Category Archives: Manifesto

Our Most Urgent Tasks

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As we move toward rebuilding and strengthening the Bundist movement, there are several urgent tasks that must be addressed immediately. These tasks are essential to laying the foundation for a coordinated, international Bund capable of playing a significant role in the global socialist and anti-imperialist struggles. While we must remain patient and careful in our organizational efforts, the time to act is now.

1. Search and Contact All Revolutionary Bundist Factions

The first and most critical step is to identify and contact all existing Bundist factions. Many of these groups and individuals are currently isolated from one another, often functioning as small cells or even as lone individuals, disconnected from a broader movement. Our task is to reconnect these scattered fragments, reestablishing lines of communication and beginning the work of unity.

This requires:

  • Mapping the global Bundist movement: identifying groups and individuals who identify as Bundists, whether they are active in local struggles, cultural projects, or online spaces.

  • Building networks of solidarity: reaching out to isolated Bundists, offering them support, and inviting them to join the broader effort to reorganize the movement. This will require active outreach through social media, leftist networks, academic circles, and Jewish cultural forums.

Reuniting the different Bundist factions is the foundation upon which all further work will be built. Without this, the movement will remain fragmented and ineffective.

2. Organize the First Secretariat

Once we have made initial contact with the various Bundist groups and individuals, the next urgent task is to organize a first international secretariat. This secretariat will serve as the initial coordinating body for the movement, responsible for doing the practical work of reuniting and reorganizing the Bund.

Key roles of the secretariat include:

  • Facilitating communication between Bundist factions, ensuring that information flows freely and that the movement begins to operate as a unified whole.

  • Organizing logistics for meetings, conferences, and gatherings, whether in-person or online.

  • Supporting local groups with resources, guidance, and strategic advice as they begin to rebuild their organizations.

The secretariat will not act as a centralized authority but as a support structure for the different Bundist factions, empowering them to operate effectively in their local contexts while remaining connected to the broader international movement.

3. Organize a Central Organ for Agitprop and Organizational Work

As discussed in earlier sections, good propaganda is essential for reaching the masses and raising revolutionary consciousness. To achieve this, the Bundist movement needs a central organ—a platform through which the movement can publish its ideas, promote its activities, and build an online presence. This central organ could take the form of a website, YouTube channel, or TikTok account, depending on the platforms most accessible and effective for reaching our target audiences.

The central organ must serve two purposes:

  1. Agitprop: It will function as a hub for revolutionary propaganda, spreading the message of Bundism, socialism, and anti-Zionism through articles, videos, podcasts, memes, and more.

  2. Organizational support: The platform will also serve as a key tool for organizational work, offering resources for Bundist groups around the world, facilitating communication between them, and organizing virtual or in-person events.

This central organ will play a vital role in unifying the movement, offering a public face for the Bundist cause while helping members coordinate their efforts on the ground.

4. Build an Active Presence in Real-Life Struggles

The Bundist movement cannot exist only in the digital sphere. We must build an active presence in real-life struggles, where Bundists engage directly with the working class, marginalized communities, and the oppressed. Our aim is not just to participate in existing movements but to take on roles as organizers, propagandists, and co-leaders of these struggles.

Key areas of engagement include:

  • Labor struggles: As the Bund historically was rooted in the labor movement, we must continue this legacy by engaging with unions, workers’ councils, and labor organizing efforts. Bundists should work to raise the political level of labor movements, pushing them toward anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist positions.

  • Social justice and anti-imperialist movements: Whether in struggles for racial justice, climate justice, or anti-imperialism, Bundists must become active participants, working to unify these struggles with the broader socialist cause.

5. Organizing Revolutionary Schools for Political Education

A critical task for the Bundist movement is the organization of political education. Revolutionary theory and analysis must be made accessible to all members of the movement, and this requires the creation of formal structures for education and discussion. We propose the creation of revolutionary schools or educational programs, aimed at teaching “young Bundists” of all ages.

These schools should offer:

  • Courses on revolutionary theory, including Marxism, socialism, anarchism, and Bundist history.

  • Workshops on practical organizing skills, such as strike coordination, community organizing, and propaganda production.

  • Discussion forums where Bundists can engage with each other on key theoretical and strategic questions, ensuring that the movement is intellectually vibrant and continually evolving.

Through these educational programs, we can build a new generation of Bundist leaders who are equipped with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for revolution.

