5 Elul 5785

Dear Friend,

As we prepare to mark Labor Day on Monday, it is worth remembering how deeply Jewish tradition and history are intertwined with the struggle for dignity in work. Labor Day is more than just BBQs, a long weekend at the Cape,the unofficial end of summer, or beginning of the school year in the Pioneer Valley—it is a call to reflect on the rights of workers, the value of fair wages, and the pursuit of justice in our society.

When Jews came to this country in great numbers at the turn of the last century, many found themselves working in sweatshops, especially in the garment industry. The conditions were harsh: long hours, low pay, and unsafe factories. Out of this hardship, Jewish immigrants became leaders in the American labor movement. We recall the courage of Clara Lemlich, who helped spark the 1909 “Uprising of the 20,000,” and the voices of leaders like Sidney Hillman and David Dubinsky, who helped build unions that fought for protections still in place today. Jewish women in the labor movement, in particular, stood at the front lines, demanding justice not only for themselves but for all workers.

This was not only a social struggle but also a profoundly Jewish one. The Torah insists: “You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow Israelite or a stranger in one of the communities of your land. You must pay out the wages due on the same day, before the sun sets for the worker is needy and urgently depends on it.” (Deuteronomy 24:14–15). In these words, we hear the heartbeat of our tradition: that the dignity of the worker is sacred, that labor should never be exploited, and that justice must be woven into the fabric of daily life. Even the commandment of Shabbat is, at its core, a radical call that all—rich and poor, master and servant—are entitled to rest.

On Labor Day, we remember not just the history of American workers, but the Jewish role in helping shape a more just workplace. And we are reminded that our task is not finished. The Torah’s call to justice, the prophetic cry of tzedek, tzedek tirdof—justice, justice shall you pursue—still challenges us to defend the rights of workers, to ensure that no one’s labor is demeaned, and to honor the divine image in every person.

May this Labor Day inspire us to continue the sacred work of building a society rooted in fairness, dignity, and justice for all.

Adam Solender