Talking Through The Dark: A Shavuot Reading Zine for 5784

In this Shavuot zine, April Rosenblum and Rena Yehuda Newman have assembled a collage of writings, comics, and fragments that speak to questions of antisemitism, empire, nationalism, Jewishness, and solidarity in a time of tremendous tragedy. These writings are presented alongside connecting quotes and sources of contemporary, biblical, and Talmudic origins. This zine is 36 pages, with a readable PDF and an at-home print booklet version which can be printed and folded for study use on Shavuot evening.

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On this Shavuot, we invite you into this learning resource zine on antisemitism in a critical moment in Jewish history. Why talk about antisemitism now, when the ongoing massacre of Palestinians in Gaza continues without pause?

To speak about antisemitism in this moment is to recognize the interlocking nature of oppression under today’s empires and resist definitions of antisemitism that can be co-opted by right wing forces for murderous ends. To be firm in our convictions in envisioning a more liberated world is to fathom new understandings of the struggles that Jews have faced, in ways that put us back into coalition with other marginalized peoples of the world. To study modern theory on antisemitism on Shavuot is to say that this too is Torah.

Many of the theories presented here are in progress - we invite you into that process of discussion, disagreement, and creativity that building theory asks of us, especially about a marginalization that has such a long and complex history, where many of the best ideas have gone untranslated: whether misunderstood, partly-formed, or lost. It is hard to put words to these knowings. So we will shape new thinking now: we are in a time when ideas are born. Here, late in the night, we are talking through the dark.

This zine is free or pay what you wish. All proceeds will be donated to the Gaza Mutual Aid Collective.