Social Justice In The Workplace

Rather than worrying about whether something is kosher or not, it is important to worry about the condition in the workplace that provides that kosher food. Every restaurant in the United States has to be inspected by its local public health department. Every kosher restaurant has to be inspected for its level of kashrut. While these inspections are taking place, many people forget how important it is to enact social justice in these workplaces. The Torah says, “Don’t not afflict people who do not have power in society.” The workers in these kosher restaurants are given little opportunity to fight for justice and equality in the workforce.
The Jewish Nation is given Mitzvot, or laws, that fall under two categories: bein adam lamakom, between
It was created to inspire the Orthodox community to enact social justice. It was founded to combat the injustices of society through the principals of the Torah. In 2007, Uri L’Tzedek was founded by Dr. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz and Rabbi Ari Hart. During the first few years, they started multiple social justice Batei Midrashim, or houses of learning, where groups of people could come together and discuss issues in the community ranging from workers’ rights to domestic violence. They would bring in scholars, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who were experts in the given field of the issue at hand. Each social justice Beit Midrash would end with a call of action. Around this time, the New York Times criticized the government for indecency in kosher workplaces. As a response, Uri L’Tzedek started an online petition to hold people accountable and to create the beginning of a movement where people would create
The Social Justice Beit Midrash Program brings together many people of different Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds and education including educator, scholars, and activists. This program was created to incorporate different traditional Jewish texts into modern-day social needs. The topic addressed in the Beit Midrash include: health care, immigration, gun control, fighting poverty, and other social justice issues. In addition to the Beit Midrash, UL publishes a series of works which tie Jewish lives to secular lives including Uri L’Tzedek Food & Justice Haggadah Supplement to add the topic of social justice to the Pesach Seder and Mah Ani: Self Reflection and Social Action for the High