Pictures from Weddings of Our Children in Israel

 

1995

1995

1987

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Jabotinsky in America 1926

Jabotinsky Urges Radical Changes in Zionist Policies

March 24, 1926

An answer to an editorial which appeared in the last issue of the “New Palestine” with regard to Zionist Revisionism, was made by Vladimir Jabotinsky Sunday night at a meeting of the Zionist Revisionist League. The large hall of the Hias building was filled to capacity.

“The value of a program is not determined by the number of its followers,” Mr. Jabotinsky declared. “Still, Zionist Revisionism has made such rapid progress that it hardly can be called normal. The first conference of the Zionist Revisionists was held last April and while the Zionist Revisionist Party is not even a year old, it has become an important factor in the Zionist movement. The official and semi-official press sounds almost weekly warnings against the ‘Revisionist danger.’

“In several European countries, Lithuania, Bukowina, a considerable number of Revisionists have been elected to the Executives of the various Zionist federations. In Palestine, the Revisionists are the largest body on the Assefat Ha-Nivcharim outside of the labor groups.”

Mr. Jabotinsky derided the contention that the Revisionist program contains “nothing new,” that it merely insists on those demands which the present World Executive has long been fighting for. I wish it were true, but it is not. Dr. Weizmann proclaimed in Palestine only a year ago that we should forget politics for a number of years to come; at the last Congress he spoke against the Revisionist demands with regard to land, tariff reform, and the Jewish defense force. ‘Haolam’ and ‘New Judea.’ the two official organs of the Executive, publish articles under the heading ‘Back to Hoveve-Zionism.’ The semi-official ‘Juedische Rundschau’ preaches against the creation of a Jewish majority in Palestine. No, sir, there is unfortunately a profound difference between the official conception of Z–onism and the Herzlian conception, which is ours.

Mr. Jabotinsky denied that Revisionism meant belittling the necessity of practical work in Palestine. “Have I not explained in speeches and articles that we need ninety-nine per cent practical work in Palestine and perhaps only one per cent of political activity.? But this one per cent is the key, the premise for our entire work in Palestine. As to the present political activity of the Zionist Executive, I am prepared to credit them with the best intentions, but their method is wrong. It consists in ‘approaching’ a minister; and if he says ‘no,’ then it remains ‘no.’ This is the method of the old Shtadlanim–I use the word with all respect for the Shtadlanim were also good men, devoted to the Jewish people. But the modern method of political activity is quite different: it consists in organizing moral pressure on a government. Today’s governments in Europe depend on public opinion. In order to obtain concessions from a government, you have first to shape public opinion in favor of our demands–to conduct a political offensive.’ A case in point is the failure of the British Administration to grant land to the legionnaires, while it has already given land to the Arabs. The British Empire has recognized the principle that the demands of the soldier have to be satisfied first, yet the British administration does not hesitate to satisfy the Arab first because they know that if the Arabs’ demands will not be fulfilled, there will be protests and public outcries, but they know that nothing will happen if the Zionist demands are turned down. If you want to make your claim urgent–urge!” Mr. Jabotinsky declared.

A dramatic climax was reached when the speaker termed the attitude of some Zionist circles as that of “Gruess mich nicht unter den Linden.” “While they do not hesitate to express approval of our program in private, they avoid public identification with me. What have I done to deserve this treatment? Would I not bestow on them at least as much honor as they on me?”

The speaker concluded by urging the American Revisionists to sway the Zionist Organization of America in openly declaring itself in favor of radical changes. “And remember that there will soon be a new Congress, and that the Zionist statute provides that elections to the congress should be held everywhere by direct and secret popular vote. each individual shekel payer dropping his sealed ballot in the ballot box. This time, the rule must be enforced.”

And some clippings:

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Chuck Waxman z"l

Chuck/Charles Shachna Waxman passed away.

According to his blogger profile, he was in Betar from 1963-1973 in an active fashion. He first went to Camp in 1960 until 1964 and also 1966. He was in the dance group 1966-1972 and was the Mefaked of the Mishmar Honor Guard 1966-1973.

