|
Hanukkah commemorates one of the many, many times that people resisted oppression by the powerful. Two thousand years ago, in the face of Greek imperial power, a determined group of Jews fought back against the demand that we give up our texts, our holidays, our identity, our culture. Against all odds, persevering for four years, the Maccabees won.
We are proud to partner in these times, as Jews, with the leaders of today who refuse to give in to the powerful forces that:
- cause people to work long hours just to survive
- allow immigrants to be exploited, suffering abuse and wage theft
- cause housekeepers to endure backbreaking workloads
- allow our schools and public institutions to be dismantled
- allow concentrations of wealth to increase so that CEOs of the largest American companies earn on average 531 times as much as the average worker (in 2011)
- have resulted in only 7% of the private workforce being unionized, down from 22% just 30 years ago
Our faith traditions remind us: Might does not make right.
The light of the human spirit shines through when we assert that - Mercado workers deserve safe and fair working conditions, regardless of their immigration status
- Housekeepers deserve the right to organize, have our respect and to be free from injury
- We need sane tax, budget and labor policies that address the outrage that 1 in 4 California children are poor, while concentrations of wealth increase to historic levels
Might does not make right. Tonight we light up the night to resist the forces that deprive people of dignity. We affirm our power as human beings created in the image of God to create a just society.
--Susan Lubeck, regional director of PJA & JFSJ Bay Area
Adapted from remarks Susan made at the Interfaith Celebration of Light at Union Square, a December 19 event sponsored in partnership by PJA & JFSJ and Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice to celebrate hope and light, and be present with those in our communities who struggle in darkness. A brief candlelight procession traveled from Union Square to the Grand Hyatt to deliver a message of support for workers who have been struggling for a fair contract for the past two years. |
