The Jewish Diasporist

This week, Ben and Zach are joined by two organizers based in Palestine-Israel whose lives and political journeys inform powerful reflections on displacement, state oppression, solidarity, and the possibilities of joint struggle.Kastuś, originally from Minsk, has moved through various diasporic contexts—Belarus, Australia, and now Tel Aviv — shares his path from growing up under authoritarianism to joining the Belarusian uprising in 2020, and working with Kompass Media (Ep. 26) and on his own to alleviate harm and expose the reality of state (and state-backed) violence.Mohammed, a 48' Palestinian from Umm al-Fahm, brings deep insight from growing up as part of an activist family and community, and reflects on his experience as a Palestinian student at an Israeli university in the wake of October 7.Our conversation draws provocative parallels between the histories of European Jews and Palestinians—without flattening their differences—as a way to think about shared experiences of dispossession, repression, and resistance. On this 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, it is as important as ever to reject nationalist histories and challenge all forms of domination and hate.Learn more a bout the Polish-Belarusian (EU) Border Refugee crisis and consider supporting activists here! Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Thank you to Monsieur Jack for his beautiful rendition of the Partisan Song "Zog Nit Keynmol"

Becoming Gamers and Deporting Hitler - Let's Play Social Democracy: An Alternate HistoryAfter much consideration, we have decided to relaunch the Jewish Diasporist for its 3rd year as a GAMING CHANNEL! Check out the full Let's Play episode in video on youtube!Play the game here! https://red-autumn.itch.io/social-democracyThank you to Dan Nichols for continuing to allow us to use his Aleinu L'shabeiach.Originally released on Youtube on 1 April 2025 (In reality, Zach and Ben have been busy organizing and working locally and transnationally in their own communities. Stay tuned for more diasporic Jewish educational content. Happy 2nd Anniversary to the Jewish Diasporist Podcast and Happy Belated April Fools Day.)

This week Zach and Ben are joined by Kofi, who recently took part in the Black Jewish Liberation Collective's (BJLC) “Teshuvah Across Waters,” the inaugural cohort of a sustained solidarity and education project in relationship to the Hebrew Ibo community in Nigeria. In our conversation we explored a variety of topics. Kofi's experiences as a Jew by choice, the Afro-Jewish reality of being part of both African and Jewish diasporas, Ibo Jewish communties' relationship to hegemonic Jewishness (Zionism, Orthodoxy and Ashkenormativity) and much more.This episode is in direct dialogue with Rafael Shimunov's recent interview with one of the organizer's of the trip, Rabbi Dr. Koach Frazier and two other participants. Check out Beyond the Pale's Episode on the BJLC's Teshuvah Across Waters to learn more about this powerful heritage trip. Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Thank you to Dan Nichol's for continuing to allow us to use his music!

The World Union of Jewish Students hosts its annual congress over the new year. Zach retells Ben his experiences from the 2023/24 conference in Prague. They chat about the participants, location, events, conference, and why and how Jewish student diasporists should engage with Jewish student unions at the local, national, regional and global level.Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

Becca Strober joins Ben & Zach to speak about her educational organizing and activism as an American-Israeli, both online and on the ground. We speak about the Jerusalemite identity, diverse semantic labels, productive engagement with those who disagree with us, and a road forward for Israelis and the movement for Palestinian liberation.Check out Becca's work on Instagram and her podcast!Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

Uno Reverse Bundism. Zalman, former guest from episode 23, interviews Zach about Cafe Bund and the principles which guide his local and transnational organizing. Back with Ben next time for a biiiig episode :))Bundist Zine FundraiserInstagram: @cafe.bundSubscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!

Ben & Zach are joined by Hallie Appel and Maddan Eisenberg. Together, they discuss their organising efforts as the Provisional Steering Committee of the International Jewish Labor Bund.If you interested in getting involved, click HERESupport the Rayyan FamilySubscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Isabel Frey for her beautiful rendition of Di Shvue!