Some photographs:

Dancing in 2023

Participating in the Israel Folk Dance Festival 1969 (front row)

On the firing range July 1

As a camper with Counselor Dov Troy, standing, 2nd from right

Summer of 1964. Chuck is seated at the right end (next to Mel Laytner, second to right).  Bennyy Rosen - Madrich.

With his father

In Camp 1965

Visiting with some of the Chevreh in Jerusalem in 2022, first at right

and in Karkur

With Reuven Genn, 2026

A member of the Honor Guard at the reinternment ceremony for Rosh Betar 1964, Chuck is back row, 2nd from right

Leading the Mishmar Kavod at the Salute to Israel Day (Credit: David Gitler)

 A 2018 visit to Israel with his late wife Debbie

Shooting results

Assorted Betar scenes

Instructor: Barak Koffler

A recent snap while hiking

An appreciation from Reuven Genn:

Shachna Waxman  joined the Brooklyn Maoz of Betar and became part and parcel of that Maoz, of Camp Betar and of the whole of Machoz New York. Shach took Betar seriously and concretely. The uniform was important -  pride, history and meaning were wrapped in its color and it's symbols. The songs were important - in a movement in which songs were so deeply connected to events they needed to be learned and sung -  he made it his responsibility to collect, teach and share  those songs and songbooks. 

As part of Benny Rosen's "legendary" group of wonderful Kanaim at Camp Betar, he deepened and broadened his connection - the raids, the obstacle course, the sichot - Hadar-Tagar, the endless days and nights of a special brotherhood - the range, even the ת.ס [targilei seder].He became a madrich and took special pride in the movement dance group which he enriched through his friendships and dancing at the "Y". 

Like Nissan, Chuck had a "need" a "desire" whatever you want to call it, to record events. He went one step further by putting many of those photographs in albums - a special part of him that we hope Brian and Rachel will make available to Shachna's Betar family. This past year has been devastating. Harriet, Emily and now Chuck- gone- in what seems to be so short a period of time. Shach's death has made that pain deeper but also returns us to what brought us together. 

מנוחתם עדן

And from Winkie:

Like most of us, Chuck/Shachna was with us in almost every facet of our Betar involvement - from Camp to demos to dance group to Salute to Israel Parade to maoz activities and especially singing. A limb has been detached.

We in Israel looked forward to his visits and he made extra efforts to get to us. We followed his doings on Facebook where he faithfully updated his music performances attendance, shooting practice, photography, visits with his children, memorializing his parents and late wife and every once in a while a phone call.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Chuck - Tel Chai!

Mel Laytner adds a reminisce:

One of my enduring memories of Chuck Waxman is of his ash-covered face and clothes and his eyebrows singed by the flash fire of the gunpowder we were brewing in our bunk.

Why would a bunch of 14-year-old waiters and CITs be making gunpowder? Because we had run out of cherry bombs and M880s to arm in our “mortar”—a hip-high length of 2” galvanized pipe capped on one end. We’d drop a lit cherry bomb or M80 down the open end, throw in some pebbles or gravel and take aim at the bunk next door.

That the kids in the targeted bunk were terrorized only added to our adrenalized fun.

With our fireworks depleted, my cousin Avi Stavsky suggested we make our own gunpowder. The recipe is stupidly easy: chop charcoal briquettes into powder, add saltpeter (a common fertilizers available at any garden shop) and sulfur (believe we got ours at the local pharmacy). Mix with water, squeeze out the excess with a potato masher borrowed from the kitchen, and let the concoction dry.

The final step was mincing the brittle pieces into fine powder. That’s where Chuck stepped up. Using his surplus MK2 utility knife, a menacing implement of blackened carbon steel, he set about mincing and chopping the pieces into a fine dust on a small table covered with old newspapers to reduce the chance of sparks.

