A SYNAGOGUE was arguing over whether one should stand or sit during a key prayer. Half of the congregation said one should sit, the other half insisted one should stand. Every time the prayer was recited they shouted at each other: “sit down!” and “stand up!” 
The fighting became so bad that the congregation was split in two, each half contending that they knew the tradition in that synagogue.

Finally, the rabbi decided to visit a 100-year-old member of the synagogue who was living in a nursing home. “Tell us,” said the rabbi, “what is our tradition?” “Should we stand?” “No,” said the old man.

“Well, then,” said the rabbi, “ should we sit?” “No,” said the old man, “that is not our tradition.” “But we need to know what to do,” said the rabbi, “because our congregation members are fighting among each other, insulting each other and refusing to back down.” “That,” said the old man, “that is our tradition.”

Labour politics, especially when it comes to Jewish issues, often feel a lot like this joke.

On the one hand are those who insist that Labour is rife with anti-semitism and the only way to move forward is further suspensions and expulsions.

On the other hand, there are those who maintain that all accusations are manufactured as a plot to discredit the left. The two sides attack each other furiously, and the debate tends to produce more heat than light.

Into this space steps a new group, Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), a new group for Jewish members of Labour. Our political priorities are universal human rights and dignity; justice for all; freedom of expression and democracy in the Labour Party.

We hope we can bring some nuance to this conversation. As Jews we are obviously concerned about anti-semitism and seek to eradicate it from our society.

The recent Jewish Policy Research report found 2.4 per cent of the British population to be committed anti-semites. While that is low, we must never be complacent and always remain vigilant.

At the same time we are socialists, strong supporters of Jeremy Corbyn and the project of making the party into a radical, member-led, left-wing party that seeks to build a just and egalitarian society in Britain. We strongly believe that these two aims are compatible.

We take inspiration from great socialists of the pasts, not just the great names like Leon Trotsky and Rosa Luxemburg, but in particular from the Jewish Labour Bund, the revolutionary Jewish party in Russia and Poland in the first half of the 20th century.

Like the Bund, we are focused on Jewish needs here where we live. British Jews, like everyone else, suffer from cuts to public services, unaffordable housing, insecure employment, NHS privatisation and student debt. We need a socialist government just as much as our non-Jewish comrades and friends.

We are also inspired by the long tradition of British Jewish socialism — be it the East End Jewish anarchists, the battle of Cable Street or Jewish involvement in the Communist Party, mostly famously leading to Phil Piratin’s successfully campaign to become Communist Party of Great Britain MP for Mile End in 1945.

Too often in more recent years, the most prominent Jewish politicians have been either Tories or Blairites. We hope to redress the balance.

We consider it unfortunate that whenever Jewish issues are mentioned, it is in relation to Israel. Most of us, whether zionist or not, are far more focused on what happens in Britain. But we do need to clarify our position on the fraught question of the boundary between criticism of Israel and anti-semitism.

We recognise that sometimes critics of Israel can and do fall into classic anti-semitic tropes about Jewish media and financial conspiracies, “Old Testament vengeance” and blood libels. This is not the norm, but it must be combatted nonetheless.

We believe it is best dealt with through well designed anti-racist training rather than expulsions.

On the other hand, we recognise that many campaigners for Palestinian rights are far too routinely accused of anti-semitism for simply using the language of apartheid to describe the situation in the West Bank, advocating a one-state solution or calling for Palestinian refugees to have the right to return home.

Others may legitimately disagree with these views but to condemn those who advocate them as anti-semitic is a radical redefinition we cannot accept.

It leads to accusations of anti-semitism being utilised for factional struggles and makes many on the left cynical when actual cases of anti-Jewish racism are raised.

Our founding statement makes our position clear: “We stand for rights and justice for Jewish people everywhere, and against wrongs and injustice to Palestinians and other oppressed people anywhere.

“We uphold the right of supporters of justice for Palestinians to engage in solidarity activities, such as Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.”

At the Labour conference, we are supporting the rule change proposed by Hastings and Rye Constituency Labour Party that adds a clause to the Labour rule book making clear that anti-semitism will not be tolerated, while clarifying that “hatred of Jews shall not be evidenced by non-abusive words or actions regarding Israel or zionism that are part of legitimate political discourse.”

We must not be so focused on internal Labour Party affairs that we miss the wider context. Racism and nationalism have boomed since the EU referendum, as many interpret “taking back control” to mean a rejection of multi-ethnic Britain and a vote for national chauvinism.

This is hugely dangerous, and all socialists, whether leavers or remainers, need to fight back. We also need to stand against the racism of Britain’s immigration system that locks away innocent people who have done nothing except seek a better life for themselves.

JVL will join with other anti-racists to fight for open borders, anti-fascism and solidarity for all peoples. We hope we can be useful allies in the struggle for a just, socialist and anti-racist future.

Joseph Finlay is a member of the Jewish Voice for Labour steering group.

Jewish Voice for Labour’s inaugural public meeting will be held on Monday September 25 6pm-8pm at Mercure Hotel, 149 King’s Road, Brighton, BN1 2PP, and will feature Avi Shlaim, Sir Stephen Sedley, David Rosenberg and Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, chaired by Jenny Mason. For more information visit: jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk.