Following on the Central Conference of American Rabbis' statement of support for the Hyatt workers, Reform Cantors of Chicago is explicitly supporting the Hyatt workers's call for a boycott. I think we are the first Jewish clergy group in Chicago to issue such a statement.
Reform Cantors of Chicago Support Hyatt Workers’ Boycott
Monday, August 30, 2010
One of Judaism's great legacies to mankind is the myriad prophetic and biblical exhortations in the name of social justice, teaching the moral and ethical responsibility of caring for the stranger with the same dignity and respect that we would give ourselves, our families and our neighbors. In every generation our prayer-book has given a contemporary voice to our yearning to "repair the world." This moral imperative calls to us with heightened urgency during the High Holy Day season when we confess our sins, including the offense of denying others what is their due.
Hyatt hotel workers in Chicago are being told they will lose their health benefits and their ability to provide for their families.
The members of Reform Cantors of Chicago, as invested clergy and prayer-leaders of many congregations throughout the Chicagoland area, join in speaking out in support of the Hyatt Hotel workers. As Cantors we cannot pray in the synagogue without speaking publicly in support of justice for the Hyatt workers.
The hard-working laborers who make our city’s hotels run are entitled to provide for their families. Maimonides rules (Ownership, Laws of Hiring and Safekeeping, 13:10) that the employer may not deny the worker her fair earnings. The Hyatt management’s intention to impose the crippling cost of healthcare benefits on the workers is unfair and cruel.
Furthermore, the management of the Hyatt Regency is threatening to take
away the security of full-time employment from some of its workers by
cutting staff and reducing hours. For these low-income workers, such a change would have catastrophic consequences on their families.
Our Jewish tradition teaches us to care for those who are
not members of the community but are in need of our protection. Leviticus 19:34 teaches “The stranger in your midst shall be to you as a full member of the community. You shall love him as yourself for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Hospitality workers feel the necessity of calling for a boycott of
the hotels where they work in order to preserve decent pay and benefits. We are with them. We declare our support for, and join their
boycott of, the Park Hyatt, the Hyatt Regency Chicago and the Hyatt
Regency O'Hare.
We raise our voices in prayer and protest calling for a fair resolution.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Old Music Renewed
It's less than two weeks to Rosh Hashana and the High Holydays. Some months ago I was looking through Chicago Yiddish newspapers from the late 1920s. I was looking for a mention of my grandfather who may have spent some time in Chicago. I didn't find him but what did show up were advertisements for High Holyday services featuring visiting cantors. The ads are fascinating snapshots of a different age. One ad for Luck Strike cigarettes featured a cantor in full regalia with cantorial hat, robes and tallit. He is holding a lit cigarette, The Yiddish reads: "If you smoke Lucky Strike, you will sound like the Cantor".
One of the High Holydays cantorial ads was for the great Cantor Yossele Rosenblatt. Under the heading "Chamisho mee yodea?" ("Who knows Five?), Cantor Rosenblatt advertizes his four man cantorial chorale. Cantor Rosenblatt, or Yossele brought the opera to the synagogue. With his distinctive cantorial falsetto, dramatic tenor range and ambitious melismatic flourishes he brought glamor to the services. As a devout man, this translated not as ego but as bringing majesty to services.
Yossele's appeal is perennial. The original 78s have been re-released as 33s, cassettes and CDs. Now, a cantorial enthusiast has taken it a step further.
A colleague, Cantor Arik Luck, of Temple Beth Emet in Evanston pointed me to this article
Cantor Luck is one of several young Reform cantors who are introducing traditional chazzonus (cantorial music) to Reform temples. This is a fascinating new development. He is presenting a sermon-in-song on Rosh Hashanah on Cantor Rosenblatt's setting "Kee Vee Yirbuu/ Hayom Te'amtsenu".
So, I ordered the 3 volume set. They arrived this week.
My impression is mixed. On he plus side, Cantor Rosenblatt's voice is crystal clear. The cantorial enthusiast behind this project, Mendel Werdyger cleaned up the static. That's a treat to hear. Some of the new choral material and instrumentals, particularly the violin, add lustre to Rosenblatt's settings.
Yet, some of the static scubbing goes too far. The piano, at times sounds lie a honkey-tonk, at other times, it sounds electronic. Some of the additional choral vocals are overdone. Finally, the new material does not merge well with the original sound from the 1920s.
If you are a Rosenblatt enthusiast, this wis worth investigating. Start with one CD, or just listen to the four tracks available in the New York Times article and decide for yourself.