The bunkhouses in Camp Betar were divided down the middle by a high row of cubbies. While Chuck was engrossed with his task on one side of the bunk, a few of us retired to the other side to resume our perpetual poker game.

Some minutes later, a bunkmate, Ehud Sperling, appeared at the doorway cupping a lit cigarette behind his back. Seeing no counselor, he jauntily took a drag. To the left he saw us playing poker. But on the right side of bunk…what’s Chuck doing chopping up charcoal briquettes?

“Hey Chuck, what’s going on,’ Ehud asked as he casually rested the lit butt on the table’s edge.

We heard Chuck yell “NO!” followed by a very loud WHOOSH! A cloud of white smoke worthy of a Pope’s election rose to the top of the rafters.

We rushed to the other side of the bunk. I’ll never forget the look of shock on Chuck’s ash-smeared face. Or his singed eyebrows. Technically, what happened was a “deflagration”, not an explosion. Luckily, the powder had not been packed into a tight container.

That’s what it was like being a waiter in Camp Betar, in the summer of ’64.

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Again, Mahmoud Khalil and Betar USA

From a New York Times story, July 14, 2026:

"Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University protester who became the face of President Trump’s campus crackdown, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday accusing administration officials, pro-Israel groups and a conservative think tank of colluding to suppress his constitutional rights.

The suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, yokes together a number of different actors: the Heritage Foundation, several top Trump officials and two groups that targeted campus protesters, Canary Mission and Betar."

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The Betar Office Building in the Mid-1960s

Taken by Chaim Fischgrund, June 2026

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Betar Chicago, 1933

 

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Abe Foxman's Father and Jabotinsky

Back in June 2014, I posted a blog attesting to the fact that Abe  Foxman, the now recently deceased former head of ADL was a member of Betar in New York.

Only today I read his NYTimes' obituary and saw this:

Abraham Foxman was born Avraham Chanoch Hanach Fuksman on May 1, 1940. His father, Joseph Fuksman, had been the editor of a Zionist publication in Warsaw; his mother, Helen (Radoshitzki) managed the home. When the Germans invaded Poland in September 1939, the Fuksmans fled east, giving birth to Avraham in Baranovichi, a small city in what is today Belarus, and winding up in Vilnius in what is today Lithuania but was then under Soviet occupation.

I googled his father's name and this appeared:

Fuksman, Yoysef

December 28, 1905–January 16, 1977 71 years

The brother of Shloyme Fuksman, he was in Baranovitsh, Russia. He studied in yeshivas and on his own. Until WWII he lived in Warsaw where he served as chairman of Brit Hatsahar (Zionist Revisionists). During the Nazi occupation, he was confined in the Vilna ghetto, organizer of the underground movement. He was deported to concentrations camps in Austria. He contributed to the Jewish documentation center in Austria...

That makes it very clear the Betar connection. 

And by the way, the father's brother, Shloyme was

the secretary general of the “Poele Agudat Yisrael” (Workers for [ultra-Orthodox] Agudat Yisrael) in Poland and the author of its anthem. From 1931 he was contributing to: Dos Yudishe Togblat (The Jewish Daily Newspaper) in Warsaw...He was later confined in the Baranovitsh ghetto. He was shot by the Germans and went to his death singing “Am yisroel ḥai” (The people of Israel lives!), together with a group of religious Jews, during the execution of Shushan Purim in 1942.

And from another obituary:

“My father was a journalist,” Mr. Foxman said. “He did it for fun — he didn’t have to work. He went from yeshiva to gymnasium to university. He was the editor of a newspaper, a revisionist Zionist paper.” His hero was Jabotinsky.

His father's book: 

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Video Clip of 1970 Dance Festival

Betar dancers appear at 1:18 and 2:14 -

Here.

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Betar USA Makes NYTimes Page One

Mel Laytner notes that Betar USA is mentioned on the front page of the New York Times:

"A senior Homeland Security official testified in court on Wednesday that his department had relied in part on an anonymously compiled list to identify foreign academics for investigation."

