Created in June 2023, the Tsedek collective! has been growing very
rapidly since the start of the Israeli genocidal offensive in Gaza. Born
in Paris, he spread to Lille, Marseille, Grenoble, Lyon... He made
another Jewish, decolonial and anti-Zionist voice heard. ---- This can
only displease fans of the massacre. Already three Tsedek events have
been canceled following pressure[1], and the anathemas against Tsedek
often repeat the most classic anti-Semitic rhetoric[2]. But what is this
collective, and why is it so scary?
"Tzedek" is the Hebrew word for "righteousness." And it is this notion
which is at the center of the anti-racist work of this collective.
Justice in Palestine first of all: peace will not take place without
justice and equality. Respect for the rights of Palestinians (lifting
the blockade, right of return, release of prisoners, fight against the
wall and expulsions, etc.) is a necessity so that everyone can live
equally in a democratic country , from the Sea to the Jordan.
Justice in France too, against state racism, because the anti-racist
commitment is not complete if it does not attack our own imperialism.
From the Darmanin law to police crimes in France, or the repression of
demonstrations in Senegal with the support of the French state, Tsedek
participates in demonstrations and communicates his support for all
struggles against state racism. Justice at last, for all oppressed
people, everywhere in the world. In his statement of support for the
Kurdish demonstration of January 6, 2024[3], Tsedek compares Jewish
history and Kurdish history: "we share the same community of destiny in
the face of ethno-nationalism and imperialism" .
"For a Jewishness emancipated from Zionism"
The collective considers that a materialist analysis of Zionism can only
lead to defining it as a colonial project. "Zionism is best defined by
its material manifestation: apartheid, expulsions, house destruction,
dehumanization, blockade, political prisoners, summary executions,
ethnic cleansing and genocide"[4]. Tsedek therefore intends to bring a
critical Jewish voice. Faced with the massacre in Gaza, he launched a
petition on October 31 which proclaimed: "you will not have the silence
of the Jews of France". In the Parisian demonstrations for a ceasefire
in Gaza, the collective appeared in a "Jewish bloc" alongside other
anti-Zionist Jewish organizations (Oy Gevalt, Kessem, UJFP)[5].
If Tsedek opposes organizations and collectives that claim to represent
Jewish speech, it is not to speak "in the name" of Jews, but to insist
on the plurality of Jewish opinions. The amalgamations between
Jewishness and Zionism, and between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, lead
to the essentialization of Jews, as if they were a uniform mass who
would speak with one voice in favor of colonialism. To refuse this
capture of Jewish voices, there was a need for a new collective that
would allow anti-Zionist Jewish people to express themselves in the
first person, against institutions that speak in place or on behalf of
all Jewish people. From then on, Tsedek did not hesitate to take on the
conflict with the Zionist Jewish organizations, from the CRIF to the
UEJF, which reciprocated him.
"The right to self-determination of Jews cannot be at the expense of
another people" Nadav Joffe, co-founder of Tsedek! in the Mediapart show
À l'air libre.
RED PHOTO LIBRARY
Against anti-Semitism and its exploitation
At the center of the collective's commitments is also the fight against
anti-Semitism. Tsedek offers a materialist reading, which breaks with
dominant analyses. In the collective's manifesto, anti-Semitism is
defined as a "product of white supremacy". In 1492, the same year that
Christopher Columbus opened the way to the colonization of the American
continent, Spain expelled Jews in the name of "purity of blood": it was
indeed European nation-states that made Jews and Jewish outcasts, who
racialized and discriminated against them.
When these same nation-states use the fight against anti-Semitism to
produce national unity around them, as was the case with the November 12
demonstration in Paris, Tsedek sees it as a hideous instrumentalization,
all the more so when it involves using the pretext of the fight against
anti-Semitism to reinforce other racisms, notably Islamophobic[6]. The
same government which called for this march contains, among others,
Gérald Darmanin, author of filthy declarations on Jews who "practice
usury" and give rise to "troubles and complaints"!