One of the High Holydays cantorial ads was for the great Cantor Yossele Rosenblatt. Under the heading "Chamisho mee yodea?" ("Who knows Five?), Cantor Rosenblatt advertizes his four man cantorial chorale. Cantor Rosenblatt, or Yossele brought the opera to the synagogue. With his distinctive cantorial falsetto, dramatic tenor range and ambitious melismatic flourishes he brought glamor to the services. As a devout man, this translated not as ego but as bringing majesty to services.
Yossele's appeal is perennial. The original 78s have been re-released as 33s, cassettes and CDs. Now, a cantorial enthusiast has taken it a step further.
A colleague, Cantor Arik Luck, of Temple Beth Emet in Evanston pointed me to this article
Cantor Luck is one of several young Reform cantors who are introducing traditional chazzonus (cantorial music) to Reform temples. This is a fascinating new development. He is presenting a sermon-in-song on Rosh Hashanah on Cantor Rosenblatt's setting "Kee Vee Yirbuu/ Hayom Te'amtsenu".
So, I ordered the 3 volume set. They arrived this week.
My impression is mixed. On he plus side, Cantor Rosenblatt's voice is crystal clear. The cantorial enthusiast behind this project, Mendel Werdyger cleaned up the static. That's a treat to hear. Some of the new choral material and instrumentals, particularly the violin, add lustre to Rosenblatt's settings.
Yet, some of the static scubbing goes too far. The piano, at times sounds lie a honkey-tonk, at other times, it sounds electronic. Some of the additional choral vocals are overdone. Finally, the new material does not merge well with the original sound from the 1920s.
If you are a Rosenblatt enthusiast, this wis worth investigating. Start with one CD, or just listen to the four tracks available in the New York Times article and decide for yourself.
Hyatt Hotels Boycott
This has been a busy week for Justice at Hyatt.
On Tuesday, I spoke at the Hyatt hotels workers' press conference. The press conference took place in downtown Chicago outside Hyatt headquarters. Union leaders, hotel workers and Christian clergy spoke too. My friend and colleague, Rabbi Brant Rosen laid out the background to this action and provided data on the situation. Rabbi Allison Abrams read from the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) resolution condemning Hyatt management and supporting the workers.
This is what I said:
"I am Cantor Michael Davis, founder of the Reform Cantors of Chicago, a Jewish clergy group dedicated to Jewish values, tradition and community.
Reform Cantors of Chicago has endorsed the Justice at Hyatt Campaign.
This is the first time that a group of cantors in Chicago have collectively taken a position on a social justice concern. Reform Cantors of Chicago have signed the Justice at Hyatt pledge because along with speaking the prophetic call to social justice in the prayerbook and Scripture, we feel called to speak out outside the synagogue, working to realize this vision of fairness in the world.
Our tradition speaks repeatedly of our duties as Jews to those who are not members of the community but are in need of our solidarity (Leviticus 19:34). The hard-working laborers who make our city’s hotels run are entitled to provide for their families. Hyatt management’s demand to take away health insurance benefits is unfair and wrong.
I’m here today to support the boycott and to convey the support of Reform Cantors of Chicago for the workers of the Hyatt hotels."
On Wednesday five RCC cantors visited the Hyatt Regency downtown and the Hyatt O'hare. We were guided through the hotel by an effective, upbeat organizer, Noah Bernstein. The visit was an eye-opener. We met with several groups of workers, in the cafeteria, kitchens and hallways. One group of workers are 30 year veterans of the hotel, which I believe means their tenure is as old as the hotel. Their key complaint was management's demand to institute 4 and 6 hour shifts. They can't afford to work less than full time and are afraid part-time shifts will allow management not to pay them health benefits. All the workers we spoke to were concerned about losing their health benefits. This is another key management demand.
I was shocked to learn of two acts of bad faith by management in the last couple of weeks:
First, management repeatedly calls for the workers to stop protesting and return to the negotiating tables. Well, one of the worker leaders who participated in the "negotiations" reported that these sessions were a sham. The 24 member management team shows up with no printed materials and no writing utensils. They sit in the room for a few hours and then walk out. The workers' sense is that these are not negotiations but a set of diktats.
Second, on Monday, the day before our press conference, management brought in 150 workers from a temp agency, dressed them in Hyatt employee outfits and walked them through the work areas of the hotel. The workers saw this as an act of intimidation. They were frightened, but more importantly, infuriated.
I asked one worker leader why she is ready to strike and lead her co-workers in walking out of their job. Her reply: I have a child at home. I want to be able to come back home at the end of the day and stand tall and tell my child to be proud.
