YIVO event explores history of the Jewish Labor Bund

Historian Joshua Meyers will present a lecture on the Jewish Labor Bund on Nov. 3. The event, titled "More than a Symbol: The Jewish Labor Bund in History," is hosted by the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. It will take place at YIVO in New York and stream online on Zoom. Registration is free. St. Louis viewers can access the stream at 6 p.m. Central time.

The Bund was founded in 1897 in the Russian Empire. It championed workers' rights, socialism, and Yiddish culture. The movement operated during a period of widespread Jewish discrimination. Instead of urging Jews to migrate to Palestine, Bundists fought for equality in the countries where they already lived.

This philosophy is known as doikayt, or "hereness." Meyers notes that this concept appeals to progressive Jews who are questioning Zionism. He attributes the current interest in the Bund to declining identification with Zionism among some American Jews. He also cites renewed progressive politics and growing interest in secular Yiddish culture. He connects the revival to the resurgence of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Meyers argues that the Bund is not simply anti-Zionist. He states, "The Bund was not founded to fight against Zionism, but for the Diaspora." He describes the Bund and Zionism as "fraternal twins." Both movements emerged in 1897 to address questions about Jewish survival. They disagreed on where and how Jews should secure their future. Bundists often criticized Zionist methods rather than their goals.

Bundists objected to Zionist leaders working with wealthy capitalists and powerful governments. They saw European Jews struggling with poverty and persecution. Despite these differences, the Bund collaborated with socialist Zionist organizations like Poalei Zion. They worked together on educational and cultural initiatives. Meyers prefers the term "non-Zionist" to describe the Bund.

After Israel was established in 1948, the Bund initially opposed its creation. It favored a binational state with cultural autonomy for Jews and Arabs. By the 1950s, Bundists accepted Israel as a reality. They did not embrace Zionism but called on Arab states to recognize Israel. They also advocated for Palestinian refugee repatriation and compensation. They rejected the idea that Israel spoke for all Jews.

Meyers warns against romanticizing the Bund. He says its history included authoritarian tendencies and troubling political decisions during the revolutionary turmoil of 1917. He describes the organization as capable of being foolish and narrow-minded. He also notes it could be courageous and fair-minded. He rejects both idealizing the movement and dismissing its members for failing to anticipate the Holocaust. He says, "I think that deification and demonization are two sides of the same coin."

Meyers believes that debating whether Israel should have been established distracts from current decisions. He argues that the diaspora is as much a part of Jewish civilization as Israel. For Bundists, Jewish life in St. Louis or Warsaw mattered as much as life in Jerusalem. The lecture will explore these historical nuances and their relevance today.