Although recent news has led some to portray Amsterdam (and Diaspora more broadly) as inhospitable for Jewish life, it is home to a thriving Jewish community that has been charting a path toward a diasporist Jewish Future.Ben and Zach are joined by Jelle and Tori, two organizers of Oy Vey, an outward-facing, radically inclusive and unapologetically Jewish hub in Amsterdam. Drawing on hundreds of conversations with community members and Amsterdam's wider Jewish community, they have created A New Jewish Manifesto which seeks to provide a positive vision for Jewish life in Diaspora. This timely text is being launched in multiple languages at the Jewish Manifestival, a hybrid event on Thursday November 21 starting at 7:00pm (GMT +1).In this conversation, Jelle and Tori explore the work of Oy Vey, and guide us through the social and institutional context it has been built in. Alongside many other insights, they provide perspectives on the constructive relationship they have with the many other Jewish communities in the city. Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

Historian and yiddishist Tamara Gleason Freidberg joins Ben and Zach to talk about the history of the Jews in Mexico, the 1930s and 1940s, the role of the Jewish left in the country, and contemporary politics following the beginning of the presidency of Claudia Sheinbaum - the first female and first Jewish president of Mexico who is continuing the progressive "Fourth Transformation" of the country!ingeveb.org/people/tamara-gleason-freidbergforward.com/news/622618/mexico-president-claudia-sheinbaum-jewish-family-holocaust/Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

Sukkot reminds us of the dwellings our ancestors lived in when they were fleeing Egypt, they are the temporary dwellings of refugees. Yet settlers have bastardized the holiday to be about occupying land, and often use the plants of the Lulav to claim Sukkot as a Zionist Holiday. In this episode, join Ben and Jordan for a walk as they creatively engage with the Holiday's halacha (Jewish Law/Way of Practice) and inspiration in the Torah to adapt the ritual in the spirit of Doikayt (Hereness).Hear the full conversation, and the thought that went into creating our Lulav from Coast Live Oak, Douglas Fir, California Mugwort and a single pulled French Broom by supporting us on Patreon!We hope you'll check out this inspiring text, the Book of Lulav by Miriam Saperstein, and if you have time before the end of Sukkot, build your own local Lulav!Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramAs usual, we'd like to thank Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use their beautiful music.

So often, Jews and Palestinians are seen as separate, even diametrically opposed communities, yet what happens when we center those who hold both of these identities simultaneously?In this episode, Ben and Jordan are joined by Hadar Cohen, an Arab Jewish scholar, mystic artist and community organizer to discuss the complexities, tensions and possibilities of modern Arab-Jewish life and identity. By tying together personal, spiritual and historical perspectives, Hadar helps us illuminate the subversive power of Palestinian-Jewishness as a key component in the struggle for justice in Palestine-Israel and de-assimilation across the diverse Jewish world.Learn more about Hadar's work on her Linktree!Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

In this special crossover episode of The Jewish Diasporist and Labor Jawn, hosts Jordan and Gabe team up to interview Dr. Caroline Luce, a scholar of Jewish labor history in the United States. Together. They explore the rich and complex history of Jews in America, highlighting the intersections of immigration, labor unions, synagogues, mutual aid societies, and colonialism. Tracing the westward migration of American Jews from New York to Los Angeles, this episode provides a deep dive into Jewish labor's evolving role within the broader context of capitalism and colonialismFollow Dr. Caroline Luce's Work!Subscribe to our collaborative YouTube!Follow The Jewish Diasporist and Labor Jawn on Instagram!Support The Jewish Diasporist and Labor Jawn on Patreon!Big thank you to Isabel Frey for continuing to allow us to use her music for our intro and outro!

Summer Camp Conflict and Care w/ Dani and EzraIn this episode, Ben and Jordan discussed an institution near and dear to their hearts, URJ Camp Newman, with additional former campers and recent staff members, Dani and Ezra. Throughout the conversation, we explore the way camps serve as a microcosm of the diasporic Jewish world, offering a crucial space for young Jews to develop their identities while also highlighting many of the tensions between the policies of the URJ (Union of Reform Judaism, more on that in a future episode) and the changing, growing, and questioning Jewish people they seek to contain. This interview follows several years of intentional efforts by staff (our hosts included) to challenge the uncritical Israel education that is so common within mainstream Jewish communal spaces. Donate to support Ezra's session's charity work: https://donate.reformjudaism.org/fundraiser/5599537 B'tselem Mapping Resource Discussed:https://conquer-and-divide.btselem.org/

Okay, not EXACTLY Paris...We venture into France for the first time to speak to Mati, one of the organisers of a new diasporist congregation in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, just north of Montmartre.Follow Le Shul Saint-Ouen on InstagramSubscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on Instagram InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

