Owning the Title “Social Justice Rabbi”
Posted on March 7, 2013 by Rabbi Barbara Penzner, ’87
I’ve never been arrested. I stood on my first picket line only three years ago. But ever since I was in high school, social justice has played a significant role in my Jewish life.
Even though I championed Soviet Jewish refuseniks, accompanied abortion-clinic patients, and shepherded a 40-year-old Boston congregation into citywide justice organizing efforts, I still did not see myself as a “social justice rabbi” or “social justice leader.”
That all changed in September 2009. Just before the High Holy Days, Hyatt Corporation made big news when the company fired the entire staff of housekeepers at its three Boston luxury hotels. The circumstances surrounding the dismissal of an entire department comprising nearly 100 workers—without any notice and with even less compassion—were so despicable that the governor called for a boycott.
Launched into leadership
As chair of the Rabbinic Advisory Committee of the New England Jewish Labor Committee, I decided this cause was worthy of my time and energy. From that moment, I was launched into a position of leadership of the Justice at Hyatt campaign. I walked my first picket line, confronted Hyatt corporate leadership at their headquarters in Chicago, and brought bitter herbs to a Hyatt vice president at their first shareholders meeting. This past summer, I was present at the National Press Club in Washington, when the hotel workers announced the global boycott of Hyatt Hotels.
Through the three years of working with UniteHere! (the hotel workers’ union), meeting with hotel housekeepers, speaking at rallies, and encouraging colleagues to sign on to the boycott, I realized just what it means to be a “social justice rabbi.”
First, it requires perseverance. The fight to bring Hyatt management back to the negotiating table and to improve working conditions for the lowest-paid workers is far from over. When I received an award from Rabbis for Human Rights-North America in 2011, my response was: I haven’t finished what I set out to accomplish. I still haven’t.
But I’m constantly renewed by the quote from Rabbi Tarfon that hangs in my home office: “It is not up to us to complete the work; nevertheless we are not permitted to neglect it.”
So what is the work?
As a rabbi, I use my talents as a speaker and teacher to promote a cause, to educate and to raise awareness. I bring my presence as a spiritual leader and pastor to stand with the workers and let them know we care, and to inspire and empower people at rallies. I draw on the network of colleagues and friends from more than 25 years in the rabbinate as a megaphone—raising the volume, spreading the word, increasing the pressure.
What changed that helped me see my place as a leader?
I was blessed to have the time, resources and support of my congregation to take part in several programs for professional development, including RRC’s Tzey U’lemad continuing rabbinical education program; the SELAH social justice leaders training sponsored by Jewish Funds for Justice (now Bend the Arc); and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. All of these helped me focus on my purpose, expand my awareness, and draw on spiritual resources far and wide.
Today, spirituality and social justice are two pillars of my life and my rabbinate. I see both as essential and interdependent Jewish paths: Spiritual life leads to a life of justice, and acting in the world can be supported by spiritual practice. In my experience, both are founded on the importance of relationships.
The holy power of relationships
God is present when we look another in the eye and make a heart-to-heart connection, as Martin Buber described, in an “I-Thou” relationship. Connecting with another person across ideological barriers, cultures and life experiences can create profound bonds of unity that give our actions the power to change the world.
The holy power of relationships is brought home by a Hasidic story told by Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov. He was watching two Russian peasants drinking together at an Inn. The first asked, "Boris, do you love me?" His friend replied, "Ivan, do I love you? We've worked side by side on our farm for years. Of course I love you!" They returned to their vodka and a minute later, Ivan asked, "Boris, do you know what causes me pain?" Boris thought for a moment and answered, “No.” At that point Ivan roared: "If you don't know what causes me pain, how can you say you love me?”
Afterwards, Rabbi Moshe Leib said to his students: "This is the essence of our connection with one another. We must look deeply enough into one another's souls not only to know what makes us happy, but also to understand what causes us pain."
Let our love move us to action
At this season of intense preparation for the Pesakh seder, it is in our relationships that we find both spiritual sustenance and the call to act in the world. Gazing at those gathered around the seder table and retelling the story of the Exodus, let us understand the pain of those who are still enslaved. Let their stories and our love for them move us to action.
