RUBIN'S MILITANCY SPAWNED IN VALLEY.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

For decades, Irv Rubin has been the face of Jewish militancy - confronting white supremacists, saying he had no tears for a slain Southern California Arab leader, spouting his rhetoric to anyone who would listen.

What started as a young man's brush with militancy on the campus of California State University, Northridge, has grown into a lifelong commitment as the head of the Jewish Defense League.

And while the JDL claims to have 13,000 members, experts say it might have only a few dozen active members.

``This is a ragtag group of miscreant misfits,'' said professor Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

``He's a nut who likes to blow a lot of hot air. But you never know which activist is a hot-air blower or a ticking time bomb.''

Those who have known Rubin for years expressed doubt Wednesday that he could have committed the crimes alleged, and believe he will be vindicated.

Attorney Roger Jon Diamond, who has represented him in some of his 40 arrests, compared Rubin to a hockey player who battles aggressively but knows when to quit.

``I always felt it was controlled anger,'' said Diamond, who represented Rubin in a suit against Los Angeles and the LAPD in 1984 and in an ongoing case over prayer at Burbank City Council meetings.

``He would never do anything violent. He might push somebody around to make sure they didn't violate somebody's rights. He's been doing this for years.''

According to the JDL Web site, Rubin first encountered anti-Semitism as a child in Canada. But it was after he moved to the San Fernando Valley with his family as a teen that he joined the fight.

The 1963 graduate of Granada Hills High School was on the CSUN campus in the 1970s when he heard a speech by Rabbi Meir Kahane, the JDL founder.

Soon after, he became a West Coast leader and took over as chairman in 1985 when Kahane, who subsequently was assassinated in 1990, moved to Israel.

``He's never been able to get a foothold in the mainstream Jewish community,'' said Levin. ``He's been more of a sideshow attraction. To the Jewish community's credit, they have really made every effort they can to distance themselves.''

At one point, Rubin offered $500 to anyone who injured or killed a Nazi - which landed him in court. He was acquitted of all charges.

``He's someone who's been repudiated by every civil rights group and for those of us who work on fighting hate and building an interdemonication dialogue, he's poison,'' said Levin. ``He's a grandstander who tolerates and embraces violence, and encourages distrust and animus toward the Arab and Muslim community.''

But others see a patriot who fights to ensure Jews live in peace.

Said Diamond, ``He just won't tolerate any attack on America, but he's never resorted with any violence.''

Staff Writers Howard Breuer and Lisa Faught contributed to this story.