Sophie Cardin (MPhil, Oxford) (Mazel Tov!) joins us to talk about her work on Yiddish Political Utopia, especially the work of Kalmen Zingman (1889-1929) author of "In the Future City of Edenia" (1918).We talk about Zingman and the other utopian writers of his time, what utopia is and the importance of utopian thinking in the present situation (fans of JD35 will love it in particular!)Zingman in the YIVO encyclopediaZingman's funny faceRead "In the Future City of Edenia" here! (Original and English)Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on Instagram InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

In this episode we spoke to Ollie Schwartz, the cultural organizer, who founded Pushcart Judaica, an online and traveling market that specializes in ethical Judaica produced by local artists and makers.Ben met Ollie during the Center For Jewish Nonviolence's May 2023 Delegation to Palestine (See Episode 7 for more). From 2018 to 2022 Ollie served as one of the co-directors of Linke Fligl, Yiddish for “Left Wing”, which was a queer diasporist Chicken farm in Upstate New York that intentionally built community for one 7-year shmita cycle.If you want to hear more from Ollie, they were recently featured in an episode of the Judaism Unbound podcast. Nevertheless, in framing of our conversation around diasporism across the world, this interview offers unique perspective on their work. You can find Pushcart Judaica on Instagram hereSubscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on Instagram InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

In this episode, Zach spoke to Steve Ogin, one of the lead organizers of the Yiddish cultural movement in the United Kingdom.We'd like to apolgize for the delays in our regular biweekly publishing schedule. We have been working hard, and have had difficulties editing at the rate we'd like. Nevertheless, we have several though provoking episodes recorded for the coming weeks so stay tuned!Yiddish Cafe Website and YoutubeSubscribe to our own collaborative YouTubeFollow us on Instagram InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Isabel Frey for continuing to allow us to use her music!

Ben and Zach speak to Joe, a member of the Jewish Voice for Solidarity group, which is based in Prague, Czech Republic, Alongside their various local actvities, they recently drafted and presented an interesting document, a satire playing on the Israeli Declaration of Independence, which all Jewish Diasporists will find an interesting read.Perhaps this humourous spirit, or the fact that we recorded the intro on the 4th of July, led us to engage in a little tomfoolery during the intro...Joe's article "There is No Jewish State"Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on Instagram InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

This is a re-release of our conversation with artist and former University of Oregon Hillel organiser Alana Green, conducted in November 2023.Stay tuned for more on this subject :)Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on Instagram InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

(Note: This Interview was recorded before 6/7, when the University of California (UC) found an Orange County Judge to declare a restraining order on the UAW in order to suspend the legal strike action.)Over the past months, encampments were set up to demand fiscal transparency and divestment from Israel's militarism. Although this mass movement has commonly been accused of spreading antisemitism, Jews have disproportionately taken part in this movement to hold their universities' administrations accountable.At the campuses of the University of California, this movement has taken a unique turn as academic workers, organized through UAW 4811, launched a strike to challenge the unfair labor practices imposed to repress the student movement.In this episode, Ben interviewed Rebecca Gross and Max Sàrosi. Max and Rebecca both have been key organizers of Jews Against White Supremacy (JAWS) on the campus, and Rebecca is also a leader of the union on campus.While locally focused, this conversation explores JAWS as an organization that has been part of the wider movement at UCSC, and places the specific dynamics of the movement at UCSC within its context as part of the UC Divest coalition. We hope this conversation will help listeners better understand the character of this locale within the historic movement. Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on Instagram InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Aly Halpert for continuing to allow us to use her music!

Note: This episode was recorded on May 14, 2024, prior to the arrests made at the UC Berkeley "Hind's House" encampment.For this episode, we interviewed Zalman Tzipporah, a Bundist student and organizer, who has been attending University at Berkeley CA, but in past months has been completing a Semester in Berlin. In our conversation we explored Zalman's road to Bundism and how these ideas have shaped his experience in these distinct geographies; from Yiddishism to their practice of hereness in there collegial homes of Berkeley and Berlin.We initially met Zalman through our shared participation in the effort to rebuild the International Jewish Labour Bund, but he also joined Zach in Krakow to help organize a Jewish Bloc for the city's May Day Demonstration. This was the first organized Jewish bloc at a demonstration in Poland in generations.Sign up here to join in rebuilding the International Jewish Labor Bund!Learn more about the Yiddish program that has been foundational to Zalman's Bundism.Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on Instagram InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Isabel Frey for allowing us to use her rendition of the Bund's anthem, Di Shvue.

