Meir Kahane

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Meir Kahane

Role / Field:

Israeli politician known for founding the ultra-nationalist Kach party and advocating strict religious law.

Born:

1932-08-01

Died:

1990-11-05

Century / Era:

1932s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Meir David HaKohen Kahane ( kə-HAH-nə; Hebrew: מאיר דוד הכהן כהנא; born Martin David Kahane; August 1, 1932 – November 5, 1990) was an American-born Israeli Orthodox rabbi, writer, and politician. He was the founder of the Israeli political party Kach, which promoted an ultra-nationalist ideology that continues to influence some militant and far-right political groups active today in Israel. Kahane was convicted in the United States and Israel for offenses related to terrorism. Born in 1932 in Brooklyn, New York City, to an Orthodox Jewish family, Kahane received his education there, starting with Jewish scripture studies, and eventually gaining an M.A. in International Relations from New York University. In 1968, he founded the Jewish Defense League (JDL) in New York City, whose self-described purpose was to fight antisemitism.

Career & Major Achievements

Several JDL members, including Kahane, were subsequently convicted of acts related to domestic terrorism, including leading the attack on the Soviet United Nations mission in 1975. Later that same year, Kahane was convicted of conspiring to kidnap a Soviet diplomat, bomb the Iraqi embassy in Washington, and ship arms abroad from Israel. He consequently served a one-year imprisonment, albeit in a hotel. In 1971, Kahane moved to Israel and became a citizen, where he initiated protests calling for the expulsion of both Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians of the Israeli-occupied territories, which led to his arrest dozens of times. In the same year, he founded Kach, a political party that initially failed to gain any seats in the Knesset.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1980, Kahane was arrested for the 62nd time since his emigration, and he was jailed for six months for planning armed attacks against Palestinians. Kahane was held in prison in Ramla, where he wrote the book They Must Go. In the 1984 elections, his Kach party gained one seat in the Knesset, which was taken by Kahane, but he was later barred from running in 1988. In 1990, he was giving a speech to an audience of Orthodox Jews from Brooklyn, urging American Jews to emigrate to Israel, when he was assassinated by El Sayyid Nosair, an Egyptian-American national. Kahane was buried in West Jerusalem.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1932 (1932-08-01): Birth of Meir Kahane — Israeli politician known for founding the ultra-nationalist Kach party and advocating strict religious law.
2. 1968: 1968 Milestone — In 1968, he founded the Jewish Defense League (JDL) in New York City, whose self-described purpose was to fight antisemitism.
3. 1971: 1971 Milestone — In 1971, Kahane moved to Israel and became a citizen, where he initiated protests calling for the expulsion of both Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians of the Israeli-occupied territories, which led to his arrest dozens of times.
4. 1975: 1975 Milestone — Several JDL members, including Kahane, were subsequently convicted of acts related to domestic terrorism, including leading the attack on the Soviet United Nations mission in 1975.
5. 1980: 1980 Milestone — In 1980, Kahane was arrested for the 62nd time since his emigration, and he was jailed for six months for planning armed attacks against Palestinians.
6. 1984: 1984 Milestone — In the 1984 elections, his Kach party gained one seat in the Knesset, which was taken by Kahane, but he was later barred from running in 1988.
7. 1990 (1990-11-05): Passing & Historical Legacy — Meir Kahane passed away on 1990-11-05, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Notable Quotes by Meir Kahane

“For Every Jew a .22 rifle.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Meir Kahane

True or False: “Meir Kahane's primary political focus was solely on establishing secular governance in Israel.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Kahane strongly advocated for enforcing halakha (Jewish law) as codified by Maimonides and sought to integrate it into Israeli state law.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Adolfo Suárez — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Key architect of Spain's transition to democracy, serving as Prime Minister 1976-1981.
• Ahmad Tejan Kabbah — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Sierra Leonean politician and economist, served as the third President of Sierra Leone.
• A. J. P. Taylor — Contemporary (Died in 1990) (1990): Influential English historian specializing in 19th and 20th-century European diplomacy.
• Aaron Copland — Contemporary (Died in 1990) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Aishwarya Lekshmi — Contemporary (Born in 1990) (1990): Acclaimed Indian actress working primarily in Malayalam and Tamil cinema.
• Abdullah of Saudi Arabia — Shared historical date (08-01 · Born) (1924): King of Saudi Arabia, known for his role in modernizing the kingdom's governance.
• Al-Qushayri — Shared historical date (08-01 · Born) (986): Eminent Arab scholar, Sufi philosopher, and master of Islamic sciences.
• Aaron Carter — Shared historical date (11-05 · Died) (2022): American singer and rapper known for teen pop stardom and enduring musical career.
• Abedi Pele — Shared historical date (11-05 · Born) (1964): Legendary Ghanaian footballer, celebrated for his attacking prowess and leadership.
• 1932 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1932
• August 1 (08-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 1
• 1990 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1990
• November 5 (11-05) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 5

Frequently Asked Questions about Meir Kahane