On the contrary, the fight against Tsedek anti-Semitism is closely
linked to all other anti-racisms. Anti-Semitism, like all racism, has
its specificities, but making it exceptional racism is a political
mistake: the anti-racist fight will be common or it will not be. In the
fight against anti-Semitism, as in all struggles, "the compass can only
be that of justice, collective emancipation and political opportunities
that break with the structures that produce anti-Semitism. Without this,
it is disarmed"[7].
Daniel (UCL Lyon)
To validate
[1]An event planned for January 6, at the Cirque Electrique de Paris
entitled "against anti-Semitism, its exploitation and for revolutionary
peace in Palestine" was canceled by the town hall which lent the room,
possibly by giving in to threats of far-right Zionist groups. On January
30, it was a screening of the film The Zone of Interest in the presence
of researcher Sadia Agsous-Bienstein, planned at the Magestic Bastille
cinema, which was canceled at the last minute. A new session was planned
for February 6, with the historian Johann Chapoutot as second guest. The
latter declined the invitation at the last minute, and the cinema
refused to allow the premiere to speak alone, with justifications of
which the person concerned underlined the racist subtext.
[2]On the Akadem website, a column entitled "Tsedek and Neturei Karta,
the Jews preferred by anti-Semites" presents Tsedek as a "marginal and
over-publicized" group, for example.
[3]"With the Kurdish left on January 6 Justice and truth for the six
assassinations!», Libertarian Alternative, February 2024
[4]https://x.com/TSDKcollectif/status/1749834211131805949
[5]For a presentation of the UJFP in the columns of Alternative
Libertaire: "Pierre Stambul (UJFP): "Our audience is growing"",
Alternative Libertaire, May 2009
[6]UCL developed a very similar position in our press release of
November 18, 2023, "Fight against anti-Semitism: dangerous attempts at
reappropriation by the extreme right"
[7]Tsedek, "Anti-Semitism must be fought, its exploitation too",
November 3, 2023.
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Tsedek-Une-voix-juive-pour-la-justice
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
rapidly since the start of the Israeli genocidal offensive in Gaza. Born
in Paris, he spread to Lille, Marseille, Grenoble, Lyon... He made
another Jewish, decolonial and anti-Zionist voice heard. ---- This can
only displease fans of the massacre. Already three Tsedek events have
been canceled following pressure[1], and the anathemas against Tsedek
often repeat the most classic anti-Semitic rhetoric[2]. But what is this
collective, and why is it so scary?
"Tzedek" is the Hebrew word for "righteousness." And it is this notion
which is at the center of the anti-racist work of this collective.
Justice in Palestine first of all: peace will not take place without
justice and equality. Respect for the rights of Palestinians (lifting
the blockade, right of return, release of prisoners, fight against the
wall and expulsions, etc.) is a necessity so that everyone can live
equally in a democratic country , from the Sea to the Jordan.
Justice in France too, against state racism, because the anti-racist
commitment is not complete if it does not attack our own imperialism.
From the Darmanin law to police crimes in France, or the repression of
demonstrations in Senegal with the support of the French state, Tsedek
participates in demonstrations and communicates his support for all
struggles against state racism. Justice at last, for all oppressed
people, everywhere in the world. In his statement of support for the
Kurdish demonstration of January 6, 2024[3], Tsedek compares Jewish
history and Kurdish history: "we share the same community of destiny in
the face of ethno-nationalism and imperialism" .
"For a Jewishness emancipated from Zionism"
The collective considers that a materialist analysis of Zionism can only
lead to defining it as a colonial project. "Zionism is best defined by
its material manifestation: apartheid, expulsions, house destruction,
dehumanization, blockade, political prisoners, summary executions,
ethnic cleansing and genocide"[4]. Tsedek therefore intends to bring a
critical Jewish voice. Faced with the massacre in Gaza, he launched a
petition on October 31 which proclaimed: "you will not have the silence
of the Jews of France". In the Parisian demonstrations for a ceasefire
in Gaza, the collective appeared in a "Jewish bloc" alongside other
anti-Zionist Jewish organizations (Oy Gevalt, Kessem, UJFP)[5].
