We live in extreme times. The contradictions of the capitalist world order have deepened to a point of crisis. Neoliberalism, imperialism, and unchecked exploitation have produced a global system where wealth inequality, climate catastrophe, militarism, and social breakdown are the norm. The era of endless wars, extreme wealth concentration, and the erosion of democratic spaces has intensified the suffering of billions across the globe. In the face of these crises, resistance is rising—but so too are the reactionary forces of fascism, white supremacy, and authoritarianism.

The geopolitical landscape is marked by multiple imperialist wars, proxy conflicts, and occupations that serve the interests of capital. In West Asia, the Zionist project continues to dispossess the Palestinian people, while the alliance between Israel and reactionary regimes like India’s Hindutva state strengthens. In Europe and the Americas, the far-right gains momentum by manipulating economic anxiety and inflaming nationalist fervor, pitting the oppressed against each other. Across the globe, climate collapse is both driven by and exacerbating these crises, disproportionately affecting the poorest and most marginalized communities.

This moment is one of profound contradiction: the very system that is destroying the world offers no solutions to the problems it creates. In this context, the need for revolutionary socialism has never been more urgent, and within this struggle, the Jewish Labor Bund holds a critical place. The Bundist tradition—rooted in anti-capitalism, anti-imperialism, and Jewish liberation—must rise again, armed with both its historical lessons and a vision for a just, socialist future.

A Brief History of the Bundist Socialist Movement

The Jewish Labor Bund was born in 1897 in the Russian Empire, a product of the intense class struggles of the time. As Jewish workers faced brutal exploitation in the factories, along with the violent oppression of Tsarist autocracy and antisemitism, the Bund emerged as the organizational vehicle for their liberation. The Bund was not just a labor movement; it was a revolutionary force that sought to unite the Jewish working class in Eastern Europe with the broader socialist struggle.

From its inception, the Bund committed itself to doikayt (here-ness)—the idea that Jewish liberation must be fought for where Jews live, within the broader movements for socialism in their respective countries. Rejecting both assimilationist tendencies and Zionist calls for a Jewish state, the Bundists believed that the liberation of Jews was inseparable from the liberation of all oppressed peoples. They advocated for yiddishkayt, celebrating and preserving Jewish culture, particularly Yiddish, as a key component of their revolutionary identity. Their third pillar was sotsializm—the conviction that the only path to Jewish freedom was through the dismantling of capitalism and the construction of a socialist society.

The Bund played a crucial role in the Russian Revolution and the broader socialist movements of Eastern Europe, often at odds with Bolsheviks over questions of Jewish autonomy and culture. Throughout the early 20th century, Bundists fought courageously in labor strikes, revolutionary movements, and the struggle against antisemitism. But it was during the rise of fascism and the Nazi occupation of Europe that the Bund’s heroism became legendary. The Bund was one of the key forces of Jewish resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and other acts of defiance against the Holocaust.

However, after the devastation of the Second World War and the near-extermination of European Jewry, the Bund was weakened. Many of its surviving members emigrated to the United States and Israel, where they faced new political challenges. In Israel, Bundists were marginalized by the hegemonic Zionist movement, while in the United States, many Bundist groups gradually drifted toward social democracy and reformism.

Radical Bundism vs. Reformist Social Democracy

As the postwar world settled into the Cold War, the once-revolutionary Bundist movement found itself at a crossroads. While some comrades attempted to maintain the radical flame of the Bund, much of the movement succumbed to reformist tendencies. In the U.S., for example, Bundist groups aligned themselves with social-democratic politics, participating in trade unions and electoral politics but often losing sight of the Bund’s revolutionary socialist goals.

This drift toward reformism marked a significant departure from the original proletarian and prophetic radicalism of Bundism. The radical Bundism of the early 20th century understood the inseparability of Jewish liberation from the struggle against capitalism. It was steeped in the prophetic traditions of justice—rooted in the ancient Jewish ethos of speaking truth to power and siding with the oppressed—and proletarian internationalism, which called for solidarity across ethnic and national lines in the global class struggle.

This radical Bundism, we argue, must be reclaimed in our time. Reformist social-democratic politics, whether in Israel, the U.S., or elsewhere, have failed to address the root causes of exploitation and oppression. They have instead offered piecemeal reforms that leave the underlying structures of capitalism and imperialism intact. In the face of mounting global crises, we must return to the revolutionary heart of Bundism—a heart that beats for justice, solidarity, and the overthrow of the capitalist system.

The Core Principles of Bundism: Doikayt, Yiddishkayt, and Sotsializm

At its core, the Bundist movement is built on three pillars: doikayt, yiddishkayt, and sotsializm. These principles remain as relevant today as ever, offering both a critique of contemporary struggles and a framework for revolutionary action.

• Doikayt: This principle rejects the Zionist notion that Jewish liberation requires a separate state. Instead, it asserts that Jewish people must fight for their liberation in the places where they live, alongside their neighbors and comrades in struggle. Doikayt is a rejection of exile and nationalism alike—it is a call to build socialism in the here and now, rooted in local struggles for justice.

• Yiddishkayt: Bundism celebrates the richness of Jewish culture, particularly the languages, traditions, and histories of Jewish communities in the diaspora. Yiddishkayt stands in opposition to the artificial “Hebrew culture” promoted by Zionism, which seeks to erase the diverse and often revolutionary traditions of Jewish life in favor of a nationalist project. To fight for Yiddishkayt is to fight for the cultural autonomy and dignity of Jewish people, and to resist the erasure of Jewish history by both Zionist and antisemitic forces.

• Sotsializm: Finally, Bundism is committed to the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism. Jewish liberation is impossible under a capitalist system that thrives on exploitation, inequality, and division. The struggle for Jewish freedom must be part of a broader socialist movement that seeks to abolish class hierarchies, private property, and the imperialist world order.

The Bund Today: Scattered but Not Defeated

Today, Bundists are scattered across the globe. There are various small groups, often isolated from one another, and individual comrades who identify with the Bundist tradition but remain disconnected from a larger movement. This isolation has weakened our capacity to act as a cohesive force in the world. However, in this moment of global crisis and renewed interest in revolutionary politics—especially among young Jewish radicals—there is an opportunity to rebuild the Bund.

We have seen a revival of interest in Bundism, particularly among Gen-Z Jews who are rediscovering their cultural roots and revolutionary traditions. This new generation, less burdened by the sectarian infighting of previous eras, is ready to embrace the radical and revolutionary ideas of the Bund. But to realize this potential, we must overcome the fragmentation that plagues our movement. We must unite Bundists across the world, creating structures of solidarity, coordination, and action that can channel our collective energy into meaningful political struggle.

The Jewish Labor Bund has a long and proud history, and it is time to write its next chapter. Our world today is in desperate need of the revolutionary ideas and practices that the Bund represents. By standing together, rooted in the principles of doikayt, yiddishkayt, and sotsializm, we can rekindle the Bundist flame and make it burn brighter than ever before.