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.