Memorial Day to Labor Day
Monday marks the “official start” of the summer season. Memorial Day serves as the benchmark for its beginning, just as Labor Day signals its end. Sadly, while the days in-between are fully appreciated, often times neither bookend is understood for the significance it holds.
On Monday we honor those who served their country, defended its values and who are no longer with us in the land of the living. Their service and their small, and sometimes large, acts of heroism is something that all of us continue to benefit from and which all of us need to honor. At 10:15 on Memorial Day itself, a brief but moving service will be held at the Sons of Jacob Cemetery. It is a fitting way to honor these individuals who collectively have insured our ability to live freely.
While Labor day is an important day in and of itself, the events the last several weeks remind us that human labor is not to be exploited and that the dignity of the laborer should not be trampled in the service of God’s demands. The continuing allegations of abhorrent labor practices in the production of kosher food led the leadership of the USCJ/RA to issue the following statement yesterday. In the coming week, i will be meeting with our shul leadership in addressing how we will fulfill this call. It might mean that we need to scramble to find alternative sources for our kosher meat, but I cannot in good conscience continue to ignore the very real human abuses that seem to be occurring and allow such meat to be served in our shul. This of course demands further discussion with the leadership of the shul and the shul community itself. I look forward to doing just that with you. In the meantime, I hope each of you will read Hekhsher Tzedek Al Pi Din.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Morris J. Allen