Labor Day

Newsletter September 1, 2025 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

For many, Labor Day is a day of rest. And it should also be a day of appreciation for the rights that those in the labor movement have worked to secure so that laborers could rest. Including big wins like the 8 hour work day, minimum wage, child labor laws, and safer working conditions.

Maternity leave, paternity leave, or paid family and medical leave are all increasing in availability. But sadly, the facts show that only 27% of American workers have access to paid leave through their employers.

I am proud to have worked on the board of the Women’s Rabbinic Network (WRN) as we stood on the forefront of advocacy for gender equity and fair contract policies in the Jewish community and beyond. We directed studies and drafted ideal language to include in contracts, and advocated for them. (I encourage you to check out this incredible work HERE).

I am certain that the WRN did this because we advocate for equity for women and genderqueer and nonbinary people in the world, but ALSO because we are a Jewish organization and these are Jewish values.

Wait, worker’s rights are in the Torah?! YES they are! In fact, they were featured in the Torah portion Jews around the world read this past Saturday, during Labor Day weekend!

Deuteronomy 20 shares rules for those who are working to defend the community. And guess what what? The Torah says they can take time off, time away from the battle field, in order to participate in significant family life events. Like what?

Well, if they are getting married— they can take leave from the frontline and return home. If they are having a kid— they can take leave from the frontline and return home. If the time to sow their crops has come— they can take leave from the frontline and return home.

And the verse that really blows my mind is Deuteronomy 20:8:

“Is there anyone afraid and disheartened? Let him go back to his home, lest the courage of his comrades flag like his.” 

This means if they are having mental health troubles, they can take leave from the frontline and return home.

No one should work themselves into the ground or even miss significant life events. No one.

So, as we rest today on Labor Day, we rest from the work of our lives, and please also take some time to rest and reflect on the kind of companies you want to support— companies that treat their workers with respect and where work becomes dignity, not denigration.

This is how we’re keeping it sacred. ogether, we’re #keepingitsacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

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The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news 

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Thanks for your interest, and thanks for #keepingitsacred...