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Guide to the Records of the Jewish Defense Organization
1971-2003

I-490

Processed by Yakov Illich Sklar

as part of the Leon Levy Archival Processing Initiative, made possible by the Leon Levy Foundation

American Jewish Historical Society

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16th Street

New York, N.Y. 10011

Phone: (212) 294-6160

Fax: (212) 294-6161

Email: reference@ajhs.org

URL: http://www.ajhs.org

© 2013, American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY. All Rights Reserved.
Electronic finding aid was encoded in EAD 2002 by Yakov Illich Sklar in April 2009. Description is in English.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Jewish Defense Organization
Title: Jewish Defense Organization Records
Dates: 1971-2003
Abstract: The collection includes materials pertaining to the Jewish Defense Organization, a radical Zionist Jewish organization devoted to protecting Jews from their enemies, imaginary and real, using all means possible. Collection consists of correspondence, financial documents, legal documents, such as depositions, subpoenas, transcripts, and a large amount of printed materials. The bulk of the materials consist of a variety of printed materials and materials pertaining to a number of legal cases against various members of the Jewish Defense Organization and the organization itself.
Languages: The collection is in English with some Russian and Hebrew.
Quantity: 25.5 linear feet.
Accession number: I-490
Repository: American Jewish Historical Society
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Historical Note

The Jewish Defense Organization is a radical Zionist Jewish organization devoted to the fight against Anti-Semitism and protecting Jews from their enemies.

It was founded in 1981 by Mordechai Levy, a former member of the Jewish Defense League after he and JDL’s leader Irv Rubin came to disagreements they could not resolve.

JDO members participate in a wide variety of campaigns, such as patrolling Jewish neighborhoods, as well as staging and participating in protests against Neo-Nazis and other groups who openly express their hatred towards Jews.

The group demonstrated against Louis Farrakhan, David Duke, Lyndon LaRouche, Moshe Aryeh Friedman, PLO, and other individuals and organizations who are viewed by the organization as Anti-Semitic.

In addition to protests and other agitation work, Jewish Defense Organization runs Camp Jabotinsky where young Jews are trained in self-defense and participate in gun-training.

Jewish Defense Organization has been involved in a number of legal case, most notably with a former JDO member, turned private eye, Steven Rambam. Steven Rambam sued The Jewish Defense Organization in 1997 “alleging defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and incitement to violence”.

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Scope and Content Note

The collection includes materials pertaining to the Jewish Defense Organization, a radical organization devoted to protecting Jews from their enemies, imaginary and real, using all means possible.

Collection consists of correspondence, financial documents, legal documents, such as depositions, subpoenas, and transcripts, and a large amount of printed materials.

The bulk of the materials consist of a variety of printed materials that are spread throughout the collection, with the larger segment found in Series III: Jewish Defense Organization Publications and Series IV: Printed Materials.

These materials consists of newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters, leaflets, flyers, posters, and clippings and cover such topics as Anti-Semitism, Israel, Middle East, terrorism, Islam, labor movement, conservatives, right wing extremism, racism, and Soviet Jews.

There is also an abundance of materials pertaining to specific organizations, such as Jewish Defense League, Jewish Defense Organization, Ku Klux Klan, Palestinian Liberation Organization, and Nation of Islam.

The second largest portion of the collection deals with a number of legal cases against various members of the Jewish Defense Organization and the organization itself, in particular a case brought forward by former member Steven Rambam. These materials consist of court procedures and other legal documents in their entirety, as well as correspondence.

Other materials dealing directly with Jewish Defense Organization include official correspondence and correspondence dealing with Mordechai Levy's arrest, financial and legal documents, notes, and photographs and audio-visual materials documenting the organization’s work. These materials constitute just a fraction of the collection.

Many materials that one would expect to find among the organization’s records are missing. There are very few financial or bookkeeping records, very little membership information and aside from the printed materials, very little is documented in regards to the organization’s activities.

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Arrangement

The collection is devided into four series:

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.

Use Restrictions

Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact: American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, N.Y., 10011
email: reference@ajhs.org

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Related Material

AJHS Antisemitic Literature Collection

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Separated Material

Books have been removed from the collection.

