Kahane Denies Charges That He and Jdl’s Presence in Boro Park is Heating Up Jewish-hispanic Tensions

Rabbi Meir Kahane the founder and head of the Jewish Defense League, vigorously denied today that the presence of the JDL and himself in Borough Park has increased tensions in that Brooklyn area between the largely Orthodox Jewish population and Hispanic residents. He said that tensions have long existed in the area and that the JDL entered Borough Park in response to pleas from Jews because of what he claimed was a high rate of crime against Jews in that area.

Kahane made his remarks at a press conference in a wake of a charge by New York City Human Rights Commissioner Eleanor Holmes Norton that by leading 300 persons in a demonstration through Borough Park’s Hispanic area, Nov. 9, the JDL leader “incited inter-ethnic tensions.” Following Kahane’s demonstration two synagogues, the homes of two Hasidic rabbis and a Jewish school, were firebombed.

Ms. Norton made her charge in a letter to Federal Judge Jack B. Weinstein, who had sentenced Kahane to serve a year in prison at a Manhattan federal detention center. She said that Kahane abused the privileges Weinstein gave him in allowing him to leave the detention center three times a day for meals and prayers. Last week Weinstein ordered that Kahane be accompanied by deputy federal marshalls during his trips outside.

The JDL leader said today that Ms. Norton should be told that human rights includes first the right to live in peace which he said is even more important than the right to go to school.

Kahane said that criminals prey on Jewish areas because Jews have been “patsies” for 2000 years and have not fought back. He said criminals do not go into an area such as Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge section because it has a heavy Italian and Slovak population and criminals know these people will protect themselves. For this reason, Kahane said, every Jew should purchase a legal rifle or shotgun. He also urged Jewish activists to join a civilian crime patrol that is being organized in Borough Park.

When it was noted that in addition to Ms. Norton, some Jewish leaders and residents of the area had accused him of inciting tensions, Kahane said he went to Borough Park after numerous requests from residents for protection. When the Jewish Telegraphic Agency asked whether in view of his ” Democracy in Jewish Life” movement-electing Jewish leaders-he should have polled the Jewish residents to find out if they wanted the JDL’s help, Kahane said that before the election would be held in that area “the Messiah would come.”