In this episode we spoke to Levi Zapata, Katie Kaestner-Frenchman and Lìdice, three organizers of Colectivo Sirpad (סרפד), a Queer Anti-Zionist and Diasporist group in Spain. In our conversation we delved in to the rich Jewish history of the country and explored how Jews have contributed to and pushed against the formation of Spanish national culture. By diving into the history and present of Sepharad our guests offer a unique look into the way diaspora cultures constitute and subverts contemporary understandings of national identity.Subscribe to our collaborative YouTubeFollow us on Instagram InstagramIf you like the work we're doing here, please consider supporting us on Patreon!Big thank you to Dan Nichols and Aly Halpert for allowing us to use their music for our intro and outro.

Esteemed Professor Avi Shlaim joins Zach to speak about the study of history and Arab-Jewish identity!Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jewsimonandschuster.com/books/Three-Worlds/Avi-Shlaim/9780861544639Recent interviews by Prof. Shlaim:youtube.com/watch?v=lfDhaWlqXf8&pp=ygUUYXZpIHNobGFpbSBhcmFiIGpld3M%3Dyoutube.com/watch?v=gvhL2Sy5FEQ&pp=ygUUYXZpIHNobGFpbSBhcmFiIGpld3M%3Dyoutube.com/watch?v=krOE1QOWziA&pp=ygUUYXZpIHNobGFpbSBhcmFiIGpld3M%3Dyoutube.com/watch?v=nUjdDYoTZG0&pp=ygUUYXZpIHNobGFpbSBhcmFiIGpld3M%3Dyoutube.com/watch?v=OdWOpHMKelMHadar Cohen's cited article:972mag.com/arab-jew-mizrahim-zionism-israel/Patreon: patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYouTube: youtube.com/@HamotziNetworkInstagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/Endless Gratitude to Aly Halpert for the intro music: open.spotify.com/artist/5ilJZ0nHG41CYddwNuP3f6?si=EH0Uy2JATLK0w-x-IAIIRA

Zach and Jordan (a first time combo!) speak to Zandi and Julia, two activists from South African Jews for a Free Palestine, about what their group can offer to our present moment, locally and globally. We also touch on the connections between Jewishness in a particular context between racism and settler-colonialism, providing context and frameworks for wider perspectives from Jews of colour.Some of the Articles cited from in this episode:newint.org/2024/africas-pandoras-boxkh-uia.org.il/about-us/governors/martin-moshal/sajr.co.za/moshal-puts-money-on-better-sa-leadership/dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/32930/anc-da-and-effs-biggest-funders-revealed/Ben White, Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner's GuidePatreon: patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYouTube: youtube.com/@JewishDiasporistMakingMenschesInstagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/Endless Gratitude to Aly Halpert for the intro music: open.spotify.com/artist/5ilJZ0nHG41CYddwNuP3f6?si=EH0Uy2JATLK0w-x-IAIIRA

In this episode, Jordan sits down with two scholars of Jewish diaspora life, Ben Yanowitz and Zach Smerin, to discuss the historical and cultural diversity of Jewish life. They discuss the role of various Jewish diasporas in shaping the social, ecological, and technological adaptions employed by Jews across cultures and times.If you'd like to learn more, check out Jewish Ecology on Substack: https://jewishecology.substack.comAnd you can continue to support this project through Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporist

The video of this episode: youtube.com/watch?v=xS25N1ymTS4As of April 1st; the Jewish Diasporist has officially turned 1 year old! In this brief episode, Ben and Zach discuss how their understanding of Diasporism has evolved over the past year, as well as the podcast's growth. They also hint at the future of the Jewish Diasporist, and the conversations which will happen in this new year. Patreon: patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporist YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@JDxMMxLJInstagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/

In this episode, we are joined by Zevi Slavin, the creater of the YouTube project Seekers of Unity. We talk about the etymology of Chasidism, with its roots in Chesed — loving kindness — and how Zevi's own journey has brought him to a diasporist understanding of the unity at the heart of both Jewish and non-Jewish mysticism.Zevi joins Ben and Jordan Yanowitz as they together paint a picture of the role that love, community, and dialogue together play in shaping Jewish life. Chesed and Chasidism are diasporically interfused in this discussion with Seekers of Unity.Check out Zevi's work with Seekers of Unity on YoutubePatreon: patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYouTube: youtube.com/@JewishDiasporistMakingMenschesInstagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/Endless Gratitude to Aly Halpert for allowing us to use her song I'm Not Alone

