Home

Kahane

Kahane is a Jewish surname of Hebrew origin, derived from the word Kahana (כהנא), meaning “priest.” It is typically associated with the Kohanim, the priestly lineage, and has multiple transliterations in English, including Kahan, Kahana, and Kahane.

The most prominent figure bearing the name is Meir Kahane (1932–1990), an American-Israeli rabbi, writer, and

Following his death, supporters formed breakaway factions, including a political movement known as Kach and a

Beyond these activities, Kahane continues to be encountered as a surname among Jewish communities in Israel

political
activist.
Kahane
founded
the
Jewish
Defense
League
in
the
United
States
and
later
established
a
political
movement
in
Israel,
advocating
a
form
of
ethno-nationalism
and
a
hardline
approach
to
Arab–Israeli
relations.
His
rhetoric
and
proposals
were
highly
controversial
and
led
to
widespread
condemnation.
Kahane
was
assassinated
in
New
York
City
in
1990.
more
radical
group
often
referred
to
as
Kahane
Chai.
These
groups
promoted
similar
principles
and,
in
the
late
1990s,
were
designated
as
Foreign
Terrorist
Organizations
by
the
United
States.
Their
activities
and
ideology
have
been
the
subject
of
intense
debate
and
legal
action,
and
they
remain
a
controversial
chapter
in
the
broader
history
of
Jewish
political
movements.
and
the
diaspora.
Variants
of
the
name
appear
in
different
languages
and
transliterations,
reflecting
its
Hebrew
roots
and
the
dispersion
of
families
bearing
the
name.