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Jewish Defense Organization Records; I-490; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

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Acquisition Information

Collection was donated by Mordechai Levy on behalf of the Jewish Defense Organization in 2000.

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Access Points

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Container List

 

Series I: Court materials, 1977-2003.
This series is in English.
7.5
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Scope and Content:

Series I: Court Cases includes materials pertaining to a number of legal cases against various members of the Jewish Defense Organization and the organization itself as well as materials from other legal cases that were most likely used by the members of the Jewish Defense Organization as a reference during their trials.

The bulk of the materials in this series cover a legal cases initiated by Steven Rambam against the Jewish Defense Organization.

These materials consists of legal documents, such as depositions, subpoenas, transcripts, correspondence between lawyers and the Jewish Defense Organization, and printed materials.

Subseries 1: California. Supreme Court: Steven Rambam vs. Jewish Defense Organization, 1977-2001.
This subseries is in English.
2.25 linear feet.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Scope and Content:

This subseries includes court materials pertaining to the legal case against the Jewish Defense Organization initiated by Steven Rambam. This case was conducted in the Supreme Court of California. Included here are legal documents, such as depositions, subpoenas, transcripts, correspondence between lawyers and the Jewish Defense Organization, and printed materials.

Additionally there is a small amount of materials, legal and other, pertaining to Steven Rambam's trial that took place in 1977.
Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Court documents 1997
1 2 Court documents 1997-1998
1 3 Court documents 1997-1998
1 4 Court documents 1997-1998
1 5 Court documents, correspondence 1997-1998
1 6 Court documents, correspondence 1997-1998
1 7 Court documents, correspondence 1977-2001
1 8 Court documents, correspondence 1996-1998
1 9 Court documents, correspondence 1997-1998
1 10 Court documents, correspondence 1998
Box Folder Title Date
2 1 Court documents, correspondence 1998-1999
   

folder 1 of 2

  
2 2 Court documents, correspondence 1998-1999
   

folder 2 of 2

  
2 3 Court documents, correspondence 1998-1999
2 4 Court documents, correspondence 1998-1999
2 5 Court documents, correspondence 2000
2 6 Court documents, correspondence 2001
2 7 Deposition of Barry Krugel 1998
2 8 Deposition of Steven Rambam 1997
Box Folder Title Date
3 1 Printed materials undated, 2001
3 2 Subpoenas undated

Subseries 2: New York (State). Supreme Court: Steven Rambam vs. Jewish Defense Organization, 1977-2002.
This subseries is in English.
3.75. linear feet.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Scope and Content:

This subseries includes court materials pertaining to the legal case against the Jewish Defense Organization initiated by Steven Rambam. This case was conducted in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Included here are legal documents, such as depositions, subpoenas, transcripts, correspondence between lawyers and the Jewish Defense Organization, and printed materials.

Additionally there is a small amount of materials, legal and other, pertaining to Steven Rambam's trial that took place in 1977.
Box Folder Title Date
3 3 Appendix of Threatening E-Mails 1999
3 4 Appendix of Threatening E-Mails 2000
3 5 Correspondence 1977-2001
3 6 Correspondence 1998-2001
3 7 Correspondence 1998-2001
3 8 Correspondence 2001
3 9 Correspondence, court materials 1999-2002
3 10 Correspondence, court materials 2001-2004
3 11 Court documents 1976-2001
Box Folder Title Date
4 1 Court documents 1999
4 2 Court documents 1999-2000
4 3 Court documents 1999-2002
4 4 Court documents 1999-2002
4 5 Court documents 2000
4 6 Court documents 2000
4 7 Court documents 2000
4 8 Court documents 2000-2001
4 9 Court documents 2000-2002
Box Folder Title Date
5 1 Court documents 2001
5 2 Court documents 2002
5 3 Court documents 2002
5 4 Court documents 2002
5 5 Court documents 2002
5 6 Court documents, correspondence 1990-2002
5 7 Court documents, correspondence 1997-2000
5 8 Court documents, correspondence 1997-2000
5 9 Court documents, correspondence 1999-2000
5 10 Court documents, correspondence 2000-2002
5 11 Court documents, correspondence 2001
Box Folder Title Date
6 1 Defendants-Appellants' Appendix 2002
   

Vol I

  
6 2 Defendants-Appellants' Appendix 2002
   

Vol II

  
6 3 Deposition of Alan J. Weberman 2000
6 4 Deposition of Alan J. Weberma 2001
6 5 Printed materials undated, 1990-2000s
6 6 Various 1997-2001

Subseries 3: Other Court Cases, 1977-2003.
This subseries is in English.
1.75
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Scope and Content:

This subseries includes court materials dealing with trials of suspected terrorists that were collected by Mordechai Levy and were probably used by him and other members Jewish Defense Organization at the time of their trials.

Additionally, there are legal documents pertaining to a number of other cases against the Jewish Defense Organization.

Furthermore, there are materials dealing with the 1977 trial of Steven Rambam.
Box Folder Title Date
6 7 Paul Mooney vs Jewish Defense Organization 2001-2002
6 8 Paul Mooney vs Jewish Defense Organization 2001-2002
Box Folder Title Date
7 1 Paul Mooney vs Jewish Defense Organization 2001-2002
7 2 Rosenberg Diamond Development Corp undated, 2000
7 3 United States of America vs Steven Rombom 1976-1977
7 4 United States of America vs Steven Rombom
7 5 United States of America vs Steven Rombom 1976-1977
7 6 United States of America vs Alan Weberman 2000
7 7 United States vs suspected terrorists, Sami Amin Al-Arian circa 2000
7 8 United States vs suspected terrorists, Elsayyid Nasair 2002
7 9 United States vs suspected terrorists circa 1990s
7 10 United States vs suspected terrorists circa 1990s
7 11 United States vs suspected terrorists circa 1990s
Box Folder Title Date
8 1 United States vs suspected terrorists 1989-2003
8 2 United States vs suspected terrorists 1993-2003
8 3 United States vs suspected terrorists 1994
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Series II: General, 1977-2002.
This series is in English with some Hebrew.
2 linear feet.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Scope and Content:

Series II: General includes materials pertaining to various activities of the Jewish Defense Organization and consists of official correspondence and correspondence dealing with Mordechai Levy's arrest, financial and legal documents, notes, photographs, and audio-visual materials documenting the organization’s work.

Additionally, there is a small amount of materials dealing with memberships and information on Neo-Nazis.

Box Folder Title Date
9 1 Addresses [members] undated
9 2 Audio tapes [1980s]
9 3 Audio tapes [1980s]
9 4 Camp Judo undated
9 5 Computer discs 1980s
9 6 Correspondence 1981-1996
9 7 Correspondence 1984-1991
9 8 Document sheet undated
9 9 Documents, general 1982-2002
Box Folder Title Date
8 5 Documents, financial 1977-2000
   

includes correspondence

  
8 6 Legal documents 1980s
8 7 Levy, Mordechai, arrest
8 8 Levy, Mordachai, correspondence undated
8 9 Membership 1970s
Box Folder Title Date
10 1 Neo-Nazis, phone numbers undated
10 2 Neo-Nazis, phone numbers undated
10 3 notes undated
10 4 Photographs 1990s
Box Folder Title Date
26 11 Protests 1980s
   

video recording

  
Box Folder Title Date
10 5 Various undated
10 6 Weberman, A. J. 1990s
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Series III: Jewish Defense Organization's Publications, 1980s-1999.
This series is in English.
2 linear feet.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Scope and Content:

Series III: Jewish Defense Organization's Publications includes the organization's publications, such as leaflets and newsletters.

Also included here are posters and flyers.
Box Folder Title Date
10 7 Leaflets undated, 1980s
10 8 Leaflets undated, 1980s
10 9 Leaflets undated, 1980s
10 10 Leaflets undated, 1980s
10 11 Leaflets undated, 1980s
Box Folder Title Date
11 1 Leaflets undated, 1980s
11 2 Leaflets undated, 1980s
11 3 Leaflets undated, 1980s
11 4 Leaflets undated, 1980s
11 5 Leaflets undated, 1980s
11 6 Leaflets undated, 1980s
11 7 Leaflets undated, 1983-1993
11 8 Leaflets undated, 1988-1993
11 9 Leaflets undated, 1990s
11 10 Leaflets undated, 1991-1993
Box Folder Title Date
12 1 Leaflets 1980s
12 2 Leaflets 1980s
12 3 Leaflets 1980s
12 4 Leaflets 1980s-1990s
12 5 Leaflets 1980s-1999
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Series IV: Printed materials, 1980s-1999.
This series is in English with some Russian.
14 linear feet.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Scope and Content:

Series IV: Printed Materials is by far the largest section of the collection and consists of newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters, leaflets, flyers, posters, and clippings.

