Jewish Socialists' Group
Encyclopedia
The Jewish Socialists' Group (JSG) is a Jewish socialist collective
in Britain
, formed in the 1970s.
in Britain
, that was founded in Manchester
/Liverpool
in 1974-1977 as lobby group campaigning against the fascist National Front
and for the left
to relate more positively to Jewish issues. A London
branch formed in 1977. They describe themselves as "a political organisation campaigning for Jewish rights and the rights of all oppressed minorities in building a socialist future."
The JSG supported the original Anti-Nazi League
and was active in street-level militant anti-fascism. It participated in the Beyond the Fragments conference which sought to renew democratic socialism
.
In the early 1980s, it was active in campaigning for peace in Israel
/Palestine
, becoming a founding member of the International Jewish Peace Union and the Campaign for Israel-Palestine Peace (CIPP).
It developed a perspective drawing on the tradition of the Bund, stressing Yiddishism
, cultural pluralism
and a commitment to the vitality of the diaspora
. In this it worked with French neo-Bundist Richard Marienstrasse and the Medem Jewish Socialist Group in New York
.
In the mid-1980s, it became associated with the Greater London Council
's municipal socialism
and multiculturalism
, receiving funding to launch Jewish Cultural and Anti-Racist Project (JCARP). It was frequently in conflict with the Jewish communal leadership, and in particular the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen (AJEX).
Memorial Committee, comedy nights featuring Jo Brand
, Jeremy Hardy
, Linda Smith
, Arnold Brown
and Ivor Dembina, and events commemorating the Bund’s 100th anniversary celebration.
veteran Charlie Goodman, Joe Garman, veteran Jewish trade union
ist Mick Mindel, poet Michael Rosen
, and Bundist veteran Majer Bogdanski.
, Enough! Coalition, European Jews for a Just Peace
, National Assembly Against Racism
, Unite Against Fascism
, No One Is illegal, Iraq Occupation Focus, Stop the War Coalition
.
Collective
A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project to achieve a common objective...
in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, formed in the 1970s.
History
The Jewish Socialists' Group (JSG) is a Jewish socialist collectiveCollective
A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project to achieve a common objective...
in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, that was founded in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
/Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in 1974-1977 as lobby group campaigning against the fascist National Front
British National Front
The National Front is a far right, white-only political party whose major political activities took place during the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity peaked in the 1979 general election, when it received 191,719 votes ....
and for the left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
to relate more positively to Jewish issues. A London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
branch formed in 1977. They describe themselves as "a political organisation campaigning for Jewish rights and the rights of all oppressed minorities in building a socialist future."
The JSG supported the original Anti-Nazi League
Anti-Nazi League
The Anti-Nazi League was an organisation set up in 1977 on the initiative of the Socialist Workers Party with sponsorship from some trade unions and the endorsement of a list of prominent people to oppose the rise of far-right groups in the United Kingdom. It was wound down in 1981...
and was active in street-level militant anti-fascism. It participated in the Beyond the Fragments conference which sought to renew democratic socialism
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
.
In the early 1980s, it was active in campaigning for peace in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
/Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, becoming a founding member of the International Jewish Peace Union and the Campaign for Israel-Palestine Peace (CIPP).
It developed a perspective drawing on the tradition of the Bund, stressing Yiddishism
Secular Jewish culture
Secular Jewish culture embraces several related phenomena; above all, it is the international culture of secular communities of Jewish people, but it can also include the cultural contributions of individuals who identify as secular Jews...
, cultural pluralism
Cultural pluralism
Cultural pluralism is a term used when smaller groups within a larger society maintain their unique cultural identities, and their values and practices are accepted by the wider culture. Cultural pluralism is often confused with Multiculturalism...
and a commitment to the vitality of the diaspora
Jewish diaspora
The Jewish diaspora is the English term used to describe the Galut גלות , or 'exile', of the Jews from the region of the Kingdom of Judah and Roman Iudaea and later emigration from wider Eretz Israel....
