Bar-Giora

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BAR-GIORA

Secret organization, constituted in 1907 in Jaffa, Palestine, by a group of Jewish immigrants originally from the Ukrainian city of Gomel. Its principal leaders were David Ben-Gurion and Izhak Ben-Zvi. After organizing a self-defense group, the leaders of Bar-Giora decided to form a veritable army, capable of defending the whole Jewish community in Palestine. This new organization took the name of Hashomer (the Guardian). Through it the leaders of Bar-Giora went on to inculcate a socialist ideology and a feeling of national pride in new immigrants. They called themselves Halutzim ("pioneers").

SEE ALSO Ben-Gurion, David.