Liberating Jews from captivity and danger represents the highest priority in Jewish communal obligations - superseding even synagogue construction and poor relief according to traditional law. Yet mainstream American Jewish organizations have largely neglected this ancient mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim (redemption of captives) in contemporary urban contexts. Through textual analysis of the Shulchan Arukh's teachings and ethnographic examination of the Jewish Defense League's (JDL) activities, this research demonstrates how pidyon shvuyim extends beyond freeing Jews imprisoned in hostile nations to protecting American Jews trapped in deteriorating neighborhoods who live in fear of violence. While established Jewish organizations criticized the JDL's methods, the group operationalized this religious obligation through education programs, self-defense training, and direct community protection services. Their grass-roots approach addressed a critical gap in communal support, particularly for elderly, urban, and religiously observant Jews. The findings reveal a significant misalignment between current American Jewish communal priorities and traditional halakhic imperatives that demand immediate physical safety of fellow Jews take precedence over other charitable activities.