(Recorded 1/30/2024)In this episode, we are joined by Rivka, Andrey, Roman and Meir from Kompass Media, a critical Russian-language media and activist collective based in Israel-Palestine!We talk about the trials of two diasporas, parallels between Palestine and Ukraine, the connection to Eastern European homelands, as well as future of leftist organising - in their local communal context and the general fight against imperialism, nationalism and militarism.Follow Kompass Media on their Instagram and join their Telegram channels here!instagram.com/kompass.mediat.me/kompass_mediaPatreon: patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYouTube: youtube.com/@JewishDiasporistMakingMenschesInstagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/Endless Gratitude to Aly Halpert for the intro music: open.spotify.com/artist/5ilJZ0nHG41CYddwNuP3f6?si=EH0Uy2JATLK0w-x-IAIIRAThank you to our editor Jacob!

(Interview Recorded January 27th)After months of genocidal violence against the Palestinian people in Gaza, hope for a better future for the people of Palestine/Israel has never seemed further from reach, but what is the place of diaspora in all this? Friend of the show, Habeeb, once again joins us to explore the impact of the current crisis on Palestinian society, and to put current events in their wider socio-political context.While some listeners may be bothered by parts of this conversation, we believe that dialogues such as this one, have a crucial place in disentangling Zionism from Jewishness. A world of universal love, justice and equality, will only be possible when we listen to others, and understand how our interests coincide with theirs. Only through mutual understanding can we plot a course toward total human liberation.Patreon: patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYouTube: youtube.com/@JewishDiasporistMakingMenschesInstagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/Thank you to Sol Weiss's and Molly Bajgot for allowing us to use their timely song: Cross the Sea.https://m.soundcloud.com/sol-yael/cross-the-sea

Ben Rogaly, a Professor of Human Geography at the Centre for Migration Research at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England, joins Zach today to speak about urban geography, music, migration and diaspora, as well as the recent and ongoing Jewish left organising in Britain!Notes:Prof. Ben Rogaly: profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p28173-ben-rogalyMoushumi Bhowmik: thetravellingarchive.orgen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moushumi_BhowmikBen and Moushumi's article: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00380261231152039#fn1-00380261231152039"Workers": creativeinterruptions.net/commissions/workers/Jewish Solidarity with Palestine Webinar w/ Prof. Rogaly: youtu.be/UCHB4hG-YYs?si=jetQeAKm6iah8qLwPatreon: patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYouTube: youtube.com/@JewishDiasporistMakingMenschesInstagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/Endless Gratitude to Joe Dobkin for allowing us to use his song "Falndike Vent":youtube.com/watch?v=BCBELp1ZG7E

[REUPLOAD: ORIGINALLY UPLOADED 25.11.23]Patreon: patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporist YouTube: / @jewishdiasporistmakingmensches Instagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/ Endless Gratitude to Aly Halpert for the intro music: open.spotify.com/artist/5ilJZ0nHG41CYddwNuP3f6?si=EH0Uy2JATLK0w-x-IAIIRA Noodnik, the Magazine of the Austrian Union of Jewish Students: noodnik.at

Our next stop in our travels across the diaspora, with its rich Jewish past, present and future, is Vienna! To tell us about it we have Eidel, member of the JÖH (Austrian Union of Jewish Students) board, an editor of it's Noodnik magazine, a Stadttempel synagogue tour guide, and organiser of the Likrat dialogue project.Patreon: patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYouTube: youtube.com/@JewishDiasporistMakingMenschesInstagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/Endless Gratitude to Aly Halpert for the intro music: open.spotify.com/artist/5ilJZ0nHG41CYddwNuP3f6?si=EH0Uy2JATLK0w-x-IAIIRANoodnik, the Magazine of the Austrian Union of Jewish Students (noodnik.at)