If Tsedek opposes organizations and collectives that claim to represent
Jewish speech, it is not to speak "in the name" of Jews, but to insist
on the plurality of Jewish opinions. The amalgamations between
Jewishness and Zionism, and between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, lead
to the essentialization of Jews, as if they were a uniform mass who
would speak with one voice in favor of colonialism. To refuse this
capture of Jewish voices, there was a need for a new collective that
would allow anti-Zionist Jewish people to express themselves in the
first person, against institutions that speak in place or on behalf of
all Jewish people. From then on, Tsedek did not hesitate to take on the
conflict with the Zionist Jewish organizations, from the CRIF to the
UEJF, which reciprocated him.
"The right to self-determination of Jews cannot be at the expense of
another people" Nadav Joffe, co-founder of Tsedek! in the Mediapart show
À l'air libre.
RED PHOTO LIBRARY
Against anti-Semitism and its exploitation
At the center of the collective's commitments is also the fight against
anti-Semitism. Tsedek offers a materialist reading, which breaks with
dominant analyses. In the collective's manifesto, anti-Semitism is
defined as a "product of white supremacy". In 1492, the same year that
Christopher Columbus opened the way to the colonization of the American
continent, Spain expelled Jews in the name of "purity of blood": it was
indeed European nation-states that made Jews and Jewish outcasts, who
racialized and discriminated against them.
When these same nation-states use the fight against anti-Semitism to
produce national unity around them, as was the case with the November 12
demonstration in Paris, Tsedek sees it as a hideous instrumentalization,
all the more so when it involves using the pretext of the fight against
anti-Semitism to reinforce other racisms, notably Islamophobic[6]. The
same government which called for this march contains, among others,
Gérald Darmanin, author of filthy declarations on Jews who "practice
usury" and give rise to "troubles and complaints"!
On the contrary, the fight against Tsedek anti-Semitism is closely
linked to all other anti-racisms. Anti-Semitism, like all racism, has
its specificities, but making it exceptional racism is a political
mistake: the anti-racist fight will be common or it will not be. In the
fight against anti-Semitism, as in all struggles, "the compass can only
be that of justice, collective emancipation and political opportunities
that break with the structures that produce anti-Semitism. Without this,
it is disarmed"[7].
Daniel (UCL Lyon)
To validate
[1]An event planned for January 6, at the Cirque Electrique de Paris
entitled "against anti-Semitism, its exploitation and for revolutionary
peace in Palestine" was canceled by the town hall which lent the room,
possibly by giving in to threats of far-right Zionist groups. On January
30, it was a screening of the film The Zone of Interest in the presence
of researcher Sadia Agsous-Bienstein, planned at the Magestic Bastille
cinema, which was canceled at the last minute. A new session was planned
for February 6, with the historian Johann Chapoutot as second guest. The
latter declined the invitation at the last minute, and the cinema
refused to allow the premiere to speak alone, with justifications of
which the person concerned underlined the racist subtext.
[2]On the Akadem website, a column entitled "Tsedek and Neturei Karta,
the Jews preferred by anti-Semites" presents Tsedek as a "marginal and
over-publicized" group, for example.
[3]"With the Kurdish left on January 6 Justice and truth for the six
assassinations!», Libertarian Alternative, February 2024
[4]https://x.com/TSDKcollectif/status/1749834211131805949
[5]For a presentation of the UJFP in the columns of Alternative
Libertaire: "Pierre Stambul (UJFP): "Our audience is growing"",
Alternative Libertaire, May 2009
[6]UCL developed a very similar position in our press release of
November 18, 2023, "Fight against anti-Semitism: dangerous attempts at
reappropriation by the extreme right"
[7]Tsedek, "Anti-Semitism must be fought, its exploitation too",
November 3, 2023.
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Tsedek-Une-voix-juive-pour-la-justice
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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