Betar is mentioned in passing twice, but Canary Mission gets all of the play:

A senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement official testified in federal court on Wednesday that his office had used opaque pro-Israel blacklisting websites to help target international student activists for investigation and possible deportation.

The admission by Peter Hatch, the assistant director of the Homeland Security Investigations department within ICE, appeared to be the first time that an administration official had acknowledged taking cues from the shadowy groups behind the sites, including Canary Mission, which has been accused of doxxing individuals engaged in pro-Palestinian activism.

...But in March, Mr. Hatch testified, he formed a “tiger team,” or a specialized task force, to respond to abrupt orders that he rush analysis on thousands of people whose names and identities had been published by Canary Mission.

“It was a list that made accusations or asserted a lot of information like, these protesters are involved in violent activities, are condoning or supporting violence, possibly even terrorist organizations,” Mr. Hatch said, referring to what his team had gleaned from the organization’s website.

...Pressed for specifics by a lawyer representing one of the academic groups, Mr. Hatch said his office was “getting names and leads from many different sources” and had no formal relationship with Canary Mission.

But he said the team relied on both Canary Mission profiles and a similar list created by another anonymous pro-Israel group, Betar, to provide the names for its investigation, without a firm understanding of the methodology through which individuals came to be included on either record.

...Over two days of testimony, she recalled seeing students become subdued after their personal information and photos were listed on the Canary Mission and Betar sites, over what she said was nonviolent protest and squarely political speech.

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On the 1948 Kinnus

As received:

Dear Mr. Medad,

I hope you are doing well. I found your email while investigating a blog post about Betar USA Kinnus Artzi & Bet Sefer L'Madrichim 1948. My great-grandfather Herman Fink and his friend Nat Horwitt helped to convene the Pittsfield events in 1948, and I have been attempting to look into it. The blog post suggests Ray Kaplan, Yitzhak Heimowitz, Dave Krakow, and Steve Esrati might have more information. My grandmother z”l and her sister were also present, but were relatively young and didn't have strong memories of the events (although a letter to my great-aunt is included in the Jabotinsky Institute's records, alongside correspondence with my great-grandfather).

Were you present at this Pittsfield event? Do you have any further information about it, this community’s connection to the Altalena, or any connections to any of the above-mentioned people? I would love to speak to as many people as possible.

Best,

Shoshana Boardman

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Historical Footnote to the 1966 Syrian Mission Takeover

Ronn Torrosian has been active in revitalizing Betar in the United States in the wake of the current resurgent anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

As a result of an exchange of mutual criticism with members of a rival list participating in the elections for the upcoming World Zionist Congress, Ronn was banned from being elected.

Chaim Fischgrund, who was among those who sat in at the Syriam UN Mission in 1966, noted:

"I believe that after our takeover of the Syrian Mission to the UN there was a proposal raised in the Zionist Youth Council to suspend or perhaps expel Betar".

Efraim Dimant added this:

"Betar was not removed but I was invited by Ted Comet to submit my resignation as chair of the Council."

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Yom HaAtzmaut 2025 at the Fischgrund Home

As is the custom, American Betarim gathered at Chaim and Harriet Fischgrund's home in Neveh Neeman, Hod HaSharon, for the Yom HaAtzmaut mangal.

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Recalling the Jewish Student Network Newspapers

Jonathan Braun writes:

"The newspapers, which were funded by the American Zionist Youth Foundation and other groups, played pivotal roles in organizing and mobilizing Jewish college student support for Israel.  Attached, a photo of The Flame’s editorial board interviewing Yitzhak Rabin when he was Israel’s Ambassador to the US. 

We interviewed him at CCNY. Imagine that happening today! Pictured from left to right: Zvi Lowenthal, Rabin, Marty Kaplan, me, Jeff Maas. All of us, ex-Betarim, except Marty, who in his HS years identified with Betar and attended some events but never formally joined the movement. 