This is the second part of our collaboration with Jessie and Elana from Making Mensches! This time, we exploree the roots of their politics and development as explicitly anti-Zionist Jewish educators. We wish to connect this to a broader discussion: How should diasporists relate to Zionism? How does it differ from Anti-Zionism?As mainstream discourse has become hyper-polarised, we are excited to continue and expand this collaboration in the hope of modelling and fostering a culture of critical and constructive dialogue.A MASSIVE THANK YOU to Jessie for editing this episode for us - it would have been very difficult to get out on time otherwise!Endless gratitude to Aly Halpert for continuing to let us use her music for our intro and outro, check her out: open.spotify.com/artist/5ilJZ0nHG41CYddwNuP3f6?si=EH0Uy2JATLK0w-x-IAIIRASupport our work on Patreon with as little as 1$ a month! patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYoutube: / @thejewishdiasporistInstagram: instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/?hl=en

How can Jewish identity inform labor organizing and what might a Jewish labour movement look like in the 21st century? This week we spoke to Laura Jaffee and Ely Flores, two Jewish labour organizers with the SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, who are based in Syracuse New York. With our guests we explore the strategy and structure of the historical and present labour movement to better understand how the movement can become more intersectional and socially-transformative. Support our work on Patreon with as little as 1$ a month: https://www.patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJewishDiasporistInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/?hl=en

Making Mensches Presents: Diasporism as Action. This is the first episode of a collaboration between our two podcasts which in the spirit of building a united Jewish left, we are hoping to eventually develop into a wider partnership.As they interviewed us: "We talk about how The Jewish Diasporist podcast started and what it means to identify as a "diasporist," a bit about the founders personal backgrounds, and how they conceive of the connection between anti-zionism and diasporism. Stay tuned for future collaboration with them, and as usual, free Palestine, by any means necessary.Some things of note:-DONATE to help Tzion Kaukira provide copies of the torah in Luganda in the 12 synagogues across Uganda-Zach, one of the founders of The Jewish Diasporist, is from Poland and is eager to help other folks with lineage there discover family history. If you want to take him up on this, feel free to reach out to him by emailing contact@jewishdiasporist.com-Jordan talks more about the ecology of love on this episode of The Jewish Diasporist-Zach wrote this piece for Forward about the Polish parliament Hanukkah incident, we encourage folks to give it a read if they don't know about the incident"--- Support the Making Mensches podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/makingmensches/support

Today, many on the Jewish left see Jewish politics and Labor politics as fundamentally distinct; however, for decades beginning in the mid 19th century, specifically Jewish labor movements thrived across the diaspora. Due to a variety of factors, these were largely integrated into their national movements, and ceased to have an identity of their own by the mid-20th century. Nevertheless, Jews continue to play an active role in Labor struggles around the world. Is there a place for a new Jewish labor movement in the 21st century?To start exploring this question, we spoke with Laurie Debeni, a Jewish Labor organizer active in Poland. This is the first episode in a (at least) two-part series about the intersection of Jewish diasporist and labor politics. As we dream of and work toward building a better world, we believe that re-integrating these disparate fields of progressive politics can mutually strengthen the movements as they struggle for social transformation. As socialists, we cannot forget that "the cause of labor is the hope of the world."We'd like to once again thank Dan Nichols for allowing us to use his music for our intro and outro. Check out his work here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4gkNgLMQGE2fM2pFHlrzTy?si=_WykDF0rRHK8YEokhVeXAQIf you like what we're doing and would like to support our work, consider becoming a monthly donor on Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporist

To skip directly to the interview with Yana, go to 21:27!How do the various cultures and institutions of Judaism vary from Moscow to the “Red Village” of Azerbaijan to the cities and college campuses of the West Coast of North America? This week, we met with Yana Naftalieva, president of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) to explore the varied textures of Jewish institutions and cultures.This episode features an extended introduction where we discuss our own experiences engaging with Jewish student life on college campuses. We're excited to introduce Alana Green, they/them, Jewish educator, leftist, organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace LA, photographer and designer, who is the newest member of our Diasporist collective. We all sat down to reflect on the unique history of WUJS and how it compares to other Jewish university institutions that we have experienced.If you like what we're doing, consider becoming a supporter our work on Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistEndless gratitude to Aly Halpert for continuing to let us use her music for our intro and outro, check her out: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ilJZ0nHG41CYddwNuP3f6?si=EH0Uy2JATLK0w-x-IAIIRA

