Jewdas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jewdas is a radical Jewish diaspora group based in London, although many of the founder members trace their roots back to Jewish communities in Iceland and other Scandinavian countries. It has a successful satirical/communal website and stages Jewish events in London and around.
As a secretive organisation based upon anarchistic lines, it is a quasi-political organisation standing both inside and outside of the political spectrum. Its spokesman is "Jeffrey Cohen", who seems to be a imaginary figure.
It has been questioned whether it seeks to play upon the traditional insider/outsider dichotomy of Jewish identity or whether it seeks to overcome such dichotomies which has traditionally been seen as an inalienable part of Jewish experience.
Its first event was held at rampART Social Center in London's East End the traditional home of London's immigrant Jewish community, a free (albeit accepted donation) Purim party on Saturday 18th of March, which was open to anyone of any ethnic or religious background, was attended by in excess of 600 people and was covered by the national press. Its second main event was a subject of great controversy, being called "The Protocols of the Elders of Hackney", with a flyer parodying traditional anti-semitic images. Members of the group were arrested, an incident condemned by the Jewish Chronicle in an editorial entitled "In Praise of Jewdas". More recent events have included a "Radical Cosmopolitan Yeshiva" at the Shunt Lounge, a film festival ("Treifspotting") and a secret Channukah Party, which involved recreating the Temple of Jerusalem in Dalston.
[edit] References
- Article in the Guardian, March 20th 2006 [1]
- Article in Times by Ruth Gledhill, Times Religion Correspondent, 26 September 2006[2]
- Interview by Natalie Rothschild, 4 October 2006 [3]
- Article in the Jersualem Post by Jonny Paul, [4]
- Article from Plan B magazine [5]
