The Bund's "Hereness" Vision Versus Nationalist Perils

The Bund's Enduring Echo: Lessons in Solidarity and the Perils of Nationalism

This conversation with Molly Crabapple, author of "Here Where We Live Is Our Country: The Story of the Jewish Bund," offers a profound and often uncomfortable re-examination of 20th-century Jewish history, revealing hidden consequences of political choices that resonate powerfully today. The core thesis is that the Jewish Bund, a secular, socialist, and anti-Zionist movement, presented an alternative vision for Jewish life--one rooted in "hereness" and international solidarity--that was ultimately crushed by both state-sponsored antisemitism and the rise of nationalist movements. This exploration is crucial for anyone seeking to understand the complex interplay of identity, politics, and historical inevitability, particularly for Jewish leftists grappling with contemporary issues. It offers a vital counter-narrative to dominant historical accounts, providing not just intellectual insight but also a deep well of emotional resonance and historical precedent for those who believe in fighting for a better world alongside, rather than against, those who are different.

The Unseen Costs of "Exodus": Why "Hereness" Became a Dangerous Idea

The Bund's foundational principle of Doykheit, or "hereness," was a radical rejection of the idea that Jews were inherently foreign and needed to emigrate to a promised land. Instead, they advocated for flourishing in the lands where they lived, demanding dignity and rights alongside other ethnic and national groups. This was a direct challenge to both Tsarist autocracy and the burgeoning Zionist movement, which, in the Bundists' view, capitulated to antisemitic narratives by agreeing that Jews were outsiders. The Bundists argued that nationalism, in any form, was a dangerous ideology that could lead to the same oppression they sought to escape.

This commitment to solidarity, however, came at a steep price. The transcript highlights how the Bund's insistence on fighting for a better world alongside other nationalities, even those who were persecutors, was seen as naive by some. The catastrophic events of the 20th century, particularly the Holocaust, seemed to validate the Zionist argument that Jewish survival depended on a separate national entity. Yet, Crabapple meticulously unpacks this narrative, revealing that the Bund's downfall was not solely due to a flawed ideology, but also to systemic betrayals and the overwhelming forces of genocide.

"The Bund was founded because to be a jew in the tsarist empire meant to be a jew in the worst place to be jewish on earth at that time."

The Bund's early work was instrumental in building the socialist movement in Russia, contributing significantly to the early Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. They organized workers, taught them political literacy, and fought for basic rights. However, their insistence on Jewish autonomy within the broader socialist movement led to theoretical and personal clashes, most notably with Vladimir Lenin. Lenin’s vision of a centralized, disciplined party clashed with the Bund's federated model, and personal animosity, as described by Vladimir Medem comparing Lenin to a "crafty Russian grain dealer," further exacerbated these tensions. This internal strife, coupled with the Tsarist regime's brutal suppression, weakened the Bund's position.

The 1905 and 1917 revolutions saw the Bund playing active roles, but their miscalculation on the continuation of World War I proved fatal. While many other revolutionary factions, including the Mensheviks and the Bundists themselves, were theoretically opposed to the war, Lenin and the Bolsheviks gained ascendancy by promising an end to the conflict. This strategic error, driven by a rigid adherence to Marxist theory that failed to account for the immediate reality of soldier mutinies and popular discontent, led to the Bund's suppression in Soviet Russia and forced many of its members into exile.

"The truth is they got their state and what sort of state did they get and what has it given the world? Pretty much exactly the sort of state that very prominent Bundists expected them to build."

The Bund's most vibrant period of activity occurred in interwar Poland, where they established a comprehensive network of secular Yiddish schools, trade unions, and cultural institutions. This period demonstrated the practical application of Doykheit and solidarity, as they worked alongside the Polish Socialist Party to resist rising antisemitism and fascism. However, the rise of Nazism and the subsequent invasion of Poland in 1939 tested these alliances to their breaking point. While the Polish Socialist Party remained a crucial ally, the broader Polish government's capitulation and flight left the Bund and its allies to fight alone.

The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising is presented not as a purely Zionist act, but as a testament to the desperate courage of young people from various Jewish political factions, including the Bund. Crabapple highlights the critical role of young Bundists and left-wing Zionists, who, unburdened by the cautious leadership of older generations, recognized the genocidal intent of the Nazis. The Bund's refusal to cooperate with Zionist youth groups prior to the uprising, due to their fundamental ideological opposition, underscores the tragic circumstances that forced an unlikely, albeit temporary, alliance in the face of annihilation. The lack of support from the Zionist leadership in Palestine further complicates the narrative of inevitable Zionist success.

The Enduring Question: Was the Bund Wrong?

The ultimate question posed by the historical outcome--the establishment of Israel and the continued existence of Jewish communities in the diaspora--is whether the Bund's vision failed. Zionists often argue that the Holocaust proved the necessity of a Jewish state, and that those who remained in Europe, clinging to ideals of solidarity, perished. Crabapple challenges this assertion, pointing out that many Zionists also died and that the safety of Palestine was contingent on the British Empire, not an inherent Jewish capacity for self-defense. She argues that the world's betrayal of Jewish refugees, driven by fears of communism, created the conditions for supremacist ideologies like Zionism to flourish.

The Bund's prescience, however, is a crucial counterpoint. Their warnings in the 1930s about the potential for Jewish nationalism to become as "bloodthirsty" and "ugly" as other nationalisms--even comparing Zionist militias to Hitler's SA--now appear chillingly accurate. Their recognition of the dispossession of Palestinians and their call for the right of return stand in stark contrast to the actions of the Israeli state. The Bund's enduring relevance lies in their unwavering commitment to solidarity and their clear-eyed critique of nationalism, a critique that remains vital in understanding contemporary conflicts and the ongoing struggle for a more just world.

Key Action Items:

• Embrace Doykheit: Actively cultivate a commitment to "hereness" by engaging with and fighting for the well-being of your local communities, regardless of ethnic or political differences.
• Challenge Nationalist Narratives: Critically examine and resist ideologies that promote ethnic or national exceptionalism, understanding their historical tendency towards exclusion and violence.
• Prioritize Cross-Movement Solidarity: Seek out and build genuine alliances with diverse groups fighting for social justice, even when ideological differences exist, recognizing that shared struggle is essential for progress.
• Invest in Secular Yiddish Culture: Support and engage with cultural and educational initiatives that preserve and promote Yiddish language and heritage as a vital part of Jewish identity, separate from nationalist frameworks.
• Learn from Historical Mistakes: Analyze the Bund's strategic errors, particularly their internal divisions and miscalculations regarding World War I, to inform contemporary political organizing.
• Recognize the Long Game: Understand that building a more just society often involves delayed payoffs and requires patience and resilience, resisting the temptation of immediate, superficial solutions.
• Confront Historical Amnesia: Actively counter narratives that erase or distort the contributions of movements like the Bund, or that falsely claim a monopoly on historical strength or inevitability for nationalist projects.