Though largely forgotten today, the Jewish labor movement once represented a major force in Jewish politics. Largely characterized by its use of Yiddish, this movement spanned continents and impacted generations of Jewish thought. This course will, over three seminars, explore the origins of the Jewish labor movement, its place in American Jewish history, and its the reasons for its decline in the post-war era and its prospects for revival in the 21st century.
Josh Meyers (PhD, Stanford ’18) is a historian of modern Jewish politics, with a particular emphasis on labor movements. When not chasing his daughter across the yard or walking his dog, he can be found writing a book about the Jewish Labor Bund in Russia in 1917.
Ari Fertig, Executive Director New England Jewish Labor Committee, joined the Jewish Labor Committee in 2019. Before joining the New England Jewish Labor Committee, Ari was with The Conversation US (TCUS) as manager of university editorial relations, handling relationships with over 50 college and university member media teams and successfully pitching TCUS member articles to The Washington Post, Newsweek, The Atlantic, Fortune, The New Republic, Scientific American, U.S. News and World Report and many other outlets.His organizing experience includes stints as regional field organizer on the Committee to Elect Bill Keating, campaign manager on the Committee to Elect Michael Day and deputy campaign manager on the Committee to Elect Jason Lewis, and as a health reform campaign organizer, and later as information and marketing coordinator, with Health Care For All. Ari was a JOIN For Justice Fellow and a FrontLine Leadership Academy Fellow.
Scholarships available! Please contact lynne@vilnashul.org to request financial assistance. These are trying times, and we are committed to making sure that finances do not exclude anyone from participating.
In partnership with the Jewish Labor Committee, Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry, and The West End Museum.