. In this it worked with French neo-Bundist Richard Marienstrasse and the Medem Jewish Socialist Group in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In the mid-1980s, it became associated with the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
's municipal socialism
Municipal socialism
Municipal socialism refers to various historical movements to use local government to further socialist aims. The term has been used to describe public ownership of streetcar lines, waterworks, and other local utilities, as was favored by "Progressives" in the United States in the late 1890s/early...
and multiculturalism
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
, receiving funding to launch Jewish Cultural and Anti-Racist Project (JCARP). It was frequently in conflict with the Jewish communal leadership, and in particular the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen (AJEX).
Activities
Activities in the 1990s include the launch of the Szmul ZygielbojmSzmul Zygielbojm
Szmul Zygielbojm was a Jewish-Polish socialist politician, leader of the Bund, and a member of the National Council of the Polish government in exile...
Memorial Committee, comedy nights featuring Jo Brand
Jo Brand
Josephine Grace "Jo" Brand is a BAFTA winning British comedian, writer, and actor.- Early life :Jo Brand was born 23 July 1957 in Wandsworth, London. Her mother was a social worker. Brand is the middle of three children, with two brothers...
, Jeremy Hardy
Jeremy Hardy
Jeremy James Hardy is a British alternative comedian who is also known for his socialist politics.-Career:Hardy was born in Farnborough, Hampshire. He attended Farnham College and studied Modern History and Politics at the University of Southampton...
, Linda Smith
Linda Smith (comedian)
Linda Helen Smith was a British stand-up comic and comedy writer. She appeared regularly on Radio 4 panel games, and was voted "Wittiest Living Person" by listeners in 2002...
, Arnold Brown
Arnold Brown (comedian)
Arnold Brown is a Scottish comedian, one of the main figures in the alternative comedy scene of the early 1980s. Originally an accountant, Brown worked hard at live standup, until he found a knack of presenting observational comedy in a slow, meandering but entertaining style...
and Ivor Dembina, and events commemorating the Bund’s 100th anniversary celebration.
Publications
A magazine, Jewish Socialist, was launched in 1985, which continues publication today. Some of the figures associated with the JSG in this period included Battle of Cable StreetBattle of Cable Street
The Battle of Cable Street took place on Sunday 4 October 1936 in Cable Street in the East End of London. It was a clash between the Metropolitan Police, overseeing a march by the British Union of Fascists, led by Oswald Mosley, and anti-fascists, including local Jewish, socialist, anarchist,...
veteran Charlie Goodman, Joe Garman, veteran Jewish trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ist Mick Mindel, poet Michael Rosen
Michael Rosen
Michael Wayne Rosen is a broadcaster, children's novelist and poet and the author of 140 books. He was appointed as the fifth Children's Laureate in June 2007, succeeding Jacqueline Wilson, and held this honour until 2009....
, and Bundist veteran Majer Bogdanski.
JSG affiliations
BundInternational Jewish Labor Bund
The International Jewish Labor Bund is a New York-based international Jewish socialist organization, based on the legacy of the General Jewish Labour Bund founded in the Russian empire in 1897 and the Polish Bund that was active in the interwar years. The IJLB is composed by local Bundist groups...
, Enough! Coalition, European Jews for a Just Peace
European Jews for a Just Peace
European Jews for a Just Peace is a federation of Jewish groups in ten European countries aimed at bringing about peace in the Middle East and ensuring respect for the human rights of the Palestinian people...
, National Assembly Against Racism
National Assembly Against Racism
The National Assembly Against Racism is or was a British anti-racist and anti-fascist group.-External links:...
, Unite Against Fascism
Unite Against Fascism
Unite Against Fascism is an anti-fascist pressure group in the United Kingdom, with support from politicians of all mainstream UK political parties...
, No One Is illegal, Iraq Occupation Focus, Stop the War Coalition
Stop the War Coalition
The Stop the War Coalition is a United Kingdom group set up on 21 September 2001 that campaigns against what it believes are unjust wars....
.