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Text Study - JFREJ Shabbat Vigil for Domestic Workers

 

Jewish texts support the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights.  Read on to see what they have to say . . .

Jewish tradition teaches us to seek out a study partner - to study in chevruta, in pairs - when studying Jewish texts.  This study partner can help us to turn the texts we study to see them in a different light, challenging us to think outside of our reality and helping us as both teacher, friend, and student.  Please find a partner with whom to discuss the following texts.  The chevruta relationship should be one of mutuality; as you study with your partner, be sure to give each other equal space to express your thoughts on the text.  While you should challenge each other, respect each other's opinion and your mutual right to disagree.  

As you read through the texts, think about the following questions:

1.) Who are the players in this text - seen and unseen?

2.) What power dynamics are at play?

3.) How does this text apply to the relationship between employers and domestic workers?

4.) What do we learn about the Jewish attitude towards employer-employee relationships from this text?

5.) Do our practices and policies reflect the values expressed in this text?  In what ways could we change our policies to reflect this text?

These questions are only a jumping off point!  Please feel free to share any reflections that the text stir in you.  

"Study leads to action." Talmud, Megillah 40b

 

 

Mishna, Pirkei Avot 2:10

Translation Original
Rabbi Eliezer said, "Other people’s dignity should be as precious to you as your own." [AJWS translation]
רבי אליעזר אומר יהי כבוד חברך חביב עליך כשלך.

 

THE DOMESTIC WORKERS' BILL OF RIGHTS CHAMPIONS WORKERS' RIGHT TO DIGNITY: The Bill amends NY State Labor Law to ensure a method for domestic workers to enforce [the standards set forth by the bill] in court.

 

(NOTE: Pirkei Avot - "The Ethics of Our Fathers" - is a compilation of rabbinic ethical sayings and teachings compiled during the Mishnaic period from about 70-200 CE.)

Babylonian Talmud, Baba Metzia 112a

Translation Original
The verse (in Deuteronomy 24) states, “And for it, he risks his life” Why did this worker climb a high ramp to work or suspend himself on the tree to collect its fruits, placing himself in mortal danger? Was it not for his wage? Another explanation translates the verse as follows: “On it he stakes his life.” Whoever withholds the wages of an employee is considered as if he took his life from him. [AJWS translation]
ואידך ההוא מיבעי ליה לכדתניא (דברים כ"ד) , ואליו הוא נשא את נפשו, מפני מה עלה זה בכבש ונתלה באילן ומסר את עצמו למיתה - לא על שכרו? דבר אחר: ואליו הוא נשא את נפשו - כל הכובש שכר שכיר כאילו נוטל נפשו ממנו.

 

THE DOMESTIC WORKERS' BILL OF RIGHTS CHAMPIONS FAIR PAYMENT PRACTICES: The Bill amends NY State Labor Law to ensure time-and-a-half at the regular rate for every hour over 40 hours per week; paid time off for vacations and holidays; paid sick days; severance pay in accordance with number of years worked.

 

(NOTE: The Talmud provides commentary on the Mishnah (another rabbinic text).  The Talmud records rabbinic conversations about ethics, law, history, and customs, providing the basis for Jewish law.  Two Talmuds were codified by the Rabbis - one in the Land of Israel and one in Babylonia.  This text comes from the Babylonian Talmud.)

Sefer HaYirah, Rabbeinu Yonah

Translation Original
Be careful not to afflict any living creature, whether animal or bird, and all the more so, one should not afflict a person, created in the image of the Divine. If you want to hire laborers and you find that they are poor, they should be [regarded as] the poor members of your household, and do not degrade them, rather give them their orders in a respectful manner, and surely pay their wages. [translation by Uri L'Tzedek]
השמר מלצער בע"ח הן בהמה הן עוף, וכ"ש שלא לצער אדם שהוא עשוי בצלם המקום. אם אתה רוצה לשכור פועלים ומצאת עניים יהיו עניים בני ביתך, ואך אל תבזה אותם, אך דרך כבוד תצוה להם, ותשלם שכרם משלם…

 

THE DOMESTIC WORKERS' BILL OF RIGHTS CHAMPIONS THE WELL-BEING OF DOMESTIC WORKERS: The Bill amends NY State Labor Law to ensure employer choice to provide health care coverage or a wage supplement.

 

Additional Discussion Questions

1. What is the rationale for not afflicting human beings?
2. How does a recognition that people are created in God's image affect how you relate to others?

 

(NOTE: Sefer HaYirah, written by Rabbeinu Yonah, or Yonah ben Abraham Gerondi/Yonah of Gerona - is a Jewish ethical work of the Middle Ages.)

