Thanks so much to Jonathan Henkin for this great May Day guest post.  Jonathan is a senior undergraduate in the Joint Program between Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, an Uri L’Tzedek Intern and a future Tav HaYosher volunteer compliance coordinator.

Although social justice has been a subject of importance to many Jews throughout the generations, Orthodox communities have often lagged behind other segments of Jews in supporting such efforts, failing especially in supporting social justice initiatives that extend beyond their own immediate communities. The organization Uri L’tzedek (Hebrew for “Awaken to Justice”) is rapidly growing into an alternative to Orthodox social justice apathy. Uri L’tzedek is a grassroots organization founded nearly two years ago by students of the Manhattan-based rabbinical school Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, as well as others interested in spreading ideals of social justice throughout Orthodoxy, especially Modern Orthodoxy. Uri L’tzedek disseminates this message through a combination of educational programs, training leaders in social justice activism, and actively pursuing progressive change through lobbying, community organizing, and other endeavors. Uri L’tzedek has been heavily involved with the situation at Agriprocessors in Postville, Iowa. The organization’s latest exciting project is the imminent launching of the Tav HaYosher (Ethical Seal), a program to denote which New York kosher restaurants treat their workers with the minimum workplace conditions accorded them by law.

To be sure, a great many Orthodox Jews are involved with a ride range of social justice projects. However, it often seems that, relative to non-Orthodox Jews, Orthodox Jews tend to be less involved with social justice projects beyond their communities. One downside of this passive behavior has been reluctance to question the treatment of the workers upon whom the Orthodox Jewish infrastructure has been built. Schools, camps, restaurants, shuls, stores, and more: all businesses that cater largely to Orthodox communities and, like much of the rest of America, rely largely on immigrant laborers with little or no knowledge of English. These workers are highly vulnerable to being manipulated and taken advantage of, and have little or no recourse to seek help, owing to a combination of fear and lack of knowledge of the American legal landscape. Such practices are prevalent throughout America, but Orthodox Jews must not look the other way at these practices, which are blatantly illegal and run counter to halakhic business strictures.

Yet it is high time that the Orthodox community be more active in social justice activities, both within Orthodox communities and in greater Jewish & general society. One area that Orthodox Jews have a particular power to effect change is the kosher food industry, where Orthodox Jews represent the majority of consumers and a large percentage of business owners. Certainly, many of these businesses operate within or beyond the law in terms of worker treatment, safety regulations, and other ethical businesses processes. Yet, unfortunately, there are also many of these businesses that fail to provide their workers with the proper legal workplace conditions. And this is where Uri L’tzedek’s Tav HaYosher program comes in. The Tav HaYosher rewards those New York kosher restaurants with this ethical seal who treat their workers in accordance with the minimum standards guaranteed by city law.

The Tav HaYosher draws on the model of the Israeli initiative of B’Maagalei Tzedek (Circles of Justice) and partners with grassroots initiatives such as the Peulat Sachir (Ethical Wage) in Los Angeles, volunteer efforts in which kosher restaurant consumers investigate the workplace conditions of such restaurants. The Tav HaYosher focuses on 3 standards: 1) Fair Pay-whether employees receive the minimum wage granted them by New York state law; 2) Fair Time-whether employees receive their legally granted minimum break time and time-and-a-half overtime compensation, and 3) Fair & Safe Work Environment-a workplace with adequate sanitary conditions and safety measures, where employees are allowed to collectively organize free from punishment, and not be discriminated on the bases of such characteristics as race, color, religion, and sexual orientation.

According to a 2005 study of New York City restaurant workers, more than 30% are harassed on the job, nearly 60% denied overtime, and more than 10% receive less-than-minimum wage. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that conditions at kosher restaurants are any better. With this in mind, restaurants who agree to the free service offered by the Tav will be subject to an initial audit by volunteer compliance coordinators who will determine whether the restaurant upholds the aforementioned standards. Compliance coordinators will review conditions on a frequent basis to ensure continued satisfactory workplace standards. Restaurants who are granted the Tav will display it in a window or other location visible to all customers. Thus, consumers can know instantly whether or not a particular restaurant grants treats its’ staff in accordance with the minimum legal standards of New York State.

As we have seen from Agriprocessors and the Bernie Madoff scandal, organizations run by Jews active in Jewish affairs, sadly, do not guarantee honesty in conducting business. The time has come for all Jews to assert that they are responsible not just for those in their own community or denomination, but all the earth’s people, who are just as much the children of G-d as we are. In the Torah, our forefather Avraham challenged G-d over His plan to destroy the sinful cities of Sodom and Gemorrah, saying to G-d “Shall not the Judge of all the Earth act justly?” (Gen. 18:25). Avraham, the very first Jew, bequeathed to his descendants many things, among them the importance of standing up for anyone suffering from unjust oppression. Uri L’Tzedek and its Tav HaYosher offer opportunities to live up to continue the work of Avraham by offering a revolution in asserting the values of Judaism through social justice. Anyone who is interested in getting more involved with Uri L’tzedek and/or the Tav HaYosher is highly encouraged to visit or email uriltzedek(at)gmail.com