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Definizione

Betar (Berit Trumpeldor) is the youth movement associated with Revisionist Zionism. Named for Joseph Trumpeldor, the youth organization began its activities in 1923 in Riga, Latvia, and grew to have more than 100,000 members in twenty-six countries by the beginning of World War II. Betar's operating philosophy contained seven tenets: 1) Jewish statehood, with a Jewish majority, on both sides of the Jordan River; 2) the centrality of Zionism in all political and personal activities; 3) promotion of the Hebrew language and culture; 4) self-defense through military training; 5) two years of national service to Palestine; 6) personal pioneering and discipline; and 7) dignity. Betar chapters trained young adults for military service and for agricultural service, establishing hachsharot (work farms) throughout Europe to give members training that would qualify them to immigrate to Palestine. In the 1930s Betar chapters helped smuggle thousands of Jews into Palestine. During World War II, Betar chapters were active in local resistance movements and in the ghetto uprisings in Vilna and Bialystok. The movement supplied many of the members of the Zydowski Zwiazek Wojskowy (ZZW; Jewish Military Organization or Jewish Fighting Union), which played a key role in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Betar members in Palestine served in Palestinian units of the British army and the Jewish Brigade. Though its membership in Europe was decimated during World War II, Betar resumed activities after the war in Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Palestine, and its members were active in facilitating illegal and legal immigration to Palestine. Within Palestine, Betar operated on the premise that the building of the nation-state superceded all other matters. Betar was therefore at odds with the Zionist-Socialist youth movement. Following the creation of the State of Israel, Betar's activities concentrated on preparing Jews in the Diaspora to move to Israel, promoting the study of Hebrew as a modern language, and supporting Zionism. In Israel, Betar continued to train its members for participation in the Israeli army through its Nora Halutzi Lohem (Nahal or Fighting Pioneer Youth) groups and continued to support agricultural development. (en-US)

Fonte

Wigoder, Geoffrey, editor in chief. New Encyclopedia of Zionism and Israel. Madison: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press; London; Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Presses, 1994. 2 volumes. Vol. 1 p. 194-195

Termini più generici

• Organizzazioni ebraiche