Joseph Finlay
@josephfinlay.bsky.social
Historian of British Jews and race relations. Composer and Musical Director. Socialist and דאָיִקער. Writing on Jewish issues at www.toratalbion.org.uk
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
My non-binding definition of antisemitism, which is non-binding and does nothing according to me, must be reinstated as state policy for reasons I won't delineate or else Jews will be harassed en masse in a series of cause and effect I can't articulate
January 4, 2026 at 6:39 PM
My non-binding definition of antisemitism, which is non-binding and does nothing according to me, must be reinstated as state policy for reasons I won't delineate or else Jews will be harassed en masse in a series of cause and effect I can't articulate
I’m speaking as part of this online panel, it should be a good event www.tickettailor.com/events/onech...
Sign Up Now – Jewish and Yiddish Reactions to the Destruction of Gaza: a Panel – Zoom
Jewish and Yiddish Reactions to the Destruction of Gaza: a Panel – Zoom, Sun 18 Jan 2026 - About this webinar
This panel brings together four papers that were presented at the 2025 International Oral...
www.tickettailor.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:58 PM
I’m speaking as part of this online panel, it should be a good event www.tickettailor.com/events/onech...
ז׳׳ל May his memory be for a blessing
January 4, 2026 at 4:40 PM
ז׳׳ל May his memory be for a blessing
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
Both Hannah Arendt and Jeffrey Epstein described themselves as Jews, though the sex crimes against children Mr Epstein was known for differ starkly from the political theory Ms. Arendt propounded.
ha - NYT has now changed this sentence, managing only to amplify the absurdity and offense of the original: "Both Mr. Mamdani and Mr. Maduro describe themselves as socialists, though the policies Mr. Maduro presided over in Venezuela differ starkly from those Mr. Mamdani has vowed to pursue."
NYT gonna NYT: "Both Mr. Mamdani and Mr. Maduro identify as socialists, though they have no relationship.” — would be funny if they did this every time you write about two capitalists.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
January 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Both Hannah Arendt and Jeffrey Epstein described themselves as Jews, though the sex crimes against children Mr Epstein was known for differ starkly from the political theory Ms. Arendt propounded.
If Starmer had any hope of a successful relaunch or change of narrative in 2026, his failure to condemn Trump’s actions in Venezuela has surely put an end to it.
January 3, 2026 at 9:25 PM
If Starmer had any hope of a successful relaunch or change of narrative in 2026, his failure to condemn Trump’s actions in Venezuela has surely put an end to it.
I feel we did a decent job of keeping the fascists off the streets but were less successful in keeping them out of the government
January 3, 2026 at 6:05 PM
I feel we did a decent job of keeping the fascists off the streets but were less successful in keeping them out of the government
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
"Solidarity politics and a commitment to dignity for all demands that we think in relation. We are called to break those rules that cordon off one story, like the history of the Holocaust, from another, like the Nakba, or ICE detentions." www.972mag.com/fascism-amer...
Fighting fascism in America during a genocide in Palestine
We must insist on drawing connections across time and place — from the Holocaust to Gaza, or ICE detention to Israeli prisons — to disrupt the normalization of authoritarianism at every turn.
www.972mag.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:05 AM
"Solidarity politics and a commitment to dignity for all demands that we think in relation. We are called to break those rules that cordon off one story, like the history of the Holocaust, from another, like the Nakba, or ICE detentions." www.972mag.com/fascism-amer...
These heroes should be studied in schools, the modern equivalent of the Kings and Queens of England
I am a historian of contemporary Britain, with an interest in political and pop cultural history. I grew up in Australia, but lived in the UK in the early 2000s. From this, I feel like I know quite a bit about random celeb figures in the UK. But I've still had to, in the past, Google the following:
January 2, 2026 at 9:20 AM
These heroes should be studied in schools, the modern equivalent of the Kings and Queens of England
Basic income must be the most studied policy of all and yet we keep getting more trials because politicians cannot accept how well it works
A new trial gave homeless people £2,000 to spend however they choose. What they spent the money on may surprise you.
Homeless people were given free money, no strings attached. Here's what happened
www.bigissue.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Basic income must be the most studied policy of all and yet we keep getting more trials because politicians cannot accept how well it works
Did a session of the history of the genocide concept at Limmud today. Seemed to be well received. Also spoke about whiteness on Sunday.
December 30, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Did a session of the history of the genocide concept at Limmud today. Seemed to be well received. Also spoke about whiteness on Sunday.
Tony Lerman’s book Whatever Happened to Antisemitism gives a good account of this shift. Most Jewish anti-Zionism petered out earlier than your uncle’s, but it has returned in a more radical form in the last decade or two.
How and when did it become unacceptable to be anti- Zionist?
My Uncle was a synagogue attending, Tory voting, High Court judge who was (two decades ago) anti-Zionist. He'd be amazed to read this passage (and others) in Sigrid Rausing's piece in The Times (web.archive.org/web/20251227...).
My Uncle was a synagogue attending, Tory voting, High Court judge who was (two decades ago) anti-Zionist. He'd be amazed to read this passage (and others) in Sigrid Rausing's piece in The Times (web.archive.org/web/20251227...).
December 28, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Tony Lerman’s book Whatever Happened to Antisemitism gives a good account of this shift. Most Jewish anti-Zionism petered out earlier than your uncle’s, but it has returned in a more radical form in the last decade or two.
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
Chloe Deakin, the teacher who wrote to David Emms (the Dulwich College headmaster who failed to meet his own standards) about Farage’s vile conduct to pupils in the school), speaks on the record here.
