You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger in one of the communities of your land.
(Deuteronomy 24:14)
Want to do something meaningful this Labor Day? Consider supporting the The Employee Free Choice Act: bipartisan legislation that promotes the right to join a union as a fundamental freedom, protecting employees’ rights to form unions without interference from management.
Specifically, the legislation seeks to:
- Establish of stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations;
- Provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes.
- Allow employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation.
The EFCA came close to passing last year, but in the end it was kiboshed by procedural stonewalling in the Senate. With a new Senate coming in next year, however, there is renewed hope for our country’s working people. This article from Business Week explains; learn more about the legislation from the Change to Win website; voice your support by signing on to a petition sponsored by the Jewish Labor Committee.
Last week I noted that we are currently in the midst of reading the seven Haftarot of Consolation that follow the Jewish communal mourning of the Tisha B’Av festival. Our prophetic portion this week comes from Isaiah 49:14-51:3 – a prophetic address that begins with these powerful words of comfort:
Not sure which blessing to say over what foods? No need to live with the shame any more. Just download the new iBlessing application onto your iPhone and with the touch of a finger you’ll know exactly which bracha to utter over fish, meat, bread, fruit, etc. While you’re at it you might as well download the nifty Parve-O-Meter: a timer app that calculates exactly how long you need to wait to eat dairy after you’ve eaten meat (or vice versa).