This campaign is as much about human dignity as the dollars and cents of health coverage and job security.
Final anecdote: during our lunch hour meetings with the worker leaders, the Hyatt Regency General Manage and the Hyatt District Manager were seated a couple of tables from us eating their lunch in the workers' cafeteria (another outrageous move: one of management's new demands is to charge the workers for their meals). On our way out, as we walked through the dishwashing area, the general manager passed by us. He gave a cheery wave to one of the dishawashing staff calling, "How ya doin' Mario!". This was perfectly staged for is...if only the union troublemakers would get out of the way, management and staff could down to work in perfect harmony.
* * *
For coverage of the July protest check out my friend and colleague, Cantor Kim Harris' blog A Cantor's Journey.
(On Monday Reform Cantors of Chicago will issue its statement supporting the Hyatt workers' call for a boycott of three Hyatt hotels. I'll post it here when it's out.)
On Tuesday, I spoke at the Hyatt hotels workers' press conference. The press conference took place in downtown Chicago outside Hyatt headquarters. Union leaders, hotel workers and Christian clergy spoke too. My friend and colleague, Rabbi Brant Rosen laid out the background to this action and provided data on the situation. Rabbi Allison Abrams read from the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) resolution condemning Hyatt management and supporting the workers.
This is what I said:
"I am Cantor Michael Davis, founder of the Reform Cantors of Chicago, a Jewish clergy group dedicated to Jewish values, tradition and community.
Reform Cantors of Chicago has endorsed the Justice at Hyatt Campaign.
This is the first time that a group of cantors in Chicago have collectively taken a position on a social justice concern. Reform Cantors of Chicago have signed the Justice at Hyatt pledge because along with speaking the prophetic call to social justice in the prayerbook and Scripture, we feel called to speak out outside the synagogue, working to realize this vision of fairness in the world.
Our tradition speaks repeatedly of our duties as Jews to those who are not members of the community but are in need of our solidarity (Leviticus 19:34). The hard-working laborers who make our city’s hotels run are entitled to provide for their families. Hyatt management’s demand to take away health insurance benefits is unfair and wrong.
I’m here today to support the boycott and to convey the support of Reform Cantors of Chicago for the workers of the Hyatt hotels."
On Wednesday five RCC cantors visited the Hyatt Regency downtown and the Hyatt O'hare. We were guided through the hotel by an effective, upbeat organizer, Noah Bernstein. The visit was an eye-opener. We met with several groups of workers, in the cafeteria, kitchens and hallways. One group of workers are 30 year veterans of the hotel, which I believe means their tenure is as old as the hotel. Their key complaint was management's demand to institute 4 and 6 hour shifts. They can't afford to work less than full time and are afraid part-time shifts will allow management not to pay them health benefits. All the workers we spoke to were concerned about losing their health benefits. This is another key management demand.
I was shocked to learn of two acts of bad faith by management in the last couple of weeks:
First, management repeatedly calls for the workers to stop protesting and return to the negotiating tables. Well, one of the worker leaders who participated in the "negotiations" reported that these sessions were a sham. The 24 member management team shows up with no printed materials and no writing utensils. They sit in the room for a few hours and then walk out. The workers' sense is that these are not negotiations but a set of diktats.
Second, on Monday, the day before our press conference, management brought in 150 workers from a temp agency, dressed them in Hyatt employee outfits and walked them through the work areas of the hotel. The workers saw this as an act of intimidation. They were frightened, but more importantly, infuriated.
I asked one worker leader why she is ready to strike and lead her co-workers in walking out of their job. Her reply: I have a child at home. I want to be able to come back home at the end of the day and stand tall and tell my child to be proud.
This campaign is as much about human dignity as the dollars and cents of health coverage and job security.
Final anecdote: during our lunch hour meetings with the worker leaders, the Hyatt Regency General Manage and the Hyatt District Manager were seated a couple of tables from us eating their lunch in the workers' cafeteria (another outrageous move: one of management's new demands is to charge the workers for their meals). On our way out, as we walked through the dishwashing area, the general manager passed by us. He gave a cheery wave to one of the dishawashing staff calling, "How ya doin' Mario!". This was perfectly staged for is...if only the union troublemakers would get out of the way, management and staff could down to work in perfect harmony.
* * *
For coverage of the July protest check out my friend and colleague, Cantor Kim Harris' blog A Cantor's Journey.
(On Monday Reform Cantors of Chicago will issue its statement supporting the Hyatt workers' call for a boycott of three Hyatt hotels. I'll post it here when it's out.)
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