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Opposing Antisemitism in the Movement: A Workshop for Activists

When: Sunday, July 23, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington Streets, Manhattan (directions below).
Antiauthoritarians and social justice activists often think they’re immune from racism and prejudice. But many Jewish activists’ experience shows that forms of antisemitism are alive and well in the social justice movement. This not only drives away many Jewish activists, but profoundly affects our work as a movement. This workshop brings together two longtime activists who have studied how the left responds to antisemitism for an evening of instruction and experience-sharing that will help us understand and combat its effects in the activist community.
Antisemitism is more than a “prejudice.” It’s a political worldview that can creep into the work of even dedicated fighters against oppression and injustice. This workshop will begin with the essentials: What is antisemitism? How is it different from what we’ve been taught it is? We will then explore the ways that antisemitism manifests itself today within movements against capitalism, the state, corporate globalization, and other forms of oppression, and what problems have kept the left from tackling antisemitism historically. We will look at how antisemitism damages the struggle for justice. Finally, we will discuss how we as activists can get better at seeing and fighting antisemitism where it arises.
This workshop is designed to be an interactive learning experience, where participants are encouraged to discuss their own experiences and concerns. The panelists are:
April Rosenblum, a Philadelphia-based activist and author of “The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere,” a pamphlet for radicals on resisting antisemitism.
Peter Staudenmeier, a faculty member, Institute for Social Ecology and author of “Fascist Ecology: The ‘Green Wing’ of the Nazi Party and its Historical Antecedents.”
Eric Laursen (moderator), a writer, organizer, and longtime global justice and antiwar activist.
$5 suggested. No one turned away.
Directions: Bluestockings, 1 block south of the Second Avenue stop (F train) and 5 blocks from the Essex-Delancey Street stop (J,M,Z trains).

17 thoughts on “Opposing Antisemitism in the Movement: A Workshop for Activists

  1. This is a very good idea. You wouldn’t want another “hymietown” remark coming from a black leader so that all those optimistic passionate liberal Jews fighting for civil rights for blacks won’t be demoralised.

  2. 1) Formermuslim – while you’re opinion is welcome, why do you haunt a left-wing blog if you don’t like its posts or ideas? Nothing else to do?
    2) How would one go about making this thing bigger than just NYC. I know that this seminar is desperatly needed in PIRGS across Ontario, some of which have even identified their own antisemitism but dont know how to deal with it?
    Is there any way to plug these people into the Union of Progressive Zionists – which does some amazing “3rd way” work around north america and has connections to both the organized left and the organized jewish communities.

  3. “1) Formermuslim – while you’re opinion is welcome, why do you haunt a left-wing blog if you don’t like its posts or ideas? Nothing else to do?”
    This would be a pretty boring place if everyone agreed with everything written here. And I myself would find it pretty boring to only respond in blogs which I agree with ideologically.

  4. yes, but as of late you have been downright disrespectful and i am growing wary of you. so i’m putting you on notice. i have banned you before for being nothing more than provocative and being downright nasty in your tone. if you cannot engage in civil conversation and make your points without being contemptable, i will suspend your privileges once again.

  5. There was an effort to make this work national. It was even mentioned in this blog before. But… it didn’t pick up, it didn’t go anywhere. And it’s worth understanding why repeated efforts, across the years, of left wing Jews to engage anti-Semitism as an issue has not worked so well.
    By repeated efforts, I’m reminded of Mobius’ discovery of a book of radical jewish voices from the early ’70s, and the efforts of New Jewish Agenda.
    Usually, when the left engages an issue, we know who our friends are, and who the enemies are. When it comes to anti-Semitism on the left, in the peace camp, suddenly it’s difficult to pinpoint…. Then we are no longer after ‘the anti-Semites’ who maybe deserve to be demonized, but rather helping to ‘educate’ a camp that is generally holy but suffers from some misperceptions about Jews and Zionism.
    I appload the efforts of the organizers; I intend to help when and where I can; but I’m terribly pessimistic. Can someone post an analysis of why this time efforts to educate the left on anti-Semitism are more likely to have an effect than in the past?

  6. this event sounds excellent and very neeeded in the community. i am reminded of some of letty cottin pogrebrin’s experiences from her book “deborah golda and me” about anti-semitism and the left during the early feminist movement. unfortunately i will be out of town for this date/time, but would be very interested in a follow-up event or even helping to organize one for those of us who will have to miss this. it is extremely important, especially in light of recent events where “progressive” jews (especially women, or jews of color or LGBT jews, or any other jew that identifies with a minority group) find themselves having to choose between being a woman and standing in solidarity with other women and women’s issues and coalitions and being jewish and standing with jewish community issues. one should not have to make that choice, espeically when our jewish values are in line with so much of our “progressive” ideology… in any event, kudos to the sponsors and supporters of this event. (also, on another note, does anyone know how to get ahold of or join JWW?)
    thanks.

