A declaration by Rabbi Meir Kahane that the Jewish Defense League was initiating a campaign to “smash heads” in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn in an effort to curb an alleged rise in anti-Jewish incidents was condemned today by Dr. Marvin Schick as “extraordinarily asinine.” Dr. Schick, special deputy assistant to Mayor John V. Lindsay, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Rabbi Kahane’s declaration was asinine because anti-Jewish crime in Boro Park has been “very low.” He stated that “I certainly have not heard of anything in recent weeks” to justify unilateral JDL action.” Rabbi Kahane, the JDL’s national chairman, told some 300 persons attending a rally last night at Public School 103 in Boro Park that his members would patrol the streets in that area with “trained karate experts and two-way radio cars.” This was necessary, he said, because “Jews have been beaten regularly here because the Jew is known as an easy pushover.” After his speech, Rabbi Kahane personally led JDL members to the local police precinct headquarters to inform police of JDL’s intentions. Dr. Schick said that police patrols in Boro Park’s heavily Jewish section were reinforced this week for fear of possible anti-Jewish acts during Passover, but that after the holiday they will be back at their normal strength. He said the city had no plans to increase its police manpower in Boro Park to keep watch on the JDL which, he noted, was “very adept at public relations” but ineffective in protecting residents. Rabbi Kahane could not be reached for comment on Dr. Schick’s statements.
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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.