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
‘Of course he abused pupils’: ex-Dulwich teacher speaks out about Farage racism claims
Exclusive: Chloë Deakin tells how she wrote to Dulwich college master to argue against Farage’s nomination as prefect
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Chloe Deakin, the teacher who wrote to David Emms (the Dulwich College headmaster who failed to meet his own standards) about Farage’s vile conduct to pupils in the school), speaks on the record here.
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Men would rather destroy the world than go to therapy
Some men say climate change is “overblown.” Turns out it’s less about the data and more about not wanting to look feminine.
Fragile masculinity = climate denial.
Remind you of anyone…?
www.psypost.org/some-men-may...
Fragile masculinity = climate denial.
Remind you of anyone…?
www.psypost.org/some-men-may...
Some men may downplay climate change risks to avoid appearing feminine
A new study finds that men who are anxious about their masculinity are less likely to care about climate change. They may view environmental concern as a feminine trait that threatens their image.
www.psypost.org
December 28, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Men would rather destroy the world than go to therapy
It’s a Wonderful Life. Basically a Yom Kippur film. Based on a short story by a Jewish writer, one that is clearly based on the Dickens.
If A Christmas Carol were Jewish, how would it be different? Would it even be possible to adapt?
December 25, 2025 at 8:06 AM
It’s a Wonderful Life. Basically a Yom Kippur film. Based on a short story by a Jewish writer, one that is clearly based on the Dickens.
The only required answer to perennial arguments over whether Jesus is Palestinian or Jewish is that Jesus can be whatever nationality you want him to be. Merry Xmas!
December 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The only required answer to perennial arguments over whether Jesus is Palestinian or Jewish is that Jesus can be whatever nationality you want him to be. Merry Xmas!
I hope people will read this and see that it had everything to do with IS and nothing to do with the Palestine solidarity movement
‘My blood is boiling, brother’: the foiled plot to massacre Jews on streets of Greater Manchester
‘My blood is boiling, brother’: the foiled plot to massacre Jews on streets of Greater Manchester
Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein thought ‘zero hour’ had finally arrived until undercover operative thwarted them
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I hope people will read this and see that it had everything to do with IS and nothing to do with the Palestine solidarity movement
Excellent piece
New from my newsletter: I pile through the responses to the recent antisemitic attack in Australia, all of which repeated the same policies that have failed to keep Jews safe and have been used to attack movements for justice. We need solidarity not police.
maiseh-review.ghost.io/islamophobia...
maiseh-review.ghost.io/islamophobia...
Islamophobia and State Repression Don't Keep Jews Safe
We have heard a lot in the wake of the antisemitic violence in Australia. Just nothing that will make us safer.
maiseh-review.ghost.io
December 22, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Excellent piece
Stalin would have been proud of such a result www.thejc.com/news/almost-...
Almost all British Jews want the BBC investigated over bias, poll finds - The Jewish Chronicle
The survey by Campaign Against Antisemitism also found that 57 per cent had considered stopping paying the licence fee
www.thejc.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Stalin would have been proud of such a result www.thejc.com/news/almost-...
Shameless. Herodotus (c. 484-425 BCE) used the term Palestine, long before the Roman conquest. www.uklfi.com/open-univers...
Open University Agrees to Change Use of “Ancient Palestine” Following UKLFI Intervention
The Open University has agreed that it will no longer use the term “ancient Palestine” in future course materials, following a complaint by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) highlighting historical inaccu...
www.uklfi.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Shameless. Herodotus (c. 484-425 BCE) used the term Palestine, long before the Roman conquest. www.uklfi.com/open-univers...
‘Let’s tell our stories: both the heroic and the embarrassing, the simple and the strange, those of our celebrities and ordinary Yoysef-shmos. We are constructed from the broader tales of Albion, and Albion itself is woven out of our stories.’ www.toratalbion.org.uk/telling-brit...
Telling British Jewish Stories
Operation Mincemeat the musical, Ewen Montagu, and why telling our stories matters
www.toratalbion.org.uk
December 22, 2025 at 9:27 AM
‘Let’s tell our stories: both the heroic and the embarrassing, the simple and the strange, those of our celebrities and ordinary Yoysef-shmos. We are constructed from the broader tales of Albion, and Albion itself is woven out of our stories.’ www.toratalbion.org.uk/telling-brit...
Tikkun Olam: the original ‘Globalise the Intifada’
December 20, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Tikkun Olam: the original ‘Globalise the Intifada’
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
But McSweeney’s analysis of Labour’s wrong turn goes back further, to the summoning of the Long Parliament in November 1640
December 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM
But McSweeney’s analysis of Labour’s wrong turn goes back further, to the summoning of the Long Parliament in November 1640
A relatively light piece for the holidays, but with some serious ideas behind it www.toratalbion.org.uk/telling-brit...
Telling British Jewish Stories
Operation Mincemeat the musical, Ewen Montagu, and why telling our stories matters
www.toratalbion.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A relatively light piece for the holidays, but with some serious ideas behind it www.toratalbion.org.uk/telling-brit...
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
How come when the children put a hat on Frosty and he comes to life it’s cute and kitschy, but when I write “emet” on this lump of clay and it comes to life suddenly I’m “bringing destruction on the whole village” and I have to “make it stop??”
December 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
How come when the children put a hat on Frosty and he comes to life it’s cute and kitschy, but when I write “emet” on this lump of clay and it comes to life suddenly I’m “bringing destruction on the whole village” and I have to “make it stop??”