6. Building International and Inter-Denominational Solidarity

The Bundist movement must also place a strong emphasis on building international and inter-denominational solidarity. As discussed in earlier sections, we cannot struggle for Jewish liberation in isolation. Our fight is bound up with the broader global fight against imperialism, capitalism, and all forms of oppression.

This means:

  • Building alliances with other socialist movements, both Jewish and non-Jewish, ensuring that our movement is part of a larger revolutionary network.

  • Collaborating with interfaith movements, particularly with progressive Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and other religious communities who share our commitment to justice, anti-imperialism, and socialism. Bundism must be part of a broader interfaith socialist movement that connects the struggles of various religious and cultural communities.

In this spirit of internationalism, Bundists must work to bridge the divides between oppressed peoples, recognizing that our liberation is intertwined with the liberation of all.

7. Building Local Offline Base-Groups

A socialist movement must free itself from the limitations of a purely online operation. While our online presence is crucial for spreading ideas, organizing propaganda, and connecting isolated comrades, real, durable growth as a movement will depend on in-person, local organizing. To that end, we must create a structure that supports the formation of local offline base-groups in as many regions as possible. These base-groups will serve as the backbone of the movement, grounding our revolutionary work in the daily struggles of Jewish workers and their communities.

For comrades in regions where forming a local base-group is not yet feasible, we must establish a global online discussion forum where isolated individuals can participate in the movement’s activities, engage in political education, and contribute to our strategy and analysis. The coordinating secretariat will oversee both the newly formed local groups and the older, more established Bundist organizations, ensuring that all parts of the movement remain connected and unified.

Our focus must be on fostering real-world engagement, creating a strong IRL presence in labor movements, community struggles, and anti-imperialist actions. The combination of grassroots, local work with our broader, online network will provide the foundation for a durable, international Bundist movement capable of growing and sustaining itself in the long-term.

Conclusion

The tasks outlined here represent the most urgent steps in rebuilding the Bundist movement. By reconnecting Bundist factions, organizing a secretariat, establishing a central organ, engaging in real-life struggles, and building solidarity across movements and faiths, we can lay the groundwork for a unified, international Bund capable of fighting for Jewish liberation and socialism on a global scale.

Organizing a Movement

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The reorganization of the Bundist movement, scattered across regions and ideological currents, requires a well-coordinated and structured effort. To rebuild a united Jewish Bundist movement that can meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must establish a flexible yet organized framework that supports the diversity within our movement while providing the strength and coherence needed for revolutionary action.

The Need for a Coordinating Structure

To unite the disparate factions and groups that identify with Bundism today, we need a central, international coordinating structure—a secretariat that serves as a unifying force for all Bundist movements. This secretariat should be seen as the first step toward a real international leadership. Its role in this early phase is not to dictate policies or centralize power but to support the various Bundist organizations, helping them coordinate, communicate, and share resources.

The secretariat will serve several key functions:

  • Facilitating communication between Bundist groups across the world, ensuring that experiences, strategies, and tactics can be shared and learned from.

  • Organizing shared resources, such as educational materials, propaganda, and platforms for discussion, to help each Bundist group build its capacity.

  • Providing technical support for organizing events, conferences, and gatherings that bring Bundists together—both online and in person.

The secretariat should focus on unifying the movement without imposing rigid hierarchies or demanding uniformity in tactics. Its role, at this stage, is purely supportive, aimed at empowering the different branches of Bundism to grow and connect with one another.

Balancing Centralism and Diversity

One of the most crucial challenges in organizing a movement as diverse as the Bund is finding the right balance between centralism and diversity. Centralism, when used wisely, helps ensure that the movement can act cohesively, especially when facing a shared enemy like imperialism, capitalism, or Zionism. However, excessive centralization can stifle the very diversity that gives the Bund its strength—different regions, cultures, and socialist traditions bring unique insights and strategies to the movement.

In the Bundist movement, centralism should never be about controlling or homogenizing the various groups but about coordination. The secretariat must work to harmonize the diverse forms of Bundism into a collective force while allowing for differences in local conditions, strategies, and priorities. Diversity is not a weakness—it is a source of resilience. Our movement thrives when different groups can experiment with new forms of organization and resistance, sharing their successes and failures with the broader network.

