Glossary

Aliyah - Immigration to Israel.

 

Aliyah Bet - The second major wave of immigration of Jews to British administered Palestine without the consent of the British government.

 

Bar Kochba - The leader of the Jews fighting against Roman takeover in the days of Massada.

 

British Mandate Palestine - The area now consisting of Jordan and Israel. The British government was given the responsibility by the League of Nations, the forerunner of the United Nations, to establish the Jewish National Home. Over 75% of the land was taken away from the Jews to create the Arab Palestinian State, Jordan.

 

Eretz Israel - Originating in the Torah, the name means Land of Israel.

 

Galut - The world outside of Eretz Israel.

 

Hachshara - Military Training.

 

Hashomer Hatzair - The youth organization of the Jewish socialist parties. Not only are they typified as being anti Jewish religious practice, but anti-religion as well.

 

Histadruth - The collective of all Jewish socialist parties.

 

Jewish Agency - The group recognized by the British as Representatives of Jews in Palestine.

 

Kinus - A governing convention of Betar that decides the future of the movement. Today, a Kinus occurs every two years in each country as well as another for the World movement.

 

Maoz (Maozim Pl.) - A Betar chapter.

 

Mapai - The socialist party dominating Jewish policies in British Mandated Palestine and Israeli politics until Menachem Began became Prime Minister.

 

Mifaked (Mifakdim Pl.) Officer.

 

Mizrachi - The organization of Sefardic Jewry.

 

New Zionist Organization - The anti-socialist political organization.

 

Plugat Hakotel - Translated as the Platoon of the Wall, this is the name of the group of Betarim who protected Jews as they went to pray at the Wailing Wall before Israel was established.

 

Revisionist - The name of the group that saw a new vision of the future establishment of the State of Israel. While the Zionist establishment was working to establish the Jewish state based upon socialist ideals, Jabotinsky wanted to see a democracy and a free market economy. He explained how we should not work toward socialism. The only ism we should work for is Zionism. (not to be confused with the term 'Holocaust revisionist' that implies a rewrite of history itself)

 

Torah - Jewish Bible.

 

Yishuv - The settlement of Jews in Eretz Israel.