The New York State commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States has branded a request for money by the Jewish Defense League a “ridiculous shakedown.” Jerome N. Nisman referred to a letter sent to several major national Jewish organizations including the JWV last week by JDL director Rabbi Meir Kahane asking for $12,500 from each of them to help finance and staff the JDL’s “civilian patrols.” The JDL claims to protect Jewish life and property in racially tense, high crime areas.
Mr. Nisman said that Rabbi Kahane’s letter “constitutes a cheap insulting bid for public exposure and nothing more. He knows very well that every responsible Jewish agency has repudiated the JDL. His letter is actually an appeal for financial support from those frightened individuals whom he has convinced of the complete breakdown of law enforcement in our city. The City of New York, and least of all the Jewish population in this city, does not need JDL protection, but rather protection from the JDL’s hysterical inflammatory activities,” Mr. Nisman said.
The JDL’s request for funds was similarly repudiated last week by the American Jewish Congress, American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.
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