OUR PRESIDENT
Our President: Yisrael Yaacob Ben Avraham
Yisrael Yaacob Ben Avraham, the founder and president of the JDL 613 Brotherhood, embodies the resilience, faith, and fierce commitment to Jewish pride and defense that define our organization. Raised in Central Jersey in a proud, hardworking Catholic family, Yisrael grappled with spiritual disconnection. “Things just didn’t sit right with me,” he recalls. “I believed in a higher power, a Creator, but I felt lost, with a hole in my heart and soul.” Searching for meaning, Yisrael battled drug addiction for over two decades, chasing fleeting distractions to fill that void. Despite years of trying to get clean—through rehab, medication, and therapy—nothing eased the pain or silenced the urge to escape.
A near-fatal overdose became a turning point. Collapsing alone at home for 17 hours, Yisrael awoke unable to move his legs. Dragging himself to a phone to call 911, he faced eight grueling months in the hospital, enduring dialysis, major surgery to remove dead muscle in his calf, and the threat of losing his leg. For two years, he relied on a wheelchair, but through sheer determination, he relearned to walk, now moving forward without a cane. During this transformative period, Yisrael discovered Judaism. Embracing its teachings, he immersed himself in the Jewish community, which welcomed him with open arms, never judging him for his past or his status as a convert. “The Jewish community always accepted me for who I am,” Yisrael says, “never putting me down or treating me differently because of my background.”
Through deep faith, Torah study, and a profound relationship with Hashem, Yisrael achieved what years of programs could not: he overcame his addiction without rehab or external aid, relying solely on his spiritual awakening. Completing his conversion with the Beit Din and mikvah just two weeks before October 7, 2023, Yisrael faced a new reality as antisemitic incidents surged 344% in the U.S., with 9,354 attacks in 2024 alone. “I couldn’t sit back and watch the amazing community that accepted me be attacked by the whole world,” he says. Inspired by Rabbi Meir Kahane’s books and speeches, which he studied during his recovery, Yisrael sought out the Jewish Defense League (JDL), founded by Kahane in 1968 to combat antisemitism and instill Jewish pride. Finding no active group, he joined JDL USA, helping establish its New York and New Jersey chapters and serving in leadership roles. Due to differing visions, Yisrael parted ways amicably, stating, “I wish JDL USA full success.”
Determined to revive Kahane’s mission, Yisrael connected with like-minded Jewish men, envisioning a JDL that would take to the streets, train together, and build a brotherhood grounded in action. Drawing on his street smarts and the toughness forged during his years of struggle, Yisrael channeled his no-nonsense, never-say-no attitude to defend the Jewish community. Thus, the JDL 613 Brotherhood was born—a revival of the JDL’s ideology, adapted for today’s challenges. Yisrael reached out to former JDL members, recruited new ones, and helped revive a movement dedicated to Jewish strength, unity, and defense.
About the JDL 613 Brotherhood
The JDL 613 Brotherhood is a multifaceted organization committed to protecting Jewish communities, fostering Jewish pride, and addressing the unique challenges facing Jewish men in America. Inspired by Rabbi Kahane’s teachings of “Never Again” and “Every Jew a .22,” we train in self-defense and firearms safety to confront rising antisemitism—from campus protests to synagogue vandalism. With chapters in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and expanding to the West Coast and South, we unite secular and Orthodox, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi, in a shared mission.
Beyond defense, we tackle the crisis facing Jewish men: 80% of suicides, 25% of young men battling loneliness, and declining social circles. Through mentorship, group training, and Torah study, we build lifelong friendships and foster physical, mental, and spiritual resilience. Under Yisrael’s leadership, the JDL 613 Brotherhood harnesses his street-honed toughness and unwavering resolve to empower a united Jewish community, ready to protect our families, values, and future. Join us to make “Never Again” a reality.