Shaul Kelner

Shaul Kelner, professor of Jewish Studies and sociology at Vanderbilt and historian of Soviet Jewry, traces how Soviet anti-Zionist tactics evolved into a global movement. He maps its Soviet origins, how it spread into Western institutions and campuses, the role of ideological monocultures, and why many American Jews misread or underestimate its reach.

Shaul Kelner, a Professor of Jewish Studies and Sociology at Vanderbilt University, dives into the complexities of American antizionism. He discusses how this movement operates more as a political act than an intellectual critique, emphasizing the dangers it poses to Jewish communities. Kelner unpacks the ambiguity in the pro-Palestine movement's goals and its roots in U.S. academia. Highlighting the distinction between anti-Zionism and antizionism, he warns that misunderstanding these terms can hinder critical discussions around antisemitism and broader social inclusivity.

Shaul Kelner, professor of Jewish Studies and Sociology at Vanderbilt and scholar of transnational Jewish solidarity, discusses how antizionism functions as a movement culture shaping who belongs on the American left. He examines campus practices, activist framing, slogans, Jewish participation, and the need for clearer responses without collapsing every critique of Israel.