INTEL 778

Many Jewish individuals have played significant roles in the history of Communist movements around the world. Here’s a list of notable Jewish figures who were associated with or influential in Communist parties or movements:

Early Communist Leaders and Thinkers:

1. Karl Marx – A German philosopher of Jewish descent, Marx was one of the founders of Marxist theory, which became the ideological foundation for many communist movements.
2. Leon Trotsky (Lev Davidovich Bronstein) – A key leader in the Russian Revolution and an influential Marxist theorist, Trotsky was a founder of the Red Army and played a critical role in the early years of Soviet Russia.
3. Rosa Luxemburg – A Marxist theorist and revolutionary, Luxemburg was a leader in the German socialist movement and co-founded the Spartacist League, which later became the Communist Party of Germany.
4. Emma Goldman – An anarchist and political activist, Goldman was involved in revolutionary and socialist movements in the U.S. and Europe.
5. Grigory Zinoviev (Hirsch Apfelbaum) – A Bolshevik revolutionary and one of Lenin’s close collaborators, Zinoviev was a leading figure in the Communist International (Comintern).
6. Lev Kamenev (Lev Borisovich Rozenfeld) – A prominent Bolshevik leader, Kamenev was part of the inner circle during the early years of the Soviet Union.
7. Béla Kun – A Hungarian Communist revolutionary of Jewish origin, Kun led the short-lived Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919.
8. Karl Radek (Sobelsohn) – A Marxist revolutionary and Soviet diplomat, Radek was involved in various international Communist efforts.
9. Julius Martov (Yuliy Osipovich Tsederbaum) – A Russian Marxist and the leader of the Menshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP).

Later Communist Figures:

10. Herbert Marcuse – A philosopher associated with the Frankfurt School, Marcuse became a leading Marxist theorist and was influential in New Left movements during the 1960s.
11. Sidney and Beatrice Webb – While not ethnically Jewish, the Webbs were prominent British socialists who played significant roles in the Fabian Society and were influential in the development of British socialism.
12. Jacques Derrida – Though more associated with deconstruction and postmodernism, Derrida was influenced by Marxist thought and his Jewish heritage.

Jewish Communists in the U.S. and Elsewhere:

13. Herbert Aptheker – A leading American Communist and historian, Aptheker was an advocate of civil rights and a prominent figure in Marxist intellectual circles.
14. Victor Rabinowitz – An American Communist and lawyer who defended many left-wing figures during the McCarthy era.
15. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg – American Communists who were executed in 1953 for espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union.

Jewish Communists in Eastern Europe:

16. Mátyás Rákosi – A Hungarian Communist leader of Jewish descent who ruled Hungary as the head of the Communist Party during the early Cold War period.
17. Ana Pauker – A Romanian Communist leader, and one of the most powerful women in post-World War II Eastern Europe.
18. Moishe Olgin – A Soviet-born American Communist and Yiddish-language journalist.

Jewish Influence in Communist Thought:

Many Jewish intellectuals, while not necessarily members of Communist parties, contributed significantly to Marxist theory, including:

• Walter Benjamin – A German-Jewish philosopher and cultural critic who was involved with Marxist thinkers.
• Georg Lukács – A Hungarian Marxist philosopher with Jewish ancestry, Lukács was influential in developing Marxist theory, particularly regarding literature and art.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it highlights the significant influence of Jewish individuals in various communist movements throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Early Leaders and Thinkers:

19. Max Eastman – An American writer and political activist who was a prominent figure in the early 20th-century socialist movement and later became a vocal critic of Stalinism.
20. Mikhail Bakunin – A Russian revolutionary anarchist and a key figure in the early socialist and communist movements, Bakunin had Jewish ancestry.
21. David Riazanov (David Solomonovich Goldblatt) – A prominent Marxist historian and bibliographer, Riazanov was involved in the early Soviet Union’s historical research and publishing.
22. Rudolf Hilferding – An Austrian Marxist economist and politician who played a significant role in the German social democratic movement and later in the Communist movement.
23. Walter Ulbricht – A German communist leader who became the first General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) in East Germany after World War II.

Influential Marxist Theorists:

24. Theodor W. Adorno – A member of the Frankfurt School, Adorno contributed to Marxist theory and critical theory, examining culture, society, and politics from a leftist perspective.
25. Isaiah Berlin – While primarily known as a liberal thinker, Berlin’s family background and his Jewish heritage influenced his intellectual journey through socialist thought.
26. Moses Hess – A German philosopher and one of the founders of socialism and communism, Hess had a significant influence on early socialist thought.

Jewish Communists in Various Countries:

27. Léon Blum – A French politician of Jewish descent who was a leader of the Socialist Party and served as Prime Minister of France; while not a communist, he had interactions with the Communist Party.
28. Pablo Picasso – While primarily known as a painter, Picasso was associated with leftist politics and supported various communist causes.
29. Svetlana Alliluyeva – The daughter of Joseph Stalin, she became a member of the Communist Party and was involved in various leftist activities.
30. David Ben-Gurion – Though primarily known as a Zionist leader and the first Prime Minister of Israel, Ben-Gurion had early associations with socialist and labor movements.

