Yisrael Yaacob Ben Avraham – President and Founder, JDL 613 Brotherhood and Sisterhood

Yisrael Yaacob Ben Avraham is the President and Founder of JDL 613, a Torah-centered revival of the original Jewish Defense League. Raised in Central New Jersey, his spiritual journey began with a deep longing for meaning that led him through years of sincere study and self-discovery. In late September 2023—just two weeks before the October 7th massacre—he completed his formal conversion to Judaism through mikvah and beit din, dedicating his life fully to Hashem and the Jewish people.

The atrocities of October 7th and the explosive rise in antisemitism worldwide compelled him to act. Frustrated by passivity and talk-only responses, Yisrael founded JDL 613 in 2024 to restore the militant, Torah-based Jewish defense movement that says “Never Again” and truly means it. Anchored in Rabbi Meir Kahane’s Five Principles—Ahavat Yisrael, Hadar, Barzel, Mishmaat, and Bitachon—the organization stands for Jewish pride, iron strength, discipline, faith, and the unbreakable unity of the Jewish people.

As President, Yisrael leads JDL 613 with full-time commitment. He directs content production for the Jewish Idea Network (including the Tzofim podcast and Rumble programming), creates powerful graphics and videos, builds chapters and infrastructure, and advocates for Jewish security, self-defense training, and community empowerment across the East Coast and beyond. He is building JDL 613 as a true brotherhood and sisterhood where every Jew—regardless of background—can find strength, purpose, and protection.

Yisrael’s leadership embodies the transformation from personal searching to collective action. Under his guidance, JDL 613 declares with clarity and resolve: the Jewish people will no longer rely on others for our safety. We stand. We train. We fight back. With pride, strength, and absolute faith in Hashem, we secure our future and the future of the Land of Israel