizona is a state in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the Western and the Mountain states. It is the sixth largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona shares the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico; its other neighboring states are Nevada and California to the west and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to the south and southwest.

Israel country in the Middle East

Israel, also known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea. It has land borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan on the east, the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the east and west, respectively, and Egypt to the southwest. The country contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. Israel's economic and technological center is Tel Aviv, while its seat of government and proclaimed capital is Jerusalem, although the state's sovereignty over Jerusalem has only partial recognition.

Phoenix, Arizona State capital city of Arizona, United States

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city in Arizona, with 1,660,272 people. It is also the fifth most populous city in the United States, and the only state capital with a population of more than one million residents.

Following a string of anti-Semitic incidents, including vandalism using anti-Semitic graffiti in Prescott, Arizona, JDL of Arizona offered a one-thousand dollar reward for "information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for spray-painting threatening, anti-Semitic graffiti on the headquarters of Prescott’s Safe Schools, Safe Students," [2] [3] as well as a free Carrying Concealed Weapons class held in February, 2001 in Prescott, Arizona, in order to obtain Concealed Weapons Permits, "with the goal of empowering the law-abiding citizens against future victimization and escalation of these terrorist acts." [4] [5] The chapter disbanded in January 2002. [6]

Prescott, Arizona City in Arizona, United States

Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 39,843. The city is the county seat of Yavapai County. In 1864 Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona Territory, replacing the temporary capital at Fort Whipple. The Territorial Capital was moved to Tucson in 1867. Prescott again became the Territorial Capital in 1877, until Phoenix became the capital in 1889.

The Jewish Defense League of Arizona re-established itself in October 2009 under the leadership of its chairman, Michael Iceman Tuber. [7] [8] [9] It maintains a Facebook group. On December 13, 2009, JDL Arizona held a counter-protest of the picketing of a Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale, Arizona by the Westboro Baptist Church. About ten JDL AZ members attended out of about 40 counter-protesters.

Scottsdale, Arizona City in Arizona, United States

Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, part of the Greater Phoenix Area. Named Scottsdale in 1894 after its founder Winfield Scott, a retired U.S. Army chaplain, the city was incorporated in 1951 with a population of 2,000. The 2015 population of the city was estimated to be 236,839 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The New York Times described downtown Scottsdale as "a desert version of Miami's South Beach" and as having "plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene." Its slogan is "The West's Most Western Town."

Westboro Baptist Church American church

Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is an American church known for its use of inflammatory hate speech, especially against LGBT+ people, Catholics, Orthodox Christians, atheists, Muslims, Jews, and U.S. soldiers and politicians. Multiple sources describe it as a hate group and the WBC is monitored as such by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The church has been involved in actions against gay people since at least 1991, when it sought a crackdown on homosexual activity at Gage Park six blocks northwest of the church. In addition to conducting anti-gay protests at military funerals, the organization pickets celebrity funerals and public events. Protests have also been held against Jews and Catholics, and some protests have included WBC members stomping on the American flag or flying the flag upside down on a flagpole. The church also has made statements such as "thank God for dead soldiers," "God blew up the troops," "thank God for 9/11," and "God hates America." The church has faced several accusations of brainwashing and has been criticised as a cult.

California

Los Angeles chapter

The Jewish Defense League of Los Angeles is also the site of the JDL International Headquarters. They can be contacted at P.O. Box 480370, Los Angeles, CA 90048. [10] The Chairman and National Chairman and CEO is Shelley Rubin, and the Vice-Chairman and National Vice-President is Ari Rubin. [11]

Los Angeles City in California

Los Angeles, officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L.A., is the most populous city in California; the second most populous city in the United States, after New York City; and the third-most populous city in North America, after Mexico City and New York City. With an estimated population of nearly four million people, Los Angeles is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of Southern California. The city is known for its Mediterranean-like climate, ethnic diversity, Hollywood, the entertainment industry, and its sprawling metropolis.

Shelley Rubin is an American social activist and the widow of JDL International Chairman Irv Rubin, and is currently the chairman and CEO of the USA-based, Kahanist, Jewish Defense League, a group which was classified as "a right-wing terrorist group" by the FBI in 2001.

