New book examines the rise and decline of the Jewish communist movement
While a number of books and articles have been written about Jewish Communist organizations and their supporters in particular countries, an academic treatment of the overall movement has yet to be published. A Vanished Ideology, a collection of essays co-edited by UPEI’s Dr. Henry Srebrnik, examines the politics of the Jewish communist movement in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, and the United States. Dr. Srebrnik is a professor of political science at UPEI.
“On behalf of the Faculty of Arts, I wish to congratulate Dr. Srebrnik, a prominent member of the Political Science department, on the publication of this book that I am certain will have a significant scholarly impact” said Dr. Nebojsa Kujundzic, dean of the Faculty of Arts at UPEI.
Though officially part of the larger world communist movement, the Jewish movement developed its own specific ideology, which was infused as much by Jewish sources as it was inspired by the Bolshevik revolution. The Yiddish language groups, especially, were interconnected through international movements such as the World Jewish Cultural Union. Jewish communists were able to communicate, disseminate information, and debate issues such as Jewish nationality and statehood independently of other communists, and Jewish communism remained a significant force in Jewish life until the mid-1950s.
Making extensive use of Yiddish-language books, newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, and other materials, the anthology analyzes the relative political strengths and weaknesses of this largely Yiddish-speaking, immigrant movement and its various pro-Soviet organizations in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, and the United States.
The Yiddish language groups, especially, were interconnected through international movements such as the World Jewish Cultural Union. Jewish communists were able to communicate, disseminate information, and debate issues such as Jewish nationality and statehood independently of other communists, and Jewish communism remained a significant force in Jewish life until the mid-1950s. Written by scholars in each of the five countries, the articles in A Vanished Ideology place the movement within its historical context in the Jewish world of the twentieth century.
Along with many scholarly articles, Dr. Srebrnik has written three other books on the subject of Jewish communities and communist movements: London Jews and British Communism, 1935-1945 (1995); Jerusalem on the Amur: Birobidzhan and the Canadian Jewish Communist Movement, 1924-1951(2008); and Dreams of Nationhood: American Jewish Communists and the Soviet Birobidzhan Project, 1924-1951 (2010).
His book Creating the Chupah: The Zionist Movement and the Drive for Jewish Communal Unity in Canada, 1898-1921 was published in 2011. He also co-edited De Facto States: The Quest for Sovereignty (2004). He has written about pedagogical matters and the changes taking place in teaching and learning in higher education in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States.
A Vanishing Ideology is co-edited by Dr. Matthew B. Hoffman, associate professor of Judaic studies and history at Franklin and Marshall College.
The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.