We enjoyed unusual access and influence because of our role in combating New Left  anti-Israel propaganda.  At a subsequent event, for example,  I was a member of a panel representing several campus based Jewish student groups/publications that interviewed PM Golda Meir … on a stage in Madison Square Garden. Incredible, now that I think about it."

Bobby Brown notes

"AZYF - USD was the sponsor of just about all Jewish Student Newspapers. About 10,00 copies were produced of DAWN by a staff of about 6 between 1970-1973. I still have copies of the issues of "DAWN" founded by me and put out by myself and Steve Leibowitz at Long Island University by the Jewish Student Union. We distributed it to 11 universities in the New York area. It was based on the ideology of Betar and named for Jabotinsky's Rasviet. It was in part paid for by the Student Authority of the Noar ve Chalutz Department of the Jewish Agency, also partly by LIU Student Government, and partLy by we fundraising."

Mel Laytner remembers:

"I've kept at least some (yellowed) copies...somewhere. After I was approached by Jerry Fisher, who I had known from HaShomar Hatzier, to help start the JSU, we agreed on the importance of having our own newspaper. After all, we were defining Zionism as the national liberation movement of the Jewish People -- and every revolutionary movement needs a newspaper (!).  I came up with the name, "The Flame," to consciously mimic Lenin's revolutionary party newspaper, "Iskra". Alas, we didn't have Google translate back then. I mistranslated Iskra to "The Flame". It really means "The Spark."

 

We had a core of experienced student journalists to draw on: Jonathan Braun, Zvi Lowenthal, and myself. Jeff Maas joined us the following year when returned from his year abroad in Israel. We had two things in common: We had all worked on the George Washington High School newspaper together for 2-3 years.  We were also all alumni of Betar."

Braun adds:

"Whenever I was asked about the origin of the name I replied that it was a reference to the Hannah Senesh poem, Blessed is the Match. After the first one or two issues, The Flame’s Betar ideological influence was quite pronounced, including references to Jabotinsky, Shir HaDegel, etc."

For general background, see:

here; here; here; and from p. 155 and from page 254 here.

And after perusing those sources, you'll understand the importance of this blog.

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Betar Basics

From "This Is Betar", South Africa, 1945:

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Betar Activity in Washington, DC

Confronting CODEPINK folks.

Confronting Rep. Ilhan Omar.

Being confronted by Rep. Ilhan Omar.

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Two Traffic Accident Stories

Lev Shreiber was asked:

"What is the closest you’ve ever come to death?

And he replied:

A car accident in British Columbia 35-40 years ago. I was driving too quickly on a dirt road and lost control of the car, and it went off a cliff and got stuck in some treetops. We were not at all hurt; we actually just climbed out."

And that reminded me of my own experience. 

In 1968, I was at Camp Betar in Neversink, NY and a few madrichim had a day off and decided to visit friends at Camp Moshava in Pennsylvania.  We were five in the car and we were coming down a slight hill when the driver realized he should have made a turn and began to slow down and he turned the wheel slightly to the right. However, the car behind us was driving fast and coming over the hill probably did not adequately notice we were slowing down. He smacked into us, luckily, not at full speed, and off we went into a field with little control. After a 100 meters or so, we came to a stop. There may have been a few cows but I am not sure. We checked ourselves but no one was injured.

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The Anthem of Betar

The Anthem of Betar

authored by Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Paris, 1932

 

Betar

From the pit of decay and dust,

With blood and sweat

Shall arise a race

Proud, generous and fierce.

The captured Betar, Yodefet, Masada

Shall arise again in all their strength and glory.

 

Hadar

Even in poverty a Jew is a prince.

Whether slave or tramp

You have been fashioned the son of kings

Crowned with the diadem of David.

Whether in light or in darkness

Always remember the crown

The crown of pride and Tagar

 

Tagar

Overcoming any obstacle and enemy.

Whether you ascend or go down,

In the revolt’s flame -

Carry the kindling fire of

"Never mind!"

For silence is filth

Forsake blood and soul

On behalf of the hidden glory.

