The beginnings of the Jewish attraction to the Left

Abstract

This chapter traces the origin of the Jewish—Left alliance to the beginning of the modern era: the French Revolution of 1789, which promised equality, freedom, and an end to discrimination for all, including the Jews. The subsequent political emancipation of the Jews in most of Western and Central Europe provoked an anti-modern and specifically anti-Jewish backlash from traditional conservative groupings. Not surprisingly, Jews allied themselves with modern liberal forces and played an important role in the 1848 European revolutions which sought to entrench the gains of liberalism. However, the ensuing failure of liberalism to protect Jewish rights later led many Jews to seek new allies within the growing socialist movement.