Mishna, Baba Metzia 7:1

Translation Original
If one hired laborers and ordered them to work early and late- (in) a place where it is customary not to work early or not to work late, he has no right to compel them. (In) a place where it is customary to give (them) food; to provide relish, he must provide relish; everything (must be done) according to the local custom. It once happened that Rabbi Yochanan ben Massia said to his son: ‘Go out (and) hire laborers for us.’ He went, and agreed to give them food. When he came to his father, he said to him: ‘My son even if you prepare for them (a meal) like Solomon’s banquet in his time, you have not discharged your duty toward them, for they are children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Rather, before they start work, go out and say to them: ‘On condition that you have no claim upon me other than bread and beans.’ Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: He did not have to say (it); everything is according to the local custom. [Soncino translation]
השוכר את הפועלים ואמר להם להשכים ולהעריב- מקום שנהגו שלא להשכים ושלא להעריב אינו רשאי לכופן. מקום שנהגו לזון- יזון. לספק במתיקה -יספק. הכל כמנהג המדינה. מעשה ברבי יוחנן בן מתיא שאמר לבנו "צא שכור לנו פועלים" .הלך ופסק להם מזונות וכשבא אצל אביו אמר לו "בני אפילו אם אתה עושה להם כסעודת שלמה בשעתו לא יצאת ידי חובתך עמהן שהן בני אברהם יצחק ויעקב אלא עד שלא יתחילו במלאכה צא ואמור להם 'על מנת שאין לכם עלי אלא פת וקטנית בלבד' ".רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר: לא היה צריך לומר הכל כמנהג המדינה:

 

(NOTE: The Mishnah is the first written record of Jewish oral law, codified by Rabbi Yehudah Ha'Nasi around 200 CE.)

Proverbs 3:28

Translation Original
Do not say to your fellow, "Come back again; I'll give [your wages] to you tomorrow." when you have it with you. [JPS translation]
אַל תֹּאמַר לְרֵעֲךָ לֵךְ וָשׁוּב וּמָחָר אֶתֵּן וְיֵשׁ אִתָּךְ:

 

Additional Discussion Questions

1. What are some of the reasons the Torah makes a point of mandating that workers be paid as soon as possible?

(NOTE: Proverbs is a part of the K'tuvim - or Writings - section of the Hebrew Bible.)

Jeremiah 22:13-17

Translation Original
Ha! He who builds his house with unfairness and his upper chambers with injustice, who makes his fellow man work without pay and does not give him his wages, who thinks: I will build me a vast palace with spacious upper chambers, provided with windows, paneled in cedar, painted with vermilion! Do you think you are more a king because you compete in cedar? Your father ate and drank and dispensed justice and equity -- then all went well with him. He upheld the rights of the poor and needy -- then all was well. That is truly heeding Me -- declares the LORD. But your eyes and your mind are only on ill-gotten gains, on shedding the blood of the innocent, on committing fraud and violence. [JPS translation]
הוֹי בֹּנֶה בֵיתוֹ בְּלֹא צֶדֶק וַעֲלִיּוֹתָיו בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט בְּרֵעֵהוּ יַעֲבֹד חִנָּם וּפֹעֲלוֹ לֹא יִתֶּן לוֹ: הָאֹמֵר אֶבְנֶה לִּי בֵּית מִדּוֹת וַעֲלִיּוֹת מְרֻוָּחִים וְקָרַע לוֹ חַלּוֹנָי וְסָפוּן בָּאָרֶז וּמָשׁוֹחַ בַּשָּׁשַׁר: הֲתִמְלֹךְ כִּי אַתָּה מְתַחֲרֶה בָאָרֶז אָבִיךָ הֲלוֹא אָכַל וְשָׁתָה וְעָשָׂה מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה אָז טוֹב לוֹ:דָּן דִּין עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן אָז טוֹב הֲלוֹא הִיא הַדַּעַת אֹתִי נְאֻם ה': כִּי אֵין עֵינֶיךָ וְלִבְּךָ כִּי אִם עַל בִּצְעֶךָ וְעַל דַּם הַנָּקִי לִשְׁפּוֹךְ וְעַל הָעֹשֶׁק וְעַל הַמְּרוּצָה לַעֲשׂוֹת:

 

 (NOTE: Jeremiah is a part of the Nivi'im - or Prophets - section of the Hebrew Bible.)

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Translation Original

Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Adonai your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Adonai your God; you shall not do any work-- you, your son or your daughter, or your male or your female slave, your ox or your ass, or any of your cattle, or your stranger in your settlements, so that your male and female slave may rest as you do. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and Adonai your God freed you from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore Adonai your God commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. [JPS translation, edited for gender-neutrality]

שָׁמוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ: שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ: וְיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לַה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה כָל מְלָאכָה אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ וְעַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתֶךָ וְשׁוֹרְךָ וַחֲמֹרְךָ וְכָל בְּהֶמְתֶּךָ וְגֵרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ לְמַעַן יָנוּחַ עַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ כָּמוֹךָ: וְזָכַרְתָּ כִּי עֶבֶד הָיִיתָ בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וַיֹּצִאֲךָ ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ מִשָּׁם בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה עַל כֵּן צִוְּךָ ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת:

 

THE DOMESTIC WORKERS' BILL OF RIGHTS CHAMPIONS DOMESTIC WORKERS' RIGHT TO TIME OFF: The Bill amends NY State Labor Law to ensure up to 12 weeks of family and medical leave; paid time off for vacations and holidays; and paid sick days.

 

Additional Discussion Questions

1. According to this text, who is the Sabbath for?
2. What is the connection between observance of the Sabbath and being freed from slavery?
3. How does the Jewish experience in Egypt impact the way Jews treat those who work for them?

(NOTE: Deuteronomy is one of the 5 Books of the Torah.)

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HUC-JIR