Ericzone Podcast: Episode 44: Jesse Greener & Independant Jewish Voices (En)
In this episode, we welcome Jesse Greener, a chemistry professor at Université Laval and an active member of Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada and the Jewish Faculty Network. Jesse provides a powerful personal and political testimony on what it means to be Jewish, humanistic, and committed to justice today.
On the program for this interview:
The Evolution of Independent Jewish Voices: Jesse explains why the organization recently voted to officially define itself as anti-Zionist, providing a political space for Jews who do not recognize themselves in traditional institutions.
The Price of Dissent in Quebec City: A touching account of how his family was excluded and barred from their local synagogue in Quebec City due to their political positions, leading to a case before the Human Rights Tribunal.
Rescue Mission in Gaza: Jesse recounts the harrowing story of rescuing Professor Helis's family. Faced with the inertia of Canadian government programs, Jesse and his community had to mobilize private funds and use unconventional channels in Egypt to extract three adults and five children from the conflict zone.
The "Secret" History of the Bund: A look back at the legacy of the Jewish Bund in Eastern Europe—a socialist and internationalist movement whose slogan was "Where we live, there is our country"—and its historical opposition to Zionism.
Canadian Politics and Avi Lewis: A discussion on the impact of Avi Lewis's election as leader of the NDP, marking a historical breakthrough for progressive and anti-Zionist Jews within Canadian power structures.
Against the "Bunker Mentality": Jesse analyzes how historical traumas are sometimes used to justify repressive policies and emphasizes the vital importance of democratic dialogue to break the cycle of violence.
Resources Mentioned:
Independent Jewish Voices Canada: ijvcanada.ca
Jewish Faculty Network: jewishfaculty.ca
Book: Razing Palestine: Punishing Solidarity and Dissent in Canada
Book: Where We Live Is Our Country (on the Bund)
#JesseGreener #IJV #Quebec #Palestine #AntiZionism #HumanRights #Podcast #AcademicFreedom
Follow the Ericzone Podcast for more exchanges on human rights, science, and social commitment.
Ericzone Podcast: Episode 44 (En)
July 25th 2026 Jesse Greener
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