Northern California chapter

San Diego chapter

Chicago chapter

The Jewish Defense League of Chicago [10] is under the leadership of Sholom Ben-David. In 2002, the Chicago JDL had a car as part of its Mobile Response Unit in which they patrolled synagogues. [12] [13]

Chicago city and county seat of Cook County, Illinois, United States

Chicago, officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States. With an estimated population of 2,705,994 (2018), it is also the most populous city in the Midwestern United States. Chicago is the county seat of Cook County, the second most populous county in the US, with portions of the northwest city limits extending into DuPage County near O'Hare Airport. Chicago is the principal city of the Chicago metropolitan area, often referred to as Chicagoland. At nearly 10 million people, the metropolitan area is the third most populous in the nation.

Synagogue Jewish or Samaritan house of prayer

A synagogue is a Jewish or Samaritan house of worship.

Washington, DC chapter

The Washington, D.C. chapter of the Jewish Defense League was established on April 26, 2017 and is run by Chairman David Bar-Lev. Bar-Lev was formerly the Chairman of the now-defunct Jewish Defense League of Tampa Bay from September 1999 to October 2004. [14] The Jewish Defense League of Washington, DC maintains a Twitter page and is currently recruiting new members to join its ranks. [15]

Louisiana chapter

The Jewish Defense League of Louisiana was formed on July 27 of 2008. [7] JDL Louisiana created a now defunct website, [16] www.louisianajdl.org, on July 20 of 2008. [17] [18] [19] [20] It currently operates a new website,Twitter that "tweets" about events and blog posts by the JDL, as well as Jewish and Israeli news, and a Facebook group. Their motto is, "Your Jewish Neighborhood Watch." [21]

Michigan chapter

The Jewish Defense League of Michigan was formed in 2009. [10]

South Carolina chapter

Texas chapter

The Jewish Defense League of Texas was formed on August 14, 2006 [10] under the leadership of Ben Johnson in Waco, Texas. Their expressed goal is, "...to bring unity with those who wish to confront those extremist groups whose sole aim is the destruction of the Jewish People." [22]

International

Canada

Canadian chapter

The Jewish Defense League of Canada is under the leadership of Meir Weinstein. JDL Canada resumed activities in 2006 after a long absence. [23] Since their reactivation, they have counter-protested against pro-Palestinian activists, picketed a conference on "Israeli apartheid" at the University of Toronto, [24] protested the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation for considering support of a boycott of Israel, [25] and protested the construction of a mosque led by an alleged "Islamist." [26] In April 2007, JDL Canada organized a picket outside of Paul Fromm's disciplinary hearing at the Ontario College of Teachers. This led to two arrests after JDL activists were accused of assaulting the controversial far-right figure. [27] On October 23, JDL Canada sponsored Israeli right winger Moshe Feiglin to come and address the Toronto Jewish community at a local synagogue. [28]

In March 2009, JDL Canada wrote an open letter to the Canadian government asking them to ban British politician George Galloway from entering Canada, which the government did. Galloway was scheduled to speak in Toronto at an event called "Resisting War from Gaza to Kandahar". [29] In 2010, a Federal Court judge imposed a ruling, calling the ban "a flawed and overreaching interpretation of the standards under Canadian law...". Galloway was now allowed to visit the country. [30]

London, Ontario chapter

The Jewish Defense league of London, Ontario was established in November 2009. The chairman is Pesach Ovadyah. The chapters Facebook group has an active Discussions Board. As of September 30, 2016, this Facebook group no longer appears to be active.

Europe

German chapter

The Jewish Defense League of Germany (German: Jüdische Verteidigungsliga) was formed during September 2009. The chairman is Steven Weigang. [31] [32] In the German Chapter is the Switzerland and Austrian Chapter include.

Swedish chapter

The Jewish Defense League of Sweden was formed in 2008. The chairman is Adi. He was appointed by then JDL Europe National Director, Ariel Nahal.

French chapter

The French JDL chapter was formed in October 2000.

The chapter has garnered some interest by the media after some alleged violent acts by some of its members, and a condemnation in 2003. Some prominent political parties and movements in France have publicly supported a petition to ban the French JDL. The chapter has forged ties with Marine Le Pen, a fellow opponent of the new anti-semitism in France. [33]

Paris chapter
Lyon chapter

JDL Lyon was founded on May 31, 2009. [34]

Holland chapter

JDL Holland was founded by 8 Jews during Hanukkah, 2010.

Denmark chapter

Hungarian chapter

The JDL Hungary was founded by about ten Jews from Hungary in October 2010. [35] [36]

United Kingdom chapter

The Jewish Defense League of the United Kingdom was reformed in June 2009.

Other

South African chapter

The Jewish Defense League of South Africa was re-formed [32] during May 2009. The chairman is Mordechai. [37]

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