Like the cyclical nature of the Jewish calendar itself, we’ve once again come to that wonderful time of year in our Boston Workers Circle calendar: Membership Month!  This year’s membership theme is Fighting Fascism for 125 Years. It was generated after much reflection among members about our organization’s long history resisting fascism—and how much we will need to draw on this history as we face the fascist regime in power in the United States, as well as existing fascism abroad.

In 1934, the Workers Circle, the Jewish Labor Bund, and United Hebrew Trades came together to found the Jewish Labor Committee. The Committee supported Jewish labor organizing in Europe, underground partisans, aid victims of Nazism, and American labor fighting anti-democratic forces in the US. Alongside combating antisemitism and other effects of fascism and Nazism in the US. 

Far before leaders in the US and Europe recognized the danger of fascism, our Jewish labor ancestors recognized the threat that it posed. They pressured unions to boycott Nazi goods, and helped their non-Jewish labor counterparts to understand how the Nazis were beginning their persecution as part of a larger assault on labor rights and political liberty. Through their hard work building relationships, they successfully collaborated to raise funds to support those on the ground in Europe working to resist the fascists.

The organizing methods of our founders serve as a powerful call to action for us now and remind us that our lives and the lives of our non-Jewish neighbors are intertwined. The future promises many difficult days, and regardless, we will be called to persevere. Yes, even through fascist repression. Yes, even through infighting. Yes, even when we feel betrayed by comrades. Yes, even when we aren’t sure if success is possible. Yes, even when we’re afraid, uncertain, worried, or intimidated. Yes, even when we’d like to act out of anger and domination.

We continue to utilize our ancestors’ methods at Boston Workers Circle, where we refuse to turn away from the difficulties of the world, and where we insist on embodying art, culture, and joy while we seek to make the world a better place. We organize, but we gather for shabes together too. We study our history deeply, but we celebrate with music and dance too. We speak, but we listen too. Fascism seeks to induce panic, surveillance, and distrust, just when we need calm, trust, patience, and understanding the most. It is within our power to resist the calls to turn against one another; we know because our ancestors before us resisted this very same call.

For the sake of our futures, and the futures of our descendants, this moment calls on us to draw even more deeply from the wells of compassion, courage, collaboration, curiosity, and creativity. Each one of us has something to contribute towards our vision for a multiracial political and economic democracy resistant to fascism and other forms of oppression. 

Will you join or renew your membership, and become a part of Boston Workers Circle’s 125+ year old fight against fascism?