Solidarity is the Political Version of Love
Lessons From Jewish Anti-Zionist Organizing
by Rebecca Vilkomerson and
Rabbi Alissa Wise
“It is very rare to have access to the internal dynamics of any political movement, more so when it is rife with internal fissures and external pressures that threaten to unravel it daily. Solidarity is the Political Version of Love provides that for us with biting nuance and tender self-reflection in regards to the transformation of Jewish Voice for Peace from a local anti-occupation Jewish organization into an international anti-Zionist Jewish organization leading a revival of Jewish leftist traditions. Situating themselves both within and adjacent to the organization, Rebecca Vilkomerson and Rabbi Alissa Wise have offered an enduring historical document for generations of anti-Zionist Jewish organizers to come. ”
Cover art by Wendy Elisheva Somerson
“This book gives us the living history of Jewish Voice for Peace, retelling the history of the movement as it began small, expanded, sought new forms of organization, joined the Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment movement, adopted anti-Zionism, and now serves as a beacon of Jewish ethics and progressive politics in the US and beyond. Impressively collaborative, self-reflective, and visionary, this history, written by directors of the organization, is one of agony and exhilaration, the tensions with families and communities of origins, the courageous fights against Zionist efforts to shut down the “voice” of JVP by questioning its Jewishness - clearly fearing its emerging power. We learn how costly and necessary anti-Zionist Jewish organizing is in this time when Israel claims to represent the Jewish people as it commits genocidal acts against the people of Gaza. ”
What does the politics of solidarity look like in practice, and how can left-wing organizations grow — in numbers and power — while remaining accountable to the broader movements of which they are a part?
In this book, two key leaders and former staff of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) — Rebecca Vilkomerson and Rabbi Alissa Wise — focus on the important role of anti-Zionist Jewish organizing within the broader Palestine solidarity movement, reflecting on their decade of leadership of JVP and drawing lessons especially relevant to those organizing from a position of solidarity.
Against the backdrop of rapid and often devastating political developments, they explore how JVP grew larger as the organization shifted to the left and helped to alter the public narrative about Palestinian liberation, while also navigating the tensions of organization-building and creating a space for Judaism liberated from Zionism. Their insights help contextualize the intense suppression of activism for Palestinian freedom, while illuminating the roots of today's flourishing Jewish solidarity with Palestinians worldwide.
In addressing their shortcomings and failures no less than their inspiring successes, Vilkomerson and Wise deliver an account of JVP's organizing during the 2010s that offers crucial strategic lessons for anyone engaging in the collective work of building organizations and fighting for justice as our movements evolve over time.
“Solidarity is the Political Version of Love is timely, not only because Jewish Voice for Peace is the leading force resisting Israel’s current genocidal war on Palestinians, but because it is a success story. And today, as we confront the threat of fascism and political despair, movements need success stories. Veteran organizers Rebecca Vilkomerson and Rabbi Alissa Wise guide us through two decades of JVP’s history, revisiting mistakes, drawing lessons, and revealing the secrets to the movement’s sustained growth, coherence, longevity, and radical vision. Beautiful, inspiring, insightful . . . this book is for every organizer and anyone willing to fight for a world grounded in the principles of peace, justice, decolonization, and love.
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Table of Contents
“Two of the most effective solidarity workers in American politics offer a tough-love, how-to-get-it-done gift to those ready to confront oppressive power while building deep relationships with our political partners. Focused, realistic, and above all impactful. A book of practical and emotional insights that are so, so helpful.”
About the authors
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Rebecca Vilkomerson has worked in social justice movement building for several decades, as an organizer, fundraiser, organizational development consultant and strategist. From 2009-2019 she was the Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace. In 2022, the Solidaire Network published her report “Funding Freedom: Building Support for the Palestinian Freedom Movement in Philanthropy.” She is currently the Co-Director of the Funding Freedom project.
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Rabbi Alissa Wise is a community organizer, educator, organizational consultant, and ritual leader with over two decades of movement-building experience. Rabbi Wise co-founded the JVP Rabbinical Council in 2010, and was a staff leader at JVP From 2011-2021. She is currently the Lead Organizer of Rabbis for Ceasefire which she founded in October 2023.
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Omar Barghouti is a co-founder of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and recipient of the 2017 Gandhi Peace Award. He holds a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University, NY, and is pursuing a PhD in Philosophy (ethics) at the University of Amsterdam. He is the author of, BDS: The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights (Haymarket: 2011). His commentaries and views have appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, among others.
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Stefanie Fox (she/her) is the Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), a U.S. based, grassroots membership organization mobilizing Jewish communities into the movement for Palestinian rights and freedom and towards a vision of Judaism beyond Zionism. Stefanie joined JVP in 2009 as the organization’s first National Organizer, and played multiple roles over the past 15 years growing the organization into the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world. Prior to joining JVP, Stefanie spent a decade in racial and economic justice work as a grassroots community organizer, public health practitioner, and policy researcher and analyst. She has written extensively for print media with publications in outlets like Time, Boston Review, The Nation, and has appeared on MSNBC, Al Jazeera English, CNN, and more.
