The Fantasy of Jewish Assimilation
A new generation of American Jews is romanticizing the Bund, a socialist movement that advocated for Jewish assimilation without Zionism. However, current events highlight the myth of this belief, as antisemitism continues to rise globally. The article reflects on the historical context of the Bund and its eventual decline during the Holocaust.
- ▪The Bund was a socialist movement that emerged in 1897, opposing Zionism.
- ▪Members of the Bund believed that assimilation was the key to improving conditions for Jews.
- ▪The rise in antisemitism today challenges the notion of safety for Jews in America.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The Fantasy of Jewish AssimilationAmerica’s safety and security has enabled a generation of American Jews the luxury of reconsidering the Bund. (Victoria Valdivia/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)A new generation of American Jews romanticizes the Bund—the socialist movement that promised Jews they could survive in exile without Zionism. Current events prove their convictions are a myth. By Josh Kaplan05.29.26 — AntisemitismNo description available.FOLLOW TOPIC --:----:--Upgrade to ListenProduced by ElevenLabs using AI narrationA question we often grapple with when writing about the global rise in antisemitism is “Where, if anywhere is still safe for Jews?” The UK, my home country, certainly doesn’t feel like it; neither does Europe or Australia.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Free Press (Substack).
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