Supporting the Movement, Not Leading It (Yet)

In this first phase of rebuilding the Bund, the international secretariat’s primary task is to support the movement. This includes providing technical, organizational, and strategic assistance to Bundist factions around the world. Its role is not yet to lead but to facilitate. Only once the movement is stronger and more united should the secretariat begin taking on more leadership responsibilities. Even then, leadership should be understood as servant leadership—aimed at empowering the movement rather than controlling it.

Over time, as the Bund becomes more cohesive and organized, the secretariat may take on leadership responsibilities in the form of coordination between factions, setting long-term goals, and organizing international campaigns. But this process must be gradual, based on trust and mutual respect among Bundist groups.

The Bund as a Jewish Socialist League

The Bundist movement should not aim to become just one more socialist party in a world already overflowing with various socialist factions and tendencies. In many regions, especially those where socialist parties already exist, it may be more effective to organize the Bund as a Jewish socialist league. This would allow Bundists to engage with comrades from multiple socialist parties, working across organizational lines while maintaining their distinct identity and focus on Jewish liberation, socialism, and anti-Zionism.

By organizing as a league rather than a party, the Bund can act as a cross-party platform, bringing together members from different socialist movements who share a commitment to the Bund’s principles of doikayt, yiddishkayt, and sotsializm. This model fosters collaboration and solidarity, rather than dividing the socialist movement further by creating yet another competing party.

Organizing an International Conference

One of the most immediate goals of the new Bundist movement should be the organization of an international conference. This conference would bring together representatives from all Bundist factions, whether in-person or online, to discuss the movement’s future and elect a daily leadership to coordinate the international work.

This conference would serve several purposes:

  • Reuniting and reconnecting the different groups and factions that identify as Bundist, allowing them to share experiences and strategies.

  • Developing a collective vision for the future of the movement, discussing key issues such as anti-Zionism, labor struggles, and cultural preservation.

  • Electing a daily leadership that can serve as a point of contact and coordination for the entire movement, ensuring that Bundist groups around the world can act in concert.

The conference should also serve as a forum for debate and discussion, allowing different factions to bring forward their ideas and proposals for the future of Bundism. It must be a democratic space, open to all tendencies within the movement, and should encourage diversity of thought and strategy while maintaining a shared commitment to the principles of the Bund.

Conclusion

Organizing the Bundist movement in the 21st century requires careful planning, a commitment to pluralism, and the creation of structures that support unity without stifling diversity. The international secretariat will play a vital role in this process, not as a centralized authority but as a coordinating body that empowers Bundist factions around the world to act together. By balancing centralism with diversity and organizing cross-party collaborations, the Bund can become a powerful force in the global socialist movement. The first step in this process will be an international conference, where Bundists from across the globe can gather, share, and build a collective vision for the future of Jewish socialism.

Building Bridges: Expanding Solidarity and Collaboration

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The Bundist movement, both in its historical and contemporary forms, has always been rooted in solidarity. To fight effectively for Jewish liberation, we must recognize that our struggle is deeply interconnected with other struggles for justice. Today, the Jewish Bundist movement must find new and creative ways to collaborate with a wide variety of movements that share our anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, and anti-Zionist principles. The strength of the Bund comes not only from its focus on Jewish liberation but from its capacity to build alliances with other oppressed peoples and movements.

Intersectionality: Understanding Oppression as a Whole

At the heart of our struggle lies an intersectional understanding of oppression. We must recognize that antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, sexism, queerphobia, and class oppression are not isolated phenomena—they are all integral components of the same patriarchal, colonial, and capitalist system. Our political program must reflect this understanding, fighting against all these forms of domination and exploitation simultaneously.

The Bund must act as a unifying force, bringing together diverse groups that are all fighting against different facets of the same system. This means recognizing the different intersecting struggles and seeing Jewish liberation as one piece of the larger struggle for universal emancipation. It also means resisting any narrow, sectarian focus on purely Jewish issues, while embracing a broader, more inclusive vision of justice and liberation for all.

Contradictions: Friends and Enemies in the Struggle

In building alliances, it is critical to distinguish between the contradictions we face in our struggle. As Mao Zedong famously wrote, we must differentiate between “contradictions between us and our enemies”—that is, the contradictions between the working class and the imperialist bourgeoisie—and “contradictions among the people”, which exist between various movements and comrades.

