Jewdas

Jewdas is a radical Jewish diaspora group based in London, although many of the founder members trace their roots back to Jewish communities in Iceland and other Scandinavian countries. It has a successful satirical-communal website and stages Jewish events in London and around. In 2008 the group was listed at #67 on "The JC Power 100", the Jewish Chronicle's annual ranking of the 100 most influential British Jews.[1]

It is a secretive organisation based upon anarchistic lines, engaged in political, cultural, and artistic activities, usually with a subversive edge. It lacks an overt manifesto, but is generally seen as being on the far left of Jewish politics. Representatives of the organization use the collective pseudonym "Geoffrey Cohen" in speaking to the media.[1][2][3]

Its first event was held at rampART Social Center in London's East End, the traditional home of London's immigrant Jewish community; a free (albeit accepted donation) Purim party on Saturday, 18 March 2006, which was open to anyone of any ethnic or religious background, was attended by in excess of 600 people and was covered by the national press. Its second main event was a subject of great controversy, being called "The Protocols of the Elders of Hackney", with a flyer parodying traditional anti-semitic images. Members of the group were arrested, an incident condemned by the Jewish Chronicle in an editorial entitled "In Praise of Jewdas". More recent events have included a "Radical Cosmopolitan Yeshiva" at the Shunt Lounge, a film festival ("Treifspotting") and a secret Channukah party, which involved recreating the Temple of Jerusalem in Dalston.

In 2011, Jewdas hosted ¡No Pasaran!, a party commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street.[4]

The group became more active again in 2014, especially around the issue of Israel's war with Gaza. This included protesting at pro-Israel events [5] where it has been labeled "extreme far-left " [5]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.thejc.com/jc-power-100/the-jc-power-100-numbers-61-70
  2. ↑ http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2006/09/by_ruth_gledhil.html
  3. ↑ http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/1774
  4. ↑ https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/chris-cox/no-pasaran-remembering-battle-of-cable-street
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/08/18/Israel-protests-in-Brighton

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