All the printed materials pertain to various expressions of political or religious radicalism.

The topics most represented here include Anti-Semitism, Israel, Middle East, terrorism, Islam, labor movement, conservatives, right wing extremism, racism, and Soviet Jews.

There is a wealth of materials related to such organizations as Jewish Defense League, Jewish Defense Organization, Ku Klux Klan, Palestinian Liberation Organization, and Nation of Islam.
Box Folder Title Date
12 6 Abu-Jamal, Mumia 1995-1996
12 7 Afrikan resistance 1991-1993
12 8 Americans for a Safe Israel 1987-1989
12 9 Anti-Nazi 1980s
12 10 Anti-Semitism 1974-1990s
12 11 Anti-Semitism 1981-1986
Box Folder Title Date
13 1 Anti-Semitism 1995-1996
13 2 Anti-Semitism in academia 1980s
13 3 Aryan Nations 1990s-2003
13 4 Beranson, Lori 1987-1990
13 5 Black Anti-Semitism 1980s-1990s
13 6 Black History Week 1996
13 7 Black press 1982-1997
13 8 Black people vs Asian people 1990
13 9 Brichner, Balfour 1980s-1990s
13 10 Buchanan, Pat 1990-1992
Box Folder Title Date
14 1 Christian Neo-Nazis 1980s
14 2 Chirch of the Creator 1990s
14 3 Clark, Ramsey 1980s
14 4 Columbia Daily Spectator 1986-1995
14 5 Columbia Daily Spectator 1990
14 6 Columbia University 1991-1997
14 7 Crown Heights 1990s
14 8 Crown Heights 1990s
Box Folder Title Date
26 8 Death to the Klan 1979-1981
Box Folder Title Date
14 9 Derickson, Ulrike 1985
14 10 Duke, David 1980s-1990s
14 11 Duke, David 1988-1991
14 12 Duke, David 1989-1992
Box Folder Title Date
15 1 Dube, Ernst 1980
15 2 Europe 1988-1991
15 3 Foxman, Abraham 1990-2001
15 4 Freddy's Fashion Mart 1995
15 5 Forwards 1990s
15 6 Fuchs, Israel 1980s
15 7 Hatfill, Steven Jay 2002-2003
15 8 Holocaust 1980s-1990s
15 9 Houser, Rita 1980s
15 11 Human Events 1991-1992
15 12 Iran 1982-1983
15 13 Iraq and Syria 1981-2001
15 14 Israel 1980
15 15 Israel 1989-1995
15 16 Jackson, Jesse 1990s
15 17 Jeffries, Leonard 1990s
Box Folder Title Date
16 1 Jeffries, Leonard 1990s
16 2 Jeffries, Leonard 1990s
16 3 Jewish Athletic Club 1980s
Box Folder Title Date
26 9 Jewish Currents 1981-1997
Box Folder Title Date
16 4 Jewish Defense League 1971-1980s
16 5 Jewish Defense League 1973-1988
16 6 Jewish Defense League 1973-1991
Box Folder Title Date
26 10 Jewish Defense League 1980s-1990s
Box Folder Title Date
16 7 Jewish Defense League 1981-1986
16 8 Jewish Defense League 1981-1993
16 9 Jewish Defense League 1984-1994
16 10 Jewish Defense League 1988-1992
Box Folder Title Date
17 1 Jewish Defense Organization undated, 1980s
17 2 Jewish Defense Organization undated, 1982-1993
17 3 Jewish Defense Organization 1970s-1996
17 4 Jewish Defense Organization 1980s
17 5 Jewish Defense Organization 1980s
17 6 Jewish Defense Organization 1980s
17 7 Jewish Defense Organization 1982-1986
17 8 Jewish Defense Organization 1986-1989
17 9 Jewish Defense Organization 1986-1995
17 10 Jewish press 1981-1990s
17 11 Jewish press 1984
17 12 Jewish press 1986-1997
