The Herut Zionists of America reported the formation of Tagar, a new Zionist student activist movement affiliated with the Herut Zionists of America and the Betar Zionist youth movement.
The name of the organization was coined by Zeev Jabotinsky, founder of the Revisionist Zionist movement, which Herut spokesmen said connotes an idealistic attitude “to kindle the flame of a great Jewish national revival” and to “brave all obstacles to Jewish national goals.”
The founding conference for Tagar was held at the State University of New York in Albany February 20-21 and was attended by some 200 students from throughout the United States.
FOUR REGIONAL UNITS BEING ESTABLISHED
Hagai Lev, executive director of the Herut Zionists, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that four regional units were being established which would chose delegates to the first national meeting of Tagar. He said that meeting will be held not later than October but that the date and site remained to be determined.
Herut officials said Tagar will seek to unify student groups at colleges and universities in the United States which share its views and objectives, adding that some student groups in Canada have already announced their support of Tagar.
Tagar’s central concepts leading to aliyah were described as personal involvement with Israel, volunteering for service in Israel, study of Hebrew and adherence to the teachings of Jabotinsky.
A telegram proclaiming formation of Tagar was sent to Premier Menachem Begin and to leaders of the world Zionist Organization, according to Herut leaders.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