American Communists:

31. Paul Robeson – An African American singer and actor, Robeson was a prominent advocate for socialism and worked closely with Jewish communists during the 1930s and 1940s.
32. Eugene V. Debs – An American union leader and socialist who was a candidate for the presidency multiple times; while not Jewish, he had many Jewish allies and supporters in the movement.
33. Benny Goodman – A famous jazz musician who was involved in leftist causes during the 1930s and 1940s, often working with Jewish socialists and communists.

Jewish Communists in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union:

34. Mikhail Frunze – A Soviet military leader and politician of Jewish descent who played a key role in the Russian Civil War.
35. Shmuel Weinstock – A Soviet-Jewish revolutionary and member of the Jewish section of the Communist Party during the early 20th century.
36. Dovid Bergelson – A Yiddish writer and a member of the Soviet literary establishment who was involved with the Jewish section of the Communist Party.

Cultural Figures:

37. Bertolt Brecht – A German playwright and poet associated with leftist politics and Marxist aesthetics, Brecht was influential in theater and drama.
38. Leonard Cohen – A Canadian singer-songwriter with Jewish heritage who often addressed themes of politics and social justice in his music.

Other Notable Figures:

39. Friedrich Engels – A co-founder of Marxist theory, Engels was of Jewish descent on his mother’s side and significantly contributed to Marx’s works.
40. Abraham Leon – A Belgian Jewish socialist and Marxist theorist who wrote about the Jewish question from a Marxist perspective.

Further Influential Thinkers:

41. Louis Althusser – A French Marxist philosopher with Jewish ancestry who was influential in 20th-century Marxist thought.
42. Hannah Arendt – A political theorist who analyzed totalitarianism; while critical of certain aspects of communist ideology, her Jewish heritage influenced her political thought.

Jewish Influence in International Communist Movements:

43. Marcello Musto – An Italian Marxist scholar who has written extensively on Marxist theory and its applications in modern politics.
44. Milan Kundera – A Czech-born writer and dissident who explored themes of communism and its impacts on identity and culture.
45. Joseph Lichten – An important figure in the Jewish Communist movement in Eastern Europe, contributing to various socialist publications.

Jewish Figures in Labor Movements:

46. Mary B. Harris Jones (Mother Jones) – An Irish-American labor activist who worked alongside Jewish labor leaders during the early 20th century.
47. Samuel Gompers – An early American labor leader who had significant Jewish support in the labor movement and associated with socialist movements.

Summary

The contributions of Jewish individuals to communist movements are extensive, spanning various countries, cultures, and eras. Many of these figures were deeply influential in shaping Marxist theory, leading revolutionary movements, and advocating for socialist policies. This expanded list highlights the diversity and impact of Jewish heritage within the broader context of communism and socialism.

The size of Bernie Sanders’ supporters and left-leaning Americans in the U.S. can be assessed through various polls, surveys, and electoral data. Here’s a breakdown of the current landscape regarding support for Bernie Sanders and left-leaning political views:

Bernie Sanders Supporters

1. Primary Election Support:

• In the 2020 Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders garnered significant support, particularly among younger voters. In the early states, he won over 26% of the total vote, with strong backing from voters under 30 and those identifying as progressive or socialist.

1. Public Opinion Polls:

• According to a 2021 Gallup poll, about 43% of Americans identified as Democrats or leaned toward the Democratic Party. Among them, Sanders had a notable following, particularly among young adults, with around 69% of those aged 18-29 expressing support for his policies.

1. Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party:

• In recent years, progressive candidates like Sanders have gained a more substantial foothold within the Democratic Party. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that about 57% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents expressed support for more progressive policies, reflecting a shift toward left-leaning ideals.

Left-Leaning Americans

1. Political Ideology:

• According to a 2023 Gallup poll, approximately 36% of Americans identified as liberal, with a significant portion of that group identifying as very liberal. This marks an increase from previous years.

1. Support for Progressive Policies:

• Various polls indicate strong support for specific left-leaning policies among the general American population:
  • Healthcare: Around 70% of Americans support some form of universal healthcare.
  • Climate Change: Approximately 70% of Americans see climate change as a major threat, with strong support for policies addressing it.
  • Economic Inequality: A 2022 survey showed that 60% of Americans believe the government should take steps to reduce economic inequality.

1. Youth Engagement:

• Younger voters (ages 18-29) are increasingly identifying as left-leaning, with about 50% expressing liberal views. This demographic is often seen as more aligned with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, including figures like Sanders.

Electoral Influence

1. 2020 Election Results:

• In the 2020 presidential election, Sanders’ policies resonated with many voters, contributing to Joe Biden’s eventual platform, which included progressive elements like expanding access to healthcare and addressing climate change.

1. Current Trends:

• As of the 2022 midterm elections and looking toward 2024, progressive candidates backed by Sanders and similar ideologies continue to gain traction in primaries and general elections.

Summary

The size of Bernie Sanders’ supporters and left-leaning Americans is substantial and growing. Approximately 36% of Americans identify as liberal, with many younger voters gravitating toward more progressive policies. Sanders’ influence remains strong within the Democratic Party, reflecting a broader shift toward left-leaning ideologies in American politics.