This framework helps us understand the difference between enemies who perpetuate oppression and comrades who may not fully agree with us on every issue but share the same ultimate goals of liberation and justice. We must build alliances with socialist, anti-Zionist, and anti-imperialist movements, recognizing comrades who move in the same direction as us, even when tactical or theoretical differences arise. At the same time, we must distance ourselves from reactionary forces, whether they exist within Jewish communities or elsewhere, who uphold Zionism, imperialism, and capitalism.

Building an Interfaith Intersocialist Movement

Another crucial area of solidarity is with radical progressive forces within the broader Judeo-Islamic and interfaith socialist movements. In today’s world, one of the most powerful centers of the anti-imperialist struggle lies in the collaboration between Jews and Muslims, particularly between radical anti-Zionist Jewish movements and Muslim resistance organizations (both Sunni and Shia). These alliances have been particularly evident in the Palestinian struggle, where Palestinian and Jewish anti-Zionist movements work hand-in-hand against the occupation and apartheid regime.

But the potential for collaboration goes beyond this. Radical Sikh, Christian, and other religious socialist movements are also engaged in struggles against various forms of capitalism and imperialism. Building the Bundist movement must be seen as part of building an interfaith socialist movement, one that is rooted in the shared ethical foundations of the world’s prophetic traditions—Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and others—all of which call for justice, liberation, and the protection of the oppressed.

Forging Ties with the Broader Labor Movement

At the same time, the Bundist movement cannot afford to ignore the broader labor movement. Historically, the Bund was a labor-oriented movement, dedicated to organizing Jewish workers as part of the global working-class struggle. Today, we must renew those ties with the unions, workers’ parties, and labor organizations around the world. However, we must approach this collaboration with a clear-eyed recognition that many labor movements today are reformist or compromised by capitalist interests.

The task of the Bundist movement is to raise the political level of the labor movement to a consequent anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist level. By bringing our anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist politics into the labor movement, we can help steer unions and workers’ parties toward more radical positions, connecting their struggles for economic justice with the broader fight against colonialism and imperialism.

Identifying Major Allies in the Anti-Zionist Resistance

The global struggle against Zionism has helped identify major allies for the Bundist movement. Over the last several years, the anti-Zionist resistance has been led by a surprising coalition of groups. Young Jewish anti-Zionists, often drawing inspiration from Bundism, have taken a leading role. They are joined by Muslim comrades, particularly Palestinians and Lebanese, who have been at the forefront of the struggle against Zionist occupation and oppression.

The involvement of radical queer activists has also been a key feature of this alliance. These activists, often marginalized within traditional leftist movements, have found a place in the intersectional anti-Zionist front, connecting their struggles for gender and sexual liberation with the broader fight against colonialism and apartheid.

The Bundist movement must actively support and strengthen this front, recognizing that its success is not only essential for the liberation of Palestinians but for the global struggle against imperialism. In doing so, we also lean on the support of these non-Jewish parts of the resistance, forging bonds of solidarity that will strengthen all of our movements.

Conclusion

The Jewish Bundist movement must become a force for building bridges between different struggles for liberation. By working in solidarity with other anti-Zionist, anti-imperialist, and anti-capitalist movements, we can create a broad, intersectional front that unites oppressed peoples in the fight for justice. This front must include religious socialists from the Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian traditions, labor unions, and the rising generation of Jewish, Muslim, and queer activists. Together, we can create the foundations for a global socialist movement that is capable of taking on capitalism, imperialism, and all forms of oppression.

Too Many Bunds

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In recent years, Bundism has experienced a remarkable revival among a new generation of Jewish radicals, particularly within Gen Z. This resurgence is marked by the emergence of several Bundist groupuscules, each drawing inspiration from the rich history of the Jewish Labor Bund, while also adapting it to contemporary struggles. Many young Jews are rediscovering the radical socialism of their forebears, and several individuals have already begun to identify as Bundists—fascinated by the movement’s commitment to Jewish culture, anti-Zionism, and revolutionary socialism.

This growing interest in Bundism is part of a broader trend among Gen Z: a re-engagement with revolutionary traditions, coupled with a newfound curiosity for Jewish heritage. Across the Jewish diaspora, we are witnessing the revival of Yiddish and Ladino, languages that carry with them the histories of Jewish communities once flourishing across Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This generation of radicals recognizes that their political commitments are not only forward-looking but also rooted in the historical struggles of Jewish workers and their vibrant diasporic cultures.