 

To die or to conquer the mount -

Yodefet, Masada, Betar.

 

Translated by Yisrael Medad

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Jabotinsky is Coming to America - 1926

 

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From "The New Palestine", April 5, 1940

From the official organ of the World Zionist Organization:

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The First Salute to Israel Parade, Ted Comet and Betar

In a May 22, 2024 item, marking Ted Comet's 100th birthday, JTA noted that:

is the co-founder, in 1965, of New York’s Salute to Israel Parade.

David Sprung accused Ted Comet of "stealing someone else’s thunder and taking credit for something we did."

He explains:

"The first parade was in 1964 by Betar, especially Reuven Genn and myself. Almost all the Jewish organizations objected, even the consulate and one of the most vehement objectors was Ted Comet. He did everything to stop it. Only when he saw that we succeeded and two  Senators participated and we marched with our rifles, then he claimed that the next one should be done professionally and that the Sochnut would take over. We at that time didn’t care. We wanted it done and achieved our objective. Reuven had gone to the Jewish schools and organizations in Brooklyn and I in Manhattan. Every Jewish organization refused to paricipate claiming that you can’t march for Israel in America  The only school principal that thought it was a good idea and encouraged me was Dr. Axelrod, the principal of the Manhattan day school!"

According to a history of the Parade by Marissa Gross:

The Salute to Israel Parade, originally named the Youth Salute to Israel Parade, was developed in 1964 by a team of American and Israeli Jews. At the forefront of this project were Haim Zohar, Charles Bick, and Ted Comet, who collaborated with Dr. Alvin Schiff and Dr. Dan Ronen to create this demonstration of American Jewish solidarity with Israel...

...In 1964, Haim Zohar was working at the Israeli consulate in New York...Working on the East Side, Zohar would often see other ethnic-pride parades and wondered why the Jews did not follow suit. A parade seemed to be a way not only to unite American Jews but also to bring Israel into their lives and let them show support for it. Zohar believed such events would strengthen Jewish identity and create solidarity among klal Yisrael (the nation of Israel). As an Israeli, he also sought to strengthen bonds between Israel and the United States as a whole.

Backing for the parade was initially difficult to attain...But Abe Harman, then Israeli ambassador to the United States, encouraged Zohar to continue. As a foreign agent, he knew that he needed American leaders to officially organize the parade. He successfully approached the American Zionist Youth Foundation headed by Chairman Charles Bick and Director Ted Comet.

Comet was very receptive upon hearing the idea....After receiving support from Comet and Bick, Zohar began to assemble a team to implement their vision. Comet was appointed chairman of the parade and Dan Ronen was named its director. Ronen was then a representative of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) from Israel, who had come to promote JNF’s activities throughout the country. Dr. Alvin Schiff, then director of the Day School Department of the Board of Jewish Education in New York, also worked with the group by encouraging schools to participate.

Recruiting participants for the parade was sometimes a trying task. The youth movements and schools all responded positively to the idea...Among the adult communities, however, there was hesitation about the idea. People thought it did not fit the New York Jewish intellectual tradition, or that a parade was not a “Jewish” activity. Others were still reluctant about showing their Jewishness publicly. Hence it was difficult to obtain initial funding.

Some Orthodox Jews also saw the parade as problematic. Certain Orthodox groups objected to boys and girls marching together, or to the participation of non-Jewish marching bands with members wearing crosses on their uniforms. Choosing a day for the parade was also an issue...Comet and Bick, however, were able to get permission from rabbis to have the parade during this period, as well as solutions to the other problems.

The First Parade

The first mini-parade took place in 1964 when Zohar marched with the Manhattan Day School and their principal from the school to a theater on Broadway holding the Israeli flag. Smaller parades that year featured schools in Queens. The Salute to Israel Parade officially began in 1965...he final route that was chosen stretched from 72nd Street and First Avenue to 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue, with the parade then turning onto Fifth Avenue and continuing until 59th Street.

The JTA report on the 1965 Parade:

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