Artist and author Molly Crabapple discussed the history of the Jewish Labor Bund during a Democracy Now! interview broadcast on Thursday [1].

The exploration of this movement provides a historical alternative to nationalist frameworks by highlighting a secular, socialist approach to Jewish identity and liberation.

In her book "Here Where We Live Is Our Country," Crabapple examines the Bund, a secular Jewish labor party that operated in Eastern Europe before World War II [2]. The movement originated in the 1890s [3] and focused on fighting for Jewish freedom, dignity, and workers' rights through a socialist lens [1].

Crabapple said the Bund fought against both antisemitism and Zionism [1]. By opposing Zionist nationalism, the Bund advocated for a future where Jewish people could live with full rights, and safety, in the countries where they already resided rather than seeking a separate state.

This historical perspective is gaining renewed attention. Some reports indicate that May Day rallies in 2026 have referenced the Bund, suggesting a revival of interest in the Jewish radical labor movement [4].

The Bund's legacy is defined by its commitment to secularism and class struggle. Crabapple's work aims to bring this largely forgotten history back into the public consciousness to show its relevance to contemporary struggles against antisemitism [1].

The movement's influence was significant in Eastern Europe prior to the Holocaust, providing a structured political voice for the Jewish working class [2]. By documenting this era, Crabapple said the struggle for dignity is inextricably linked to labor rights and the rejection of ethnic nationalism [1].

“The Bund fought against both antisemitism and Zionism.”

The revival of interest in the Jewish Labor Bund represents a shift toward exploring non-Zionist Jewish identities. By emphasizing a secular, socialist history, this movement challenges the narrative that Jewish safety and identity are exclusively tied to nationalism, offering instead a model based on international labor solidarity and indigenous rights within the diaspora.