Jewish activists everywhere have good cause to mourn the loss of Jerry Eisenberg, who passed away due to complications from Parkinson's disease and was buried on October, 7, 1996, in Hevron, Israel.

Jerry was a mentor to many JDL youths in the '70s and '80s. He was fondly known to those of us close to him as "the grandfather of Jewish activism." Eisenberg was extremely active in the early days of JDL along with Rabbi Meir Kahane, of blessed memory, leading and organizing patrols that safeguarded Jewish neighborhoods from anti-Semitic hoodlums.

Jerry was best known for organizing J.A.C.O.B. (an acronym for Jewish Athletic Club of Brooklyn), a JDL front group that trained Jewish youths in karate & other methods of self-defense. He was particularly active around Halloween, a particularly dangerous time for Jewish-owned properties, especially protecting Jewish cemeteries from vandalism. He made aliyah in 1988 and settled in Kiryat Arba, becoming active in the settler's movement. Eisenberg also made annual trips to the U.S. to help raise funds for his anti-abortion organization in Israel.

Jerry was an outgoing and very dedicated person. Everyone who knew him will remember his big smile and compassion for his fellow Jew. He will always carry a special place in this writer's heart -- and in the hearts of countless others whose lives he so touched -- for serving as an inspiration, father figure and friend.

Jerry Eisenberg will be long remembered by those of us who loved him for his never-ending fight on behalf of Jewish defense, aliyah & the importance of keeping all of Eretz Yisrael. Jerry, the old Brooklyn JDL boys, whom you so loved and nurtured, will never forget you.

Yerachmiel "Rocky" Gersh is the director of Florida JDL.