Today, many on the Jewish left see Jewish politics and Labor politics as fundamentally distinct; however, for decades beginning in the mid 19th century, specifically Jewish labor movements thrived across the diaspora. Due to a variety of factors, these were largely integrated into their national movements, and ceased to have an identity of their own by the mid-20th century. Nevertheless, Jews continue to play an active role in Labor struggles around the world. Is there a place for a new Jewish labor movement in the 21st century?

To start exploring this question, we spoke with Laurie Debeni, a Jewish Labor organizer active in Poland. This is the first episode in a (at least) two-part series about the intersection of Jewish diasporist and labor politics. As we dream of and work toward building a better world, we believe that re-integrating th ...