Contribution short abstract:

Based on ethnographic work on Jewish initiatives in Germany, the presentation examines how actors navigate the multiplicity of terms like “activist” or “volunteer” strategically. The aim is to sharpen the understanding of activism not only as a set of practices, but as a powerful semantic field.

Contribution long abstract:

In recent years, a growing number of Jewish initiatives have emerged in Germany with the objective of challenging the prevailing perception of Judaism in public discourse. The initiatives especially emphasize the diversity of contemporary Jewish life and culture through formats such as intercultural dialogues, educational materials or social media accounts. In this context, a multiplicity of self- or external designations of the actors can be observed: “activists”, “political educators”, and also “volunteers” (German: Ehrenamtliche). In addition to indicating the organizational structures of the initiatives, these terms convey a range of implications and actors navigate them in a highly reflexive and strategic manner.

Drawing on my ethnographic work on Jewish initiatives in Germany I will shed light on the situational use and non-use of emic terms, with the aim of contributing to a deeper understanding of activism not only as a set of practices, but also as a powerful semantic field. To do so, I will outline the functions of invoking and avoiding the term “activism”. For instance, some actors reference the term to validate their work and imbue it with a sense of urgency. Others avoid it in order to evade certain expectations associated with their work and shape future career opportunities. By providing ethnographic insights into the (political) organization of marginalized groups, for whom the visible performance of difference such as Jewishness in everyday life is a political act in itself, I hope to contribute to sharpening the analytical lens of activism and discussing its productivity.