In past weeks much of the world has been watching the events in Israel-Palestine unfold in justifiable. Yet just weeks before, another war and ethnic cleansing took place in relative silence.The Caucasus is a region in which the interconnected phenomena of nationalism, militarism and authoritarianism have been allowed to run their course in recent decades with little international outrage.For this episode, we spoke to Emma Günsberger and Bruno Polevoj, two members of the Czech Jewish Students Union (ČUŽM) who visited Azerbaijan just after the Azerbaijani Government attacked and seized the Autonomous Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. As genocidal threats and actions grew, over 100,000 Armenians fled their homes in fear of their lives.None of this happened in a vacuum, how can a society justify such actions? What is the impact on the perpetrating country? How does this affect the Jewish communities who have called this region their home for hundreds, if not thousands, of years?A bonus conversation will be uploaded to our patreon soon!patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistSubscribe to our YouTube channel!youtube.com/@TheJewishDiasporistCheck out Aly Halpert on Spotify!open.spotify.com/artist/5ilJZ0nHG41CYddwNuP3f6?si=MQUxPonHRy-xPScK6cKT_w[Recorded 10/16/2023]

The last weeks have been quite difficult for us. Another escalation between the Israeli government and Hamas has already led to the deaths of thousands of civilians, and there's no end in sight. While a few of of the 200+ hostages have been released, an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza will only open a new chapter in the sufferring of the Palestinian people. This will bring little safety for Jewish communities around the world, who continue to mourn the death of so many innocents caused by Hamas's actions and fear increasing antisemitism.One limited way in which we can contribute is towards a future settlement based on freedom and equality for all is to elevate marginalized perspectives that are nonetheless important to hear within the Jewish community. That is why we sat down with Habeeb Makhoul, a Palestinian citizen of Israel and socialist who recently completed a Masters in public policy focusing on the particularities of his community's position within Israel/Palestine.Dialogues like these are crucial to develop a holistic understanding of the history of this land and all its peoples. This is necessary for any political project which seeks to build a better world based on freedom, justice and equality for all.Check out Sol Weiss's and Molly Bajgot's new song, Cross the Sea:https://m.soundcloud.com/sol-yael/cross-the-sea

With all that is going on in the world right now, its important to maintain your own well being, to show yourself some self love – take some time to relax. In the words of the non-practicing Jew, John Kabat-Zinn: "It is indeed a radical act of love just to sit down and be quiet for a time by yourself."Join us to explore the role of love in binding communities together and building a better world. With the many difficulties hindering the realisation of a universal love: violence, fear, alienation and disgust; it is crucial for us to better understand this central aspect of the human experience in order to channel it toward bringing about the World to Come.If you like what we are doing here, please consider supporting monthly on Patreon. This will allow us to continue to bring you provocative episodes and improve the quality of our production. Here's the link! patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistThank you to Dan Nichols for continuing to allow us to use his rendition of Aleinu L'shabei'ach: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4gkNgLMQGE2fM2pFHlrzTy?si=OgHQ774mT5mpwB3eekxfAw

We sat down with Elly Oltersdorf, Outreach Coordinator for Achvat Amim, which is an organisation that provides programs for young adults to engage in meaningful partnerships with Palestinians and Israelis in the movement for self-determination for all. Achvat Amim was born out of a Socialist Zionist tradition, therefore we explored the contradictions between Zionism and Diasporism, while also highlighting the important work that Achvat Amim is engaged in.Interested in their Programming? https://www.achvatamim.org/Forward Article Mentioned: https://forward.com/forverts-in-english/560390/how-yiddish-became-foreign-language-israel/

After the High Holidays, we return with a part 2 about SummerU! Apart from exploring the decision-making processes of the European Union of Jewish Students, we have two more interviews: Simon Golombek from Norway and Olaf Stando, former EUJS Board Member and one of the main organisers of the Never Again Right Now human rights network!

Happy New Year! This is Part 1 of Zach's retrospective on SummerU, the flagship annual retreat of the European Union of Jewish Students that took place from 14-21 August 2023 in Malaga, Spain. With the help of attendees he interviewed - organisers of Jewish student communal life from Spain, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia - he explores with Ben how these different stories can relate to a conscious diasporism. Next episode will detail Zach's observations of the EUJS democratic decision-making processes that also took part during the week. Check out the EUJS Lowdown Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/58CRxkGOKwhreSyUqx6jHqCheck out Victor's Music: open.spotify.com/artist/37iGY9eXwV9pPO6OpTx4uaLarissa Synagogue Rebuilding Fundraiser:jcl.gr/en/restoration-of-ets-hayim-synagogue/

