ABSTRACT
Joseph Snijders was a diamond worker and was among the few Jewish founding members of the Sociaal-Democratische Bond (SDB). Jews figured prominently in the diamond workers' associations. This is understandable, as the majority of those employed in the trade were Jewish, although many non-Jews entered during the legendary Cape Era in the 1870s. Understanding the organization of the diamond workers requires some knowledge of the complex labour relations within the diamond industry. Besides the anti-authoritarian and anti-religious disposition of the SDB, the anti-Semitism that undoubtedly existed within the ranks of the SDB discouraged many Jewish workers from joining this organization. Anti-Semitism was not unusual in The Netherlands during the nineteenth century and definitely existed outside the labour movement as well. Within this early movement, however, certain circles came down particularly hard on the Jews. The first major clash between Jews and socialists occurred during the Orange rage in 1887.
