Garment workers striking during the "Uprising of the 20,000" in New York City, February 1910.
Credit: Library of Congress
Dear Community,
As an American Jew I am proud of the prominent role American Jews have played in the early U.S. labor movement. The role of Jewish leaders and activists shouldn’t come as surprise. Jewish law almost always sides with the laborer. As we read in Deuteronomy 24:14-15, “You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer [...] you must pay them their wages on the same day for they need and urgently depend on it.”
One example we read in Talmud (Bava Metzia 83a) is of an incident between Rabba bar bar Hanan and Rav, regarding some of Rabba bar bar Hanan’s hired porters:
These certain porters broke Rabba bar bar Hanan’s barrel of wine.
He took their cloaks. They came and told Rav.
Rav said to Rabba bar bar Hanan: Give them their cloaks.
Rabba bar bar Hanan asked him: Is this the law?
Rav replied: Yes, as it is written, “That you may walk in the way of the good.” (Proverbs 2:20)
Rabba bar bar Hanan gave them their cloaks.
The porters said to him: We are poor people and we worked all day and we are hungry and we have nothing.
Rav said to Rabba bar bar Hanan: Go and give them their wages.
Rabba bar bar Hanan asked him: Is this the law?
Rav replied: Yes, as it is written, “And keep to the paths of the just.” (Proverbs 2:20)
“The story here in our Talmud highlights how fair treatment of hired laborers is not only righteous, but required of us. These are not merely suggestions for Rabba bar bar Hanan not to oppress his workers, but mandated laws. True, Rabba bar bar Hanan might have suffered a monetary loss, but he is not allowed to force compensation through whatever means he deems necessary. Rav, as a representative of the law, requires him to return the cloaks and pay the wages, in spite of the losses endured from the laborers. Rav (and much of our Talmudic tradition) requires a standard of radical thoughtfulness and empathy in dealing with one’s workers.”
Is this thinking what led Jews to be overrepresented in the history of the Labor Movement? We can’t know for sure. Certainly, like many other immigrants to the United States, many Jews lived in the inner-cities and were subjected to unfair treatment, low wages, and unsafe work environments (which tragically led to infamous disasters, such as the Triangle Fire of 1911 ). But I like to imagine that it wasn't circumstance alone, but also Judaism’s spiritual influence that made many Jews become vocal advocates for the greater labor force.
This Labor Day Weekend, I invite you to read more about how Jewish Americans helped to lead the way in labor organizing. Check out
this article by Allison Zelman on How Jewish Americans Have Led The Way In Labor Organizing. While relaxing by the pool or beach (or bathtub!) read about a few people you may not have heard of, like Max Zaritsky, the son of a rabbi, and Rose Schneiderman, “a tiny, red-haired bundle of social dynamite,” and Pauline Newman (not the actor but someone just as cool) who apparently was also “capable of smoking a cigar with the best of them.”
Thank you to all of the activisits (Jewish and not) who marched and unionized, and paved the way for worker's rights, a five-day work week, and for this American holiday.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Janine Jankovitz she/her
Kehilat HaNahar
85 West Mechanic St.
New Hope, PA 18938
