Language:
English
Year of publication:
2019
Titel der Quelle:
In Geveb; a Journal of Yiddish Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
(2019) pp 34
Keywords:
Salkind, J. M.
;
Shvartsbard, Shalom,
;
Anarchism
;
Jewish anarchists Biography
;
Rabbis Attitudes
;
Zionism Philosophy
Abstract:
This paper examines the religious anarchist thought of Rabbi Dr. Yankev Meir Zalkind, the prolific philologist, editor, Orthodox rabbi, and mentor to poet-assassin Sholem Shvartsbard. In the early twentieth century, Zalkind developed a political philosophy of anarchism from his study of Talmudic ethics, retaining the particularity of Jewish identity and cultural autonomy within a vision of life liberated from capitalism, militarism, statism, and institutional oppression. His capacious politics dissolve the binary between religious conservatism and leftist atheism, anticipating the rise of the "spiritual Left" and critiques of political secularism. Zalkind drew political inspiration from the condition of diaspora, forging a theory of anti-statism from his experiences of statelessness. Rather than retrofitting secular radicalism or "judaizing" anarchism, Zalkind articulated his anti-statism through the language and logics of Jewish scripture while fiercely opposing contemporaneous anarchist strains of atheism, universalism, and antisemitism. This paper examines a series of interwoven elements of Zalkind's work and worldview, including his translations of the Talmud; his intense relationship with Shvartsbard, particularly their ruminations on justice and Orthodoxy; his discord with secular anarchists; his editorship of London anarchist newspapers; and his aspiration to build a Jewish anarchist society in Palestine.
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