17 13 Jewish Radical Educational Project 1990s
17 14 Jewish students 1980s
Box Folder Title Date
18 1 Keenen, Edward 1980s
18 2 Ku Klux Klan 1980s-1990s
18 3 Ku Klux Klan 19890s-1990s
18 4 Kunstler, William 1991-1996
Box Folder Title Date
19 3 Lane, Mark undated
Box Folder Title Date
18 5 Leftists undated
18 6 Leftists 1970s-1980s
18 7 Leftists 1980s
18 8 Leftists 1980s
18 9 Leftists 1980s
Box Folder Title Date
19 1 Leftists 1982-1987
19 2 Leftist support of PLO 1983-1992
19 4 LaRouche, Lyndon
19 5 The Link 1978-1984
19 6 Middle East 1980s-1990s
19 7 Middle East 1980s-1990s
19 8 The Monitor undated
19 9 Mordechai Levy arrest 1981-1984
19 10 Muhammad Speaks undated
19 11 Nation of Islam 1984-1997
19 12 Nation of Islam 1985-1987
Box Folder Title Date
20 1 Nation of Islam 1985-1988
20 2 Nation of Islam 1988-1997
20 3 Nation of Islam 1991-1998
20 4 Nation of Islam 1994-1996
20 5 The National Alliance 1980s
20 6 The National Alliance 1983-1988
Box Folder Title Date
21 1 The National Alliance 1984-1987
21 2 The National Alliance 1986-1987
21 3 The National Alliance 1986-1988
21 4 The National Alliance 1987-1988
21 5 The National Alliance 1987-1988
21 6 The National Alliance 1987-1988
Box Folder Title Date
22 1 National Alliance Party 1981-1991
22 2 Neo-Nazis 1970s-1980s
22 3 Neo-Nazis 1980s-1991
22 4 New Jewish Agenda 1980s
22 5 New York Post 1986-1997
22 6 New York Times 1990s-2003
22 7 New York University 1990-1991
22 8 Norman Thomas High School 1995
22 9 Новое Русское Слово (Novoe Ruskoe Slovo) 1989-1990
22 10 Новое Русское Слово (Novoe Ruskoe Slovo) 1990
22 11 Новое Русское Слово (Novoe Ruskoe Slovo) 1990
22 12 Новое Русское Слово (Novoe Ruskoe Slovo) 1991-1992
22 13 Новое Русское Слово (Novoe Ruskoe Slovo) 1991
Box Folder Title Date
23 1 Outpost 1991-1994
23 2 Overthrow 1983-1989
23 3 Palestine Focus 1983-1990
23 4 Palestinian terrorism 1984-2002
23 5 Palestinian terrorism 1988-1997
23 6 "Peace" Now 1980s
23 7 Peace negotiations, Oslo 1998
23 8 PLO 1980-1988
23 9 PLO 1980-1988
23 10 PLO 1983-1988
23 11 Pollard, Jonathan 1980s-1990s
23 12 Rappers against Jews 1990s
Box Folder Title Date
24 1 Religious Jews against Israel 1980s
24 2 Revolutionary Worker 1983-1993
24 3 Revolutionary Worker 1993-1999
24 4 Right wing 1980s
24 5 Russian language periodicals 1989-1991
24 6 Savage, Gus 1990s
24 7 South Africa 1986-1990
24 8 South Africa 1986-1992
24 9 South Africa 1990s
24 10 The Shadow 1989-1992
Box Folder Title Date
25 1 Sharpton, Al 1980s-1990s
25 2 Siegman, Henry 1988
25 3 Skinheads, right wing 1991-1992
25 4 The Spotlight 1990s
25 5 The Spotlight 1991-1992
25 6 The Spotlight 1991-1992
25 7 The Spotlight 1991-1992
25 8 The Spotlight 1991-1992
25 9 Soviet Union, Jews 1980s
25 10 Soviet Union, Jews 1980s
Box Folder Title Date
26 1 Soviet Union, Jews 1980s
26 2 Terrorism 1980s-1990s
26 3 Toure, K. 1980s
26 7 Village Voice 1990s
26 5 Workers Vanguard 1988-1992
26 6 Washington Post 1990s
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