The Idea of Betar,  Ze'ev Jabotinsky (1934)

The Betar programme is composed in part from the political ideas of the Zionist Revisionist Organisation, and in part from original positions formulated by the Congress in Danzig. But the Betar worldview is currently still at the stage of development. It is in a constant process of creation-at the hands of life itself, and through the questions which constantly arise through the ongoing development of the movement. Before our eyes is emerging a new and tender shoot, a shoot of an entirely new type, previously unseen in the Jewish world. Its final form, and the fruits it will bring remain a mystery. The spirit of Betar also remains a mystery, even to those who carry it within themselves, the masses of Betarim and their leaders, and also of course to the writer of this article. He can outline here only those basic foundations which were laid down in Danzig; For the rest: he must suffice by giving expression to his hopes: to what he feels and foresees through ongoing contact with Betari comitment and enthusiasm.

On this basis, the following article is divided into two parts. In the first, the reader will find the same principles which have already been officially included in the Betar programme. In the second part, guidelines will be given in response to those questions which life has already placed before us, but to which the answers have not yet been fully crystallised. In the first part is contained the permanent worldview of Betar; the second part represents the opinions of this writer alone.

 

1. THE MISSION OF BETAR


The duty and aim of Betar is very simple though difficult: to create that type of Jew which the nation needs in order to better and quicker build a Jewish state. In other words, to create a "normal", "healthy" citizen for the Jewish nation. The greatest difficulty is encountered because, as a nation, the Jews today are neither "normal" nor "healthy" and life in diaspora affects the intelligent upbringing of normal and healthy citizens.

During two thousand years of exile, the Jewish nation lost the habit of concentrating its will-power on an all-important task, lost the habit of acting in unison as a people, lost the ability to defend itself, armed in case of emergency, instead, the Jews became accustomed to shouts rather than deeds, to disorder and disorganization, to negligence, both in social and personal life.
Every step of the Betar education signifies, therefore, a desire to reach the top and achieve this "normalcy" even though it will take a long time for every Betari to grow up in the proper ways of life and behavior. The goal is not easily attainable but at the very beginning, it is reassuring indeed to know that the Betari remembers them and aspires even if slowly, to arrive at the heights.