Rabbi Barbara Penzner
Find resources to learn more about the campaign to support Hyatt workers’ rights here:
http://justiceathyatt.org/
http://www.votehyattworst.org/
http://www.hyatthurts.org/
Even though I championed Soviet Jewish refuseniks, accompanied abortion-clinic patients, and shepherded a 40-year-old Boston congregation into citywide justice organizing efforts, I still did not see myself as a “social justice rabbi” or “social justice leader.”
That all changed in September 2009. Just before the High Holy Days, Hyatt Corporation made big news when the company fired the entire staff of housekeepers at its three Boston luxury hotels. The circumstances surrounding the dismissal of an entire department comprising nearly 100 workers—without any notice and with even less compassion—were so despicable that the governor called for a boycott.
Launched into leadership
As chair of the Rabbinic Advisory Committee of the New England Jewish Labor Committee, I decided this cause was worthy of my time and energy. From that moment, I was launched into a position of leadership of the Justice at Hyatt campaign. I walked my first picket line, confronted Hyatt corporate leadership at their headquarters in Chicago, and brought bitter herbs to a Hyatt vice president at their first shareholders meeting. This past summer, I was present at the National Press Club in Washington, when the hotel workers announced the global boycott of Hyatt Hotels.
Through the three years of working with UniteHere! (the hotel workers’ union), meeting with hotel housekeepers, speaking at rallies, and encouraging colleagues to sign on to the boycott, I realized just what it means to be a “social justice rabbi.”
First, it requires perseverance. The fight to bring Hyatt management back to the negotiating table and to improve working conditions for the lowest-paid workers is far from over. When I received an award from Rabbis for Human Rights-North America in 2011, my response was: I haven’t finished what I set out to accomplish. I still haven’t.
But I’m constantly renewed by the quote from Rabbi Tarfon that hangs in my home office: “It is not up to us to complete the work; nevertheless we are not permitted to neglect it.”
So what is the work?
As a rabbi, I use my talents as a speaker and teacher to promote a cause, to educate and to raise awareness. I bring my presence as a spiritual leader and pastor to stand with the workers and let them know we care, and to inspire and empower people at rallies. I draw on the network of colleagues and friends from more than 25 years in the rabbinate as a megaphone—raising the volume, spreading the word, increasing the pressure.
What changed that helped me see my place as a leader?
I was blessed to have the time, resources and support of my congregation to take part in several programs for professional development, including RRC’s Tzey U’lemad continuing rabbinical education program; the SELAH social justice leaders training sponsored by Jewish Funds for Justice (now Bend the Arc); and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. All of these helped me focus on my purpose, expand my awareness, and draw on spiritual resources far and wide.
Today, spirituality and social justice are two pillars of my life and my rabbinate. I see both as essential and interdependent Jewish paths: Spiritual life leads to a life of justice, and acting in the world can be supported by spiritual practice. In my experience, both are founded on the importance of relationships.
The holy power of relationships
God is present when we look another in the eye and make a heart-to-heart connection, as Martin Buber described, in an “I-Thou” relationship. Connecting with another person across ideological barriers, cultures and life experiences can create profound bonds of unity that give our actions the power to change the world.
The holy power of relationships is brought home by a Hasidic story told by Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov. He was watching two Russian peasants drinking together at an Inn. The first asked, "Boris, do you love me?" His friend replied, "Ivan, do I love you? We've worked side by side on our farm for years. Of course I love you!" They returned to their vodka and a minute later, Ivan asked, "Boris, do you know what causes me pain?" Boris thought for a moment and answered, “No.” At that point Ivan roared: "If you don't know what causes me pain, how can you say you love me?”
Afterwards, Rabbi Moshe Leib said to his students: "This is the essence of our connection with one another. We must look deeply enough into one another's souls not only to know what makes us happy, but also to understand what causes us pain."
Let our love move us to action
At this season of intense preparation for the Pesakh seder, it is in our relationships that we find both spiritual sustenance and the call to act in the world. Gazing at those gathered around the seder table and retelling the story of the Exodus, let us understand the pain of those who are still enslaved. Let their stories and our love for them move us to action.
Rabbi Barbara Penzner
Find resources to learn more about the campaign to support Hyatt workers’ rights here:
http://justiceathyatt.org/
http://www.votehyattworst.org/
http://www.hyatthurts.org/
Reposted from:
http://www.rrc.edu/at-work
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