  7. Absolutely needed and necessary but, unfortunately, there is not much interest in left-wing anti-Semitism on the far left among i.e. among anarchists or communists. In general, they either: (a) don’t think it exists; (b) think it is a right-wing phenomena; (c) think it is brought up to quash criticism of Israel.
    Tom C asks, “Is there any way to plug these people into the Union of Progressive Zionists”?
    Yes, the UPZ is an excellent group of people. But I doubt there is any way to plug them into this event as the organizers are anarchist anti-Zionists and I suspect these are the type of people they want to come to the event. I could be wrong about this but I don’t think so from my own experience on the far left (15+ years).
    I suspect a few people will show up who are actually interested in the issue most of whom acknowledge that there is anti-Semitism on the left. However, there will be a much larger and louder contingent of people there to move discussion towards “the Jewish lobby,” Iraq, Lebanon, etc. And this is problem. Any event organized by members of the extreme left—whether anarchist or communist—is going to have this sort of dynamic.
    Liberals and democratic socialists are another matter. From my experience they are much more open to critical and honest discussion of anti-Semitism on the left.
    Anyway, it is very positive to see this discussed on Jewschool. But as far as general interest on the far left for this sort of thing, have a look at the comments made regarding this same event on Indymedia, a voice of the “anti-authoritarian” movement.
    http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2006/07/72966.html

  8. “Can someone post an analysis of why this time efforts to educate the left on anti-Semitism are more likely to have an effect than in the past?”
    Charles, I would argue that they are likely to have less effect at this moment, given the far left’s extreme obsession with Israel and the escalation of conflict in the region. I can hear the voices vividly:
    “Why now? You’re just having this workshop to take our attention from the genocide in Gaza and Lebanon! End the occupation!”

  9. [somehow a previous comment did not make it up. my apologies if this is a deal post]
    Absolutely needed and necessary but, unfortunately, there is not much interest in left-wing anti-Semitism on the far left i.e. among anarchists or communists. In general, they either: (a) don’t think it exists; (b) think it is a right-wing phenomena; (c) think it is brought up to quash criticism of Israel.
    Tom C asks, “Is there any way to plug these people into the Union of Progressive Zionists”?
    Yes, the UPZ is an excellent group of people. But I doubt there is any way to plug them into this event as the organizers are anarchist anti-Zionists and I suspect these are the type of people they want to come to the event.
    I suspect a few people will show up who are actually interested in the issue most of whom acknowledge that there is anti-Semitism on the left. However, there will be a much larger and louder contingent of people there to move discussion towards “the Jewish lobby,” Iraq, Lebanon, etc. And this is problem. Any event organized by members of the extreme left—whether anarchist or communist—is going to have this sort of dynamic. Liberals and democratic socialists are another matter. From my experience they are much more open to critical and honest discussion of anti-Semitism on the left.
    It’s very positive to see this discussed in Jewschool. But as far as general interest on the far left for this sort of thing, have a look at the comments made to this same event on Indymedia:
    http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2006/07/72966.html

  10. And on the topic of left-wing anti-semitism. This was posted by Adam LeBor at Harry’s Place:
    http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/
    Here is the cartoon from yesterday’s Guardian. In its use of multiple Stars of David (not the Israeli flag as such), images of blood, and a suffering child it seems to me to have crossed the line from legitimate criticism of Israel’s actions in Lebanon into something darker.
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/corrections/story/0,,1824414,00.html
    “Yesterday’s cartoon on page 29 (Comment) portrayed Israeli military action in Lebanon in the form of a mailed fist with Stars of David as knuckle-dusters. By failing to identify them in a specifically Israeli form – such as in the colours of the flag – the point the cartoon was making might have been interpreted as implicating Judaism rather than the Israeli government in the present conflict. That was not the intention, and we are sorry if anyone saw it that way.”

  11. Can someone post an analysis of why this time efforts to educate the left on anti-Semitism are more likely to have an effect than in the past?
    For one thing, I know of numerous small efforts going on in many cities. They’re not huge, but they’re feeding each other.
    And I have to say, Charles, your question sounds not like you’re suggesting learning from past mistakes, but like it’s not worth trying if it didn’t work before. I hope that I’m mis-reading that. Would you also ask why we should oppose wars when past anti-war movements haven’t succeeded? Why we should work for racial justice when the clock is being turned back?
    Learn from past mistakes, yes. But give up? No.

  12. “Learn from past mistakes, yes. But give up? No.”
    I know you addressed your comments to Charles but thought I’d add my 2 cents. I am not going to give up the struggle against anti-Semitism. However, to think that the extreme left in general–as exemplified by the alphabet soup of leftist parties and groups–gives a rat’s ass about Jews or Jewish identity does not mesh with reality. Again, to be clear, I do not place liberals and democratic socialists on the extreme left. As far as the communists and anarchists, I’ve come to the conclusion of “what’s the point?” These groups and individuals are so marginalized in local, state and national politics it’s a waste of time, energy and resources engaging with them.
    Personally I think we’ve “given up” as soon as we involve ourselves with fringe political organizations that not only have no track record of success but actually work against our group and individual interests. I think people have “given up” when they buy into the paranoid world-views of extremists, whether on the left or right. But if this sort of thing is your cup of tea, have fun and be safe.

  13. “I doubt there is any way to plug them into this event as the organizers are anarchist anti-Zionists and I suspect these are the type of people they want to come to the event.”
    yes, i was one of the event organizers and speakers. although i do come from an anrchist background, i am not an “anti-zionist” so much as a non-zionist. which make me someone who can talk sympathetically to anti-zionists – but not necessarily an ally of yours, i guess. (As a hardcore anti-nationalist, i *am* very sympathetic to anti-zionists – but that also makes me anti-Hamas, anti-Hizbollah, anti-Likud and anti-Meretz).
    Unfortunately, it seemed to be mostly lefty jews who came to bluestockings – which a) was both packed, and b) a mostly sympathetic crowd. I certainly did a soft-sell on something I could’ve gone hard on.
    I want to talk to non-jewish leftists about why they should take antisemitism seriously. Of course, i believe that one can do that and still not care about Israel. As far as I am concerned, it’s just another country on the other side of the world that I have never been to and don’t give a shit about.
    We’ll put the audio of the talk up soon.

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