Friday 6 February 2009

The 43 Group - when men were mensch

The 43 Group were (mainly) Jewish and (a few) gentile ex-servicemen and woman who, coming back from the defeat of Hitler and the Fascists in Europe, decided to take a stand against the homegrown Fascists in Britain. Led by the affable Morris Beckman and Gerry Flamberg, they stuck it to the Fascists with fist, boot and brains, defended their areas with passion and discipline and ensured that Fascism never established itself in the UK.

They occupied a small window in time where London large working-class Jewish communities in its East End, the Left and the communists were well-organised, British Jews and ex-servicemen has been drilled and hardened by combat in Europe and many were only just learning of the atrocities committed by the Nazis. This group was a shining example of what it meant to be a mensch (in Yiddish: מענטש).

Here's a much too short, but fitting tribute and insight...







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