Trudy Gold
Zionism in World War II
Summary
This lecture explores the complex subject of Zionism during World War II, focusing on the historical challenge faced by Jews in addressing the “Jewish problem.” This dilemma arises from Judaism’s role as the precursor to major world religions, such as Christianity and Islam. Highlighting the evolution of Jewish identity, Trudy Gold underscores how the European Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and the American Revolution profoundly reshaped the Jewish experience. In response to rising Jew hatred and antisemitism, Zionism emerged as a movement among disaffected Jews in the West and Russia.
Trudy Gold
Trudy Gold was the CEO of the London Jewish Cultural Centre and a founding member of the British delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Throughout her career she taught modern Jewish history at schools, universities, and to adult groups and ran seminars on Holocaust education in the UK, Eastern Europe, and China. She also led Jewish educational tours all over the world. Trudy was the educational director of the student resources “Understanding the Holocaust” and “Holocaust Explained” and the author of The Timechart History of Jewish Civilization.
Bundists, the largest group in Eastern Europe with the politicos, believed in fighting for the Revolution, but once the Revolution was over, they wanted Jewish autonomy in Russia. Whereas Diaspora Zionists were people living in the diaspora who wanted to support the existence of the State of Israel.
A lot of support was given by the British.