In a previous blog post I discussed the Congress Hotel strike in Chicago, America’s longest running labor strike at five years and counting. The saga unfolds: it turns out that none other that “America’s Next Top Model” was prepared to cross the picket line when they announced they would be holding auditions at the Congress [...]
Archive for the ‘Labor’ Category
Tyra Banks: Friend of the Working Man
Posted in Labor on September 5, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Honor Labor Rights on Labor Day
Posted in Labor, Labor Day, Politics on August 31, 2008 | 1 Comment »
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 [...]
Demanding Justice in Postville
Posted in Civil Rights, Immigration, Interfaith, Labor, Politics, Religion on July 28, 2008 | 14 Comments »
I spent an incredible day yesterday in Postville, Iowa, where an interfaith mobilization of nearly 1,500 people prayed, marched, sang and testified in solidarity with the 390 immigrant Agriprocessor workers arrested in the May 12 raid. I’m still processing the experience the morning after - suffice to say this action provided a powerful ray of [...]
Prayer for a Vigil at a Detention Center
Posted in Human Rights, Immigration, Interfaith, Labor, Prayer, Religion on June 20, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Tonight I was back at the Broadview Detention Center - a facility west of Chicago where undocumented workers are processed before their final deportation. I was there to participate in the “Night of 1,000 Conversations” - a program sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. The all-night vigil offered an evening of [...]
Shande on Michigan Ave.
Posted in Current Events, Judaism, Labor, News, Religion on June 13, 2008 | 4 Comments »
I spent my afternoon yesterday with 1,000 other demonstrators in front of the Congress Park Hotel on Chicago’s Michigan Ave. - the site of the longest ongoing labor strike in the country. Marking the fifth anniversary of the strike, it was certainly the largest labor demonstration this city has seen in some time.
Some shameful stats: [...]
Awaken to Justice!
Posted in American Judaism, Food, Immigration, Judaism, Labor, Religion on June 9, 2008 | 2 Comments »
What can you say about the situation at the AgriProcessors meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa other than it was the kind of thing for which the term “shandeh fur de goyim” was invented?
The Jewish world has been seriously abuzz about this whole big mess for a several weeks running now. If by chance you haven’t [...]
Labor Day and our “Judaic Legacy”
Posted in American Judaism, Current Events, Labor, Labor Day, Politics, Religion on September 3, 2007 | 2 Comments »
One of the best pieces I’ve read about being Jewish on Labor Day is this article from The Jewish Advocate by David Dolev of the New England Jewish Labor Committee. As the rabbi of a congregation that is currently building a new synagogue facility, I was especially appreciative of his closing paragraph:
Let us remember all [...]
Labor Day Torah
Posted in Judaism, Labor, Labor Day, Religion, Torah Commentary on August 31, 2007 | 2 Comments »
From this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo:
“Cursed is he that removes his neighbor’s landmark.” (Deuteronomy 27:17)
This curse forms the basis of the commandment known as Hasagat G’vul, (literally, “infringement of boundary”) which, according to the rabbis of the Talmud, was intended to prohibit unfair competition in business or trade. As it is clearly wrong to [...]
Worked to Death
Posted in American Judaism, Judaism, Labor, Religion, Shabbat, Torah Commentary on March 9, 2007 | 5 Comments »
The Israelite people shall keep the sabbath, observing the sabbath throughout the ages as a covenant for all time. It shall be a sign for all time between Me and the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day, God ceased and was renewed. (Exodus [...]
“And You Will Incur Guilt…”
Posted in Children's Rights, Food, Immigration, Judaism, Labor, Religion, Torah Commentary on September 12, 2008 | 1 Comment »
From this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tetzei:
You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger in one of the communities of your land. You must pay him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets, for he is needy and urgently depends on it, else he [...]
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