“This book is a tonic for the soul. “JVP has done some of the most difficult and morally courageous organizing I have seen, standing in unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian liberation struggle at one of the most difficult times in its history, while simultaneously deepening the tradition of Jewish left internationalism. Two amazing women have been key to JVP’s evolution as a galvanizing political force for justice, Alissa Wise and Rebecca Vilkomerson. Fierce, formidable and deeply compassionate, their insights offer inspiration and clarity in a moment where grief and uncertainty abound. This book is so necessary and these authors are the only ones who could have written it. I am in awe of them both as movement visionaries and unrelenting organizers.” – ”
“Solidarity Is the Political Version of Love is a must read for those of us whose communities are used to justify and uphold systems of domination and violence. These leaders share valuable insights into what it takes to organize communities away from supremacist ideologies and into solidarity and movements for liberation. The book is an honest reflection and shares valuable lessons on what it takes to build organizations that yield power, create belonging, and organize at the scale that this moment requires.”
Book Events
We hope to see you! Check back as dates and locations are being updated!
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Panel at the Socialism Conference https://socialismconference.org/
Not in Our Names
10-11:30am -
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square S
New York, NY 100127:15 pm
Join us for the launch of our book!
Cross-movement panel featuring Linda Sarsour, Nyle Fort, Riham Barghouti, Julia Daniel, Dania Rajendra. Music and poetry from Huda Asfour and Farah Barqawi.
Co-sponsored by SURJ, JVP-NY, Adalah-NY, Kolot Chayeinu -
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Red Emma's
3128 Greenmount Avenue
Baltimore, MD7 pm
Joined in conversation by Rev Dr Heber Brown III and moderated by Mark Gunnery of JVP-Baltimore.
Co-sponsored by JVP Baltimore and Hinenu Baltimore. -
Busboys & Poets
625 Monroe St NE,
Washington, DC 200176:30-8:30pm
Cross-movement panel featuring Andrew Kadi (Writer and Organizer) and Pranay Somayala (Hindus for Human Rights). Performance by local poet, Mohammed Arafat. Moderated by Phyllis Bennis.
Co-sponsored by JVP-DC. -
Hosted by Haymarket Books and Jewish Currents
In conversation with Omar Barghouti and Stefanie Fox. Moderated by Nyle Fort.
5pm ET, 4pm CT
Register here -
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Colorado College
Book Talk & Signing
McHugh Commons
3pm -
Nov 11, 7:30pm (UK) on Zoom
Virtual conversation with Vashti Media. -
Riffraff Bookstore
60 Valley Street
Suite 107A
Providence, RI 029097pm
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The First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist
7pmPanel discussion with members of Visualizing Palestine.
Co-sponsored by JVP-Boston
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Café MadaMe
Mehringpl. 10, 10969 Berlin, Germany
7pmRabbi Alissa Wise in conversation with Sherene Seikaly and Almút Sh. Bruckstein
Co-sponsored by Jüdische Stimme.
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Rich Mix
7pm
In conversation with Asad Rehman (War on Want), Sarona Bedwan (Makan), Ben Jamal (Palestine Solidarity Campaign).Co-sponsored by PSC and Haymarket.
RSVP link coming soon.
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First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
Anti-Zionist Book Fair
5pm
“When we birthed Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) four years ago, we saw JVP as our organizational role model and big sibling. Alissa and Rebecca have gifted to all social justice organizers and peace warriors this manifesto detailing JVP’s history, its methodologies, challenges, and lessons learned. “Solidarity is the Political Version of Love” is a goldmine of concrete tools to strengthen HfHR’s growth as a nonprofit and movement of inclusive Hindus with an unwavering stand against caste and Hindu supremacy (Hindutva). Whether you are an individual finding your way to clarity on political issues which tend to divide us; or an organization building a movement for principled collective action, this book will be an invaluable companion on your journey.”
Contact Us
Want to host us in your community for a book talk and/or organizing workshop? Reach out!
“Solidarity is the Political Version of Love is a unique and beautiful book. Masterfully mixing memoir, organizational history, political criticism, Vilkomerson and Wise have crafted a text that affirms their lifelong commitment to revolutionary love, radical action, earnest self-critique, and unrelenting hope. Although rooted in their own personal and professional experiences as leaders within Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP), this project provides powerful and necessary insights for anyone invested in the struggle for justice. ”
Press
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Listen to the podcast episode with David Palumbo-Liu here.
Available on all major podcasting platforms. -
Jewish anti-Zionists share insights on our collective struggle to build a strong left in the face of looming disaster. — Rebecca Vilkomerson and Alissa Wise, TRUTHOUT
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This book stands out from the pack in that the authors intend for the text to be brought back into organizing spaces, for people to try out the ideas implied within and even to disagree with the author’s conclusions: this is part of the work they have been doing for decades, not just a narrative compendium of memories. This is a perfect example of the political strategy of book writing, where the hope is to help shift action in the real world far beyond simply changing minds. — Shane Burley, Maiseh Review
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Rabbi Alissa Wise and Rebecca Vilkomerson discuss building a new Jewish world and the lessons they've learned from fighting for justice and liberation — Shane Burley, Electric Lit
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Mondoweiss spoke with co-author Rebecca Vilkomerson about the book, the evolution of JVP, and the state of anti-Zionist organizing amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
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JVP has become a powerhouse of the American Jewish left. In a new book, "Solidarity Is the Political Version of Love," two of its past leaders trace the lessons they learned along the way. — Yonat Shimron
“The movement for Palestinian freedom that is upending American politics did not arise from nowhere. It stems from many years of difficult work, including by American Jews like Rebecca Vilkomerson and Rabbi Alissa Wise. You don’t need to agree with them on everything to be inspired by their commitment to Palestinian and Jewish liberation. And whatever your views, this book will help you understand the political earthquake that is shaking the ground beneath our feet.”