Meet Ben M. Freeman
Ben M. Freeman is a Jewish leader, a Jewish thinker, and a Jewish educator
Born in Scotland, Ben is a gay Jewish internationally renowned author, educator and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion specialist focussing on Jewish identity, combatting Jew-hatred and raising awareness of the Holocaust. He came to prominence during the Corbyn Labour Jew-hate crisis and quickly became one of his generation’s leading voice against anti-Jewish racism.
He is the founder of the modern Jewish Pride movement and the author of Jewish Pride.
Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People is the manifesto of the modern Jewish Pride movement and is the first instalment of Ben M. Freeman’s seminal Jewish Pride trilogy. Inspired by his experiences with LGBTQ+ pride, aims to educate, inspire and empower Jewish people to reject the shame of antisemitism imposed on Jews by the non-Jewish world as well as non-Jewish perceptions of what it means to be a Jew. Enabling them to begin the process of defining their own identities as proud Jews rooted in Jewish experience, Jewish history and Jewish values.
In his follow up, Reclaiming our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride introduces the contemporary conversation on internalised Jew-hate. Continuing his radical focus on the impact of Jew-hate on Jews, on this groundbreaking work, Ben takes his readers – both Jewish and non-Jewish – on a powerful learning journey that explores the long history of internalised anti-Jewishness. Most importantly, he educates, inspires and empowers his Jewish readers to look inside themselves – with empathy and without shame – to identify their own experiences with internalised anti-Jewishness so they can reclaim their Jewish stories, ultimately moving from prejudice to pride.
As a specialist in the field for over a decade, Ben is a prominent thought-leader on Jewish education, history and identity and carries out speaking engagements all over the world. He is a trained teacher and experienced lecturer designing and facilitating unique learning experiences for both his students, the general public and global organisations.
He has worked with a variety of companies from Facebook to Hollywood studios, such as The Jim Henson Company. His work also includes consulting for Emmy Award winning directors on documentary projects, such as Jews of the Wild West.
Through his work, he aims to educate, inspire and empower both Jewish and non-Jewish people from all over the world.
Ben M. Freeman on Social Media
The Holocaust must taught in its context, i.e. the history of Jew-hate. It has to be understood as part of a story that began thousands to year ago, & that’s still being written today.
In my three month courses on the Holocaust, I wouldn’t begin to cover the Nazis until week 4.
This is what happens when we sow division between Jewish communities.
We are one Jewish family, and this disgusting Jew-hate has no place within our peoplehood.
Racist privileged Ashkenazi "Jews" are standing up to protect their racism.
A lot of Ashkenazim are worse than Nazis and will be dealt with like Nazis. https://twitter.com/academic_la/status/1616877752359194624
Watching Israel’s democracy in action is a profoundly moving thing.
Shabbat shalom!
Here’s to a restful, peaceful and prideful Shabbat! 💗
Bernie Sanders is a Jew who cavorts with Jew-haters.
He suffers from internalised anti-Jewishness and he is dangerous.
I was pleased to meet today with former leader of the Labour Party @jeremycorbyn and his colleagues at the @ProgIntl and the @corbyn_project. I look forward to working together to build international solidarity toward a future that works for all people.
Isn’t Harvard meant to be interested in the pursuit of truth and knowledge?
Roth peddles neither.
He is a Jew who (tragically) suffers from internalised anti-Jewishness & deploys his Jewishness
as a weapon to wound the rest of the Jewish community.
...https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/arts/harvard-israel-antisemitism-roth.html
RECOMMENDATIONS
PODCASTS, VIDEOS & INTERVIEWS
Interview
Antisemitism: Why Does it Persist?
- “The Meaning of Antisemitism”, an exchange with Judah Bernstein, JewThink:
- “The Fight Against Antisemitism is the Fight for Total Liberation”, interview with Shane Burley, New Politics:
- “Antisemitism Crisis in Labour”, dialogue with David Renton, Tempest:
- “Left Antsemitism and Consistent Democracy”, reply to Dan Fischer, New Politics:
Podcast
Jews and the Left: Why Antisemitism isn’t Over, Bunker Daily:
- “A welcome contribution to a necessary debate”, Daniel Randall reviews David Renton’s Labour’s Antisemitism Crisis: What the Left Got Wrong, with subsequent further debate between the authors:
- “Primitive Antisemitism and the Contemporary Left”, excerpt/adaptation from a chapter of the book, Logically.ai:
- “Antisemitism on the British left is real and significant”, interview with Belltower News (Germany):