The Doctrine of Beitar

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...Betarist," but how much more important is the traditional "Hadar." You must be kind-hearted: as long as the matter does not touch upon principled issues, do not haggle over petty rights! It is better that you make a sacrifice than demand a sacrifice from another. Every word of yours must be a "word of honor!". And your word of honor must be as hard as flint. The day must come when every Jew who wishes to express the highest appreciation for human integrity, for manners and honor, will not say as they do now: "This is a true gentleman!" — but will say: "This is a true Betarist!"

1. From a letter to the representatives in Civitavecchia.

This step that you have taken in coming to the naval school in Civitavecchia will have great importance, for better or for worse — and that depends on you. If you succeed in winning the sympathy and respect of the school's directors, its teachers, and its Italian students, you will have paved a new path in the development of our people, and this will lead us in the future to the conquest of a decisive position in spirit and in life. But if you do not succeed — know this, that there will be but one conclusion: the creation of a new focus for race-hatred in a country that until now has not known this disease.

This matter depends on you and only on you; and the secret of success lies in that same principle whose name you have already learned as a member of Betar: Hadar. There in Civitavecchia will be the proving test for you, whether, along with the name, you have also learned the essence.

The meaning of Hadar is, first of all, that you never forget, day and night and at every moment, that you are guests in the school, in the city, and in the country.

Be gentlemen.

Do not take the first bench — but if they offer you the first bench, do not refuse.