What makes this new generation distinct is its pragmatism and willingness to explore revolutionary ideas from different traditions without being bogged down by the traditional sectarianism and infighting that plagued earlier leftist movements. They are more open to dialogue, more flexible in their tactics, and, crucially, less rigid in their views on the role of secularism and religion in revolutionary politics. In the process, Jewish Gen Z activists have found innovative ways to blend their political and spiritual lives, rediscovering the prophetic revolutionary potential within Jewish traditions. By incorporating ancient rituals and beliefs into their radical praxis, these young Jews are channeling a profound historical force that has always existed in the prophetic traditions of Judaism—one that calls for justice, liberation, and resistance against oppression.

Challenges of Fragmentation

Yet, this new wave of interest in Bundism is not without its challenges. Despite the growing number of individuals and small groups who identify as Bundists, the movement remains highly fragmented. As with many radical movements in the digital age, much of the current Bundist activity takes place online, where organizing is decentralized and scattered across social media platforms, blogs, and informal networks. While online spaces offer a crucial platform for discourse and organizing, they also come with limitations. The lack of cohesive structures and in-person organizing has prevented these disparate groups from building the kind of solidarity and coordination necessary for sustained political action.

This is not a problem unique to Bundism. Communist comrades have similarly lamented that “there are too many online communist parties, and too few offline communists.” The same is true for the Bund today: there are too many fragmented online discussions, but not enough concerted efforts to organize on the ground.

The Need for Unity in Diversity

To realize the full potential of this Bundist revival, we must find ways to unite the many factions of the movement. This is not simply a matter of consolidating these different groups under one banner; it is about finding a way to harmonize the diversity of thought and practice that already exists within the Bundist community. The strength of Bundism has always been its emphasis on “unity in diversity”—the recognition that a movement can thrive on a multiplicity of identities, approaches, and tactics, as long as it is anchored by shared principles. We must apply this same philosophy to the work of building a new Bund.

To organize effectively, we must strike a balance between our “diversity in tactics and methods” and the need for a central coordinating body. While it is important to respect the autonomy and local conditions of different Bundist factions, there must also be a commitment to creating a unified structure that can facilitate collaboration, amplify our collective voice, and coordinate action across borders. This is especially important in today’s world, where the forces of reaction—whether in the form of Zionist ethno-nationalism, capitalist imperialism, or far-right extremism—are highly organized and global in scope.

Opportunities for a New Era of Bundism

The rise of Gen Z Bundism also presents new opportunities for collaboration and expansion. This generation’s openness to revolutionary ideas beyond the traditional left, their re-engagement with Jewish culture and spirituality, and their willingness to blend secular and religious radicalism offer fertile ground for the Bundist movement to grow. Unlike the previous generation, which often viewed religion as an obstacle to revolutionary consciousness, Gen Z radicals are far more comfortable engaging with religious traditions in a revolutionary way. This includes reclaiming the prophetic tradition, which has long served as a foundation for social justice in Jewish thought, and using it to inspire contemporary struggles against oppression.

By embracing these new energies and fostering deeper coordination between Bundist groups, we can not only revitalize the movement but also expand its reach. To do so, however, we must take concrete steps to move beyond the digital sphere and into real-world organizing. Bundists must not only exist as isolated individuals within various struggles but must actively engage as organizers and leaders, bringing the values of doikayt, yiddishkayt, and sotsializm into their work.

Next Steps: Organizing for Unity

In this new era of Bundism, the central task before us is to build a unified movement that maintains our diversity while achieving the organizational strength needed to make real change. This will require:

  • Creating platforms that facilitate collaboration between Bundist groups and individuals, both online and offline.

  • Organizing in-person gatherings and conferences to deepen solidarity and coordinate actions on a global scale.

  • Developing shared projects, whether in agitprop, political education, or direct action, that unite Bundists in common efforts.

  • Recognizing that the strength of the movement lies in its ability to engage in multiple fronts—cultural, spiritual, political, and social—without losing sight of its revolutionary, anti-imperialist core.

The future of Bundism depends on our ability to organize for the long term, not only as individuals but as a collective force. The stakes are high, and the path forward will not be easy, but by building a movement that draws on the strength of our shared history and the radicalism of today’s generation, we can once again make Bundism a powerful force for liberation in the world.