Bund (General Jewish Labor Union)

Bund, formally known as the General Jewish Labour Bund, was a socialist organization founded in 1897 in the Russian Empire. It aimed to defend Jewish workers' rights, promote socialism, and preserve Jewish cultural identity through Yiddish language and traditions. Unlike Zionists who sought a Jewish homeland in Palestine, Bundists emphasized cultural autonomy within Eastern Europe, advocating for equality and workers' rights in their existing communities. The Bund played a significant role in labor movements, Jewish social activism, and opposition to anti-Semitism, influencing Jewish politics and social thought in the early 20th century.