INBOX: The Crisis of Jewish Workers
In today’s competitive business environment, Jewish local businesses often face a difficult choice: hire Jewish workers or opt for less expensive non-Jewish employees for competitive advantage or even employ remote workers. While the latter may seem financially beneficial, it poses significant ethical and communal issues.
Our tradition teaches that the mitzvah of tzedakah—charity—extends beyond monetary donations to include the responsibility of providing employment opportunities for fellow community members.
The Rambam states that the highest form of charity is to help someone become self-sufficient. In his writings, he explains that “the highest level of giving is to help a person establish themselves in business” (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Charity 10:7). By prioritizing hiring Jewish employees, we fulfill this mitzvah, empowering our community members to thrive.
Supporting Jewish workers not only contributes to economic stability but also strengthens the bonds that connect us. Conversely, replacing Jewish workers with cheaper labor can perpetuate cycles of poverty reducing those without work to handouts and collecting tzedakah.
As an example, a friend of mine, Shimon, was working for a shawarma store register in town making 25$ an hour. His manager approached him stating the business needed to cut back. Needing employment, Shimon agreed he would take a reduction to 20$ an hour. While all seemed in order, the next week he was fired and replaced by the waitress to save an extra few dollars beyond that.
This cycle has gotten out of hand, especially with businesses that service the Jewish Community at large. I often find myself walking into various Kosher restaurants and stores, and seldom see any Jewish people employed, with rare exception to the manager /mashgiach.
While hiring non jewish workers is important, it’s bewildering why jewish owned businesses that service the jewish communities only have non-jewish workers.
Often people retort that the jobs given to immigrants in the community are jobs that jewish people don’t want, or that Jewish workers are over qualified for the mundane task. This is further from the case, as we speak there are many people, students, and adolescents that are eager to earn a wage. By advancing hiring practices within the community it helps the business that is primarily servicing the jewish community through vested interest.
Jewish business owners are encouraged to reflect on their hiring practices and actively seek to employ Jewish individuals. This commitment aligns with our values and reinforces the principle that true charity uplifts the community. While it may seem challenging at first, giving livable wages to our Jewish brothers, it empowers them to become consumers for the business and help foster natural inlets and business stability.
We are blinded by the glory of getting rich to give tzedakah, to follow the higher ordeal and alleviating poverty. By employing Jewish people, we lessen the need for charity. The Goal is to equalize the distance, and boost efficiency.
The cyclical nature of business requires that the money paid into Jewish businesses and Jewish families, will help lighten the need of those dependant on tzedakah and keep in the community.
We have a mitzvah to elevate our brethren, and I bless all that consider this. As only your brother will stand by you in your moment of need.
By making conscious decisions to support one another, we can create a more just, equatable, and prosperous future for all Jewish families.
Let’s prioritize hiring within our community.
Great article!!!!!!
Thank you to whomever wrote this. So agree!!!!
Entered Chossid
Thank you for this. A related issue is ageism in hiring, and lack of loyalty to Lubavitchers working for Chabad Mosdos. A man I know was working for a Chabad Mosad part-time for many years. The director passed, someone new took over, and they are hiring only young people, including non-Chabad, for speed reasons, not $. The man now struggles to find work. He was never quick but did quality work.
Chabadnik
Camp $$$$$$$
Yeshiva $$$$$$
Seminars $$$$$
Weddings $$$$$
Kosher Food $$$$$
Housing $$$$$$
Working for a Jewish = Minimum wage
We need to fix all of the above
Owner of Eatery
I own an eatery. I hire goyim because they are cheaper. That is why the food is cheaper. If I hire anash, I need to pay more, so I will need to charge you more for the food you order. If I hire Anash, and pay them what they want, I will need to charge $10 for a slice of pizza! Or $35 for a shwarma sandwich! You want to pay less and get a good deal, so I need to hire cheaper workers! Get real!
Mushkie
Lowering labor costs is not just a reason to hire goyim it is also why we hire foreigners (illegals). It keeps prices lower than if we hired citizens. The consumer benefits!! That means, many more yidden gain when the owner hires goyim than the few yidden who would gain if they were hired,
Business owner
Unfortunately a lot of Jewish workers are very lazy
Mushkie
I wouldn’t say we are lazy. We just can’t be treated as an eved knani (slave). Yes masta.
Mr. Nobody
The reason Jewish business owners hire people in the first place is because they are lazy. It’s a cop out for people to say that… A slave needs to be treated with more preference than the master… That being said, Jewish people are ok to sell their brothers out (Joseph), so they can Garner advantage with and through foreign people.
Pizza isn’t health, there is no basic nutritional value
Mushkie
As a Dietitian, I disagree that pizza has no basic nutritional value. Pizza has about 12.2 g protein, 35.6g carbs, 10.4 g fat – all nutritional values that we need daily. Plus, if veggie toppings are added, there are additional nutrients. Pizza can be part of a balanced, healthy diet!
Anonymous
Mr Nobody, how dare you say that Jewish business owners are lazy! Most owners needed to labor day and night to establish their business and keep it going. Do you think owners can sit back and let their business run on its own?! And if you believe that a slave is treated better than the owner, I ask, would you choose to be a slave or an owner? Who “really” has the better life?! Silly talk!
Mushkie
, Mr Nobody, how dare you write that ” Jewish people are ok to sell their brothers out (Joseph), so they can gain advantage with and through foreign people” – maybe YOU would sell your brothers out, but I wouldn’t! And I know hundreds of other Jewish people who also wouldn’t! Did you have a bad experience where someone sold you out? Or is that your warped view of other Jews? Nebech on you!
Mr. Nobody
Pizza has highly processed carbs that increase appetite, bloat, and glucose. The wheat is highly processed overall very bad for you
I have had 18 dollar sourdough pizza , and overall it was worth it knowing the indulgence was ‘healthier’ though it wasn’t for the protein. A can of beans as more protein.
Pizza is mainly bread, people need fruits, vegetables, and legumes
Mr. Nobody
What’s the goal of business ? Make people fat and addicted ? Hoard more and more ? Bigger house?
Some say, fill a desire, service a need. What is it the Jewish people need to remember that when they stoped practicing the agrigrian laws (peach, leket, shichak) they are forced to slave for foreigners vines… Theft is diminishing the face value