Marc Lamont Hill discusses Jewish Labour Bund and anti‑Zionism with Molly Crabapple

Marc Lamont Hill sat down with artist and writer Molly Crabapple for a televised conversation that examined the historical legacy of the Jewish Labour Bund and its relevance to contemporary debates within the Jewish left. Hill, a scholar of African‑American studies and a frequent commentator on social justice issues, outlined the Bund’s early‑20th‑century roots as a secular, socialist organization that championed Yiddish culture, workers’ rights, and a vision of Jewish autonomy distinct from nationalist aspirations. Crabapple, whose recent work has focused on political activism and visual storytelling, prompted Hill to discuss how the Bund’s anti‑Zionist stance—rooted in opposition to a state‑centered model of Jewish identity—continues to shape current discourse among left‑leaning Jewish groups.

During the interview, Hill highlighted the resurgence of anti‑Zionist sentiment among younger Jews who view the Israeli government’s policies as incompatible with progressive values, while emphasizing that the Bund’s emphasis on diaspora solidarity and cultural preservation remains a touchstone for many activists. He noted that contemporary Jewish left organizations often invoke the Bund’s legacy to argue for a pluralistic approach to Jewish identity that separates cultural affiliation from state allegiance. The discussion concluded with both participants acknowledging the complexity of navigating historical memory, political ideology, and the evolving landscape of Jewish communal life, underscoring the ongoing relevance of the Bund’s ideas in today’s debates over anti‑Zionism and left‑wing Jewish politics.