This page provides a vareity of Jewish resources on fair wage issues.
Text studies, Curricula, and Sermons
Text Studies
“Labor’s Excuse: Labor Ethics and Community Standards” by Jeremy Burton, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
“To Hear and To Speak” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
“The Commandment for a Living Wage” by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
"Does Judaism Need a Living Wage" by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
"Workers and Unions" by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Curricula
The Tzedek Partner Program: Learning, Giving and Organizing for Social Justice (curriculum) from Jewish Funds for Justice
Sermons
“A Living Wage,” by Rabbi Aaron Brusso, delivered at Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka, Minnesota on Rosh Hashanah 5767 (2006)
“The Living Wage,” by Rabbi Joshua Gruenberg, delivered at Congregation Sons of Israel in Nyack, New York on Rosh Hashanah 5767 (2006)
Op-eds and Articles
Articles
Rabbi Jill Jacobs (Jewish Funds for Justice) and Reverend Paul Sherry’s (Faith in Public Life) online conversation on “Why a truly religious person is by definition a political person,” October 2006.
“Living Wage: A Mandate of Jewish Law?” from The Jewish Week (New York), September 22, 2006, discussing Rabbi Jill Jacobs’ teshuvah, or rabbinic opinion, on a living wage.
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, “The Living Wage: a Jewish Approach,” Conservative Judaism Spring 2003.
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, “Toward a Halakhic Definition of Poverty” Conservative Judaism Fall 2004
Daniel Sokatch, “Economic Justice” from Sh’ma October 2005
Op-Eds
Simon Greer "We Must Unite to Fight Poverty" from J: The Weekly Bulletin Of Northern California, September 22, 2005
Simon Greer "On Labor Day, Jews Should Think About Empowering Working Poor" from Jewish Telegraphic Agency, August 27, 2005
“[We] support living wage ordinances and bills to bring wages to at least the poverty line, preferably higher” - Union for Reform Judaism
“Raising the minimum wage is a matter of fairness” – Jewish Council for Public Affairs
“A living wage provides support both financially, by helping people become self-sufficient and less dependent on public assistance, and spiritually, by making it easier for them to spend time with family and the community and on spiritual growth. Both aspects are essential if we, as a society, want to nurture strong, healthy people and communities.” - Jews United for Justice
“We, as religious and business leaders, believe that we should strive for a state in which all low-wage workers, whether they are direct employees or contracted out, should be paid a living wage that allows them to meet the basic needs of their families…” - Progressive Jewish Alliance
""The promise of America, and the demand for a decent family life for all, requires prompt passage of legislation to raise the minimum wage." Jewish Social Policy Action Network