Fellow Diasporists! Ross Lomazov of Melbourne's Jewish Labor Bund joins us to talk about this last bastion of this great socialist diasporist movement. Through it we discuss the meaning of Bundism today and perspectives on its future within a wider Jewish diasporism.Melbourne Bund: bundist.orgCheck out Isabel Frey on Spotify:open.spotify.com/artist/6YUKG9pRka2uFJ0QAe7Eac?si=s5Nt9h2dQ2uxH6_5isx8nALearn more about the history of the Bund: treyfpodcast.com/2020/05/31/46-labour-bund-pt-1/

The story of the Abayudaya is one few know. Jordan Yanowitz interviews Tzion Kaukira, a Jew from Uganda whom he worked with at a Reform summer camp this past summer. Tzion's Jewish life offers a unique perspective, approaching important questions of religiosity, communal inclusivity, and Jewish identity across diaspora. Join them as Tzion delves into the history of his community and how this history has shaped his life.

What does it mean to have a diasporist relationship to the land we live on? Coming to you from Miknaf Ha'aretz's Radical Farm Camp, organised last month Ben spoke to the organisers Sara Moon and Samson Hart! With Zach unavailable, he was joined by a special guest host... Join us to find out who, and stay for a conversation about cultivating a sense of belonging through grounded community.Find out more about Miknaf Ha'aretz by going to their website and social media: miknafhaaretz.co.ukinstagram.com/miknafhaaretzWe finally have a YouTube channel! If you would like to listen to us with a transcript (including automatic translations in other languages): youtube.com/@TheJewishDiasporist

Fenya Fischler, Catherine Bailey-Gluckman and David Bernstein from Shabbes 24/7 join us just before the third anniversary of the collective to discuss their work, Jewish life in Belgium, intersections between Jewish Diasporist and Queer identities and much more!Find out more about Shabbes 24/7 here!instagram.com/shabbes247shabbes247.notion.site/shabbes247/Shabbes-24-7-4f2a1eddce114d64b3e0bd6d163d53b2Listen to the Xai, how are you? podcast here soundcloud.com/xaihowareyouFenya's article on the Aalst carnival (in Dutch)dewereldmorgen.be/artikel/2020/02/26/traditie-is-geen-excuus-voor-antisemitisme-of-homofobie/

How does Jewish spirituality relate to Jewish community organising? This week, Rabbi David J. Cooper, whom Ben met on the CJNV delegation to Israel-Palestine, joins us to discuss his experience as an activist and organiser of the progressive Kehilla Community Synagogue in the East Bay Area of California, and explore the ethical and spiritual values which have been central to his work. We have an email! Please send any feedback, comments and suggestions to:contact@jewishdiasporist.comFind out more about: Kehilla Community Synagogue kehillasynagogue.orgCentre for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV) cjnv.orgJews on Ohlone Land jewsonohloneland.org

From May 13-25th, Jewish Diasporist Co-host, Ben Yanowitz, joined the Center for Jewish Non-violence's (CJNV)'s annual delegation to Israel-Palestine. While this podcast is not directly about the CJNV delegation, we seek to share stories from different participants and showcase the crucial networking between Jews and Palestinians, both on the ground and in Diaspora, that CJNV facilitates.3:05-22:39 Louisa Kornblatt Interview22:50-35:23 Discourse on Apartheid35:34-51:51 Sam Stein Interview53:37-1:03:47 Live from Masafer YattaJewish Currents: The Plight of Masafer Yatta: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-nose/id1573983987?i=1000616154586Check out the Center for Jewish Nonviolence: https://cjnv.org/Aly Halpert's Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/5ilJZ0nHG41CYddwNuP3f6?si=MQUxPonHRy-xPScK6cKT_w

Josh Burg, a member of INN's Washington D.C. core team and national strategic planning team, joins us to discuss the values of Jewish youth summer camps, as well as the current movement ecosystem of the Jewish left in the United States.ifnotnowmovement.orgtwitter.com/joshburgPS. Shoutout to everyone at Camp Newman right now!

On this episode we interviewed David Adler, the General Coordinator of the Progressive International to discuss the prospects and pitfalls of Jewish Internationalism within a broader framework of Socialist Internationalist organizing. In this we explore the history and present of mass socialist internationalism to better understand how to organize across borders and facilitate international coordination across the left.As this is a mass movement that is still being built, we encourage people to join in building the world to come.https://progressive.international/https://davidrkadler.info/