Reaching Hearts, Minds, and Hands of the Jewish Workers

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As Karl Marx famously remarked, “Theory becomes a material force when it grips the masses.” This insight highlights the fundamental relationship between revolutionary theory and praxis. Ideas, no matter how profound, remain impotent unless they inspire action among the people. The task of a revolutionary movement, especially one like the Bund, is to ensure that its theory connects deeply with the Jewish working class and broader proletariat. To achieve this, we must focus on effective agitprop (agitation and propaganda), the lifeblood of any movement that seeks to awaken political consciousness and mobilize the masses.

The Role of Agitprop

Agitprop is not merely about disseminating information or raising awareness. It is about agitating the masses, stirring their emotions and consciousness in such a way that they begin to see their role in the revolutionary process. It is about reaching not only the minds but also the hearts and hands of the working class, inspiring them to act against the systems of oppression that bind them. As Brecht noted in his essay “Writing the Truth: Five Difficulties,” it is not enough to recognize the truth; revolutionaries must know how to use it as a weapon, crafting their message in a way that both resonates with and empowers those it seeks to reach.

Content and Form: Learning from Brecht’s Five Difficulties

When constructing effective agitprop, we must contend with the same difficulties that Brecht identified for truth-tellers in oppressive times:

  • The Courage to Speak the Truth: Good agitprop must be bold, unflinching in its critique of the systems of capitalism, imperialism, and Zionism. It must call out the exploitation and suffering faced by the Jewish working class, even when it risks backlash from both the Zionist establishment and capitalist interests. This requires not just theoretical knowledge but the courage to use that knowledge to confront power.

  • The Keenness to Recognize the Truth: Revolutionary messages must reflect the actual material conditions faced by workers. This means our agitprop must be based on a clear understanding of class struggle, imperialism, and oppression—never resorting to vague slogans or easy answers. Bundist agitprop should demonstrate a deep grasp of the particularities of Jewish workers’ experiences and how they intersect with the struggles of other oppressed groups.

  • The Skill to Communicate the Truth Effectively: Once the truth is recognized, it must be communicated in a way that not only informs but inspires action. This is where form becomes as important as content. Whether through posters, zines, memes, TikTok videos, or podcasts, the form must be engaging and accessible, yet retain the revolutionary integrity of the message. Content should be emotional, stirring, and simple enough to be understood but deep enough to provoke reflection and radicalization.

  • The Judgment to Reach Those Ready to Act: Not every person exposed to agitprop will be moved to take revolutionary action, and that’s okay. The key is to focus on those who are already questioning the system, those who are dissatisfied with the status quo but unsure of the next steps. Bundist agitprop must identify and target these workers, students, and marginalized individuals who have the potential to be radicalized and mobilized.

  • The Cunning to Distribute the Truth Widely: In the digital age, the challenges of censorship and repression remain real. Our task is to be cunning in how we spread revolutionary ideas—leveraging both mainstream and alternative media, building networks of solidarity, and using decentralized methods of communication. We must distribute materials through social media platforms while also building our own spaces for radical discourse (blogs, websites, forums) where the voices of revolution are free from corporate or state interference.

Creating Organizational Structures for Agitprop

Good agitprop is not just a matter of producing content. It must be systematically organized, distributed, and integrated into the broader work of the movement. This requires creating an organizational structure capable of consistently producing, publishing, and broadcasting our revolutionary ideas. To ensure our ideas reach the Jewish working class and beyond, we need to establish a central organ or hub for Bundist agitprop.

  • A Central Organ: Whether it’s a website, blog, YouTube channel, TikTok account, or discussion forum, the Bundist movement must create a central organ that serves as a platform for agitprop. This platform should be a place where revolutionary materials (articles, videos, memes, podcasts, zines) are produced and disseminated. It must become the voice of the movement, accessible to the masses and responsive to the ongoing struggles they face.

  • Propaganda as Praxis: Propaganda is not just a tool for educating or persuading—it is praxis. It is a form of action that, when done effectively, shapes consciousness and alters the material world by inspiring others to organize and resist. Every poster printed, every meme shared, every zine distributed is part of the revolutionary process. It is through this praxis that the Bundist movement can begin to build the material force necessary to confront capitalist and imperialist systems.

The Importance of Agitprop to Mobilization

Revolutionary theory cannot exist in isolation. It becomes a material force only when it grips the masses, as Marx famously noted. But the masses will not grasp theory unless they are moved—agitated—into asking the right questions. Agitprop is the bridge between revolutionary theory and mass mobilization. The questions it raises are as important as the answers it provides, because answers only matter to those who have already begun to ask.

For the Bundist movement, our agitprop must address the specific concerns of the Jewish working class, while connecting their struggles to the broader class struggle worldwide. The fight against antisemitism must be linked to the fight against Zionism and capitalism. The defense of Yiddishkayt must be tied to the defense of cultural autonomy for all oppressed peoples. And the call for Jewish liberation must be inseparable from the call for global socialism.

Conclusion

In this digital age, the tools for creating and distributing revolutionary propaganda are more accessible than ever. But the challenge lies in using these tools effectively, in creating agitprop that not only informs but inspires, that reaches the masses and moves them to act. By building a central organ for Bundist agitprop and taking lessons from Brecht’s five difficulties, we can ensure that our message grips the minds, hearts, and hands of the Jewish working class and all who fight for a socialist future.