On Wednesday, September 18, join Workers Interfaith Network for an action to support workers at Dakota Premium, a Kosher meatpacking plant in South Saint Paul. Workers took a courageous stand at Dakota Premium 7 years ago, walking off the job for better wages and working conditions. Now they want to negotiate for a safer workplace, the right to take bathroom breaks, and better wages and health care. But instead of negotiating with workers, management at Dakota Premium is trying to break the union. All of this is happening on the eve of Yom Kippur, one of the most sacred holidays of the Jewish calendar. It is a sacred time and at Dakota Premium, sacred values are at stake.

Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement” and it is a day of atonement for sins between humankind and God, a day to ask forgiveness for broken promises to God. It is a solemn day, a day of complete Sabbath and is marked as well by a 25 hour fast. In preparation for this day of atonement with God, the day before is reserved for asking forgiveness for broken promises with each other.Yom Kippur serves to remind all of us of the many broken promises that mark all of our lives.

Workers in our community live with the brokenness of injustice every day. Employers set aside the covenant of a fair wage for a fair day’s work, affordable health care and safe and dignified working conditions in favor of exploitation and mistreatment. And so we as a culture are called not just to repent but to act to correct these injustices. Join us to lift up these sacred themes at one of the most sacred times of the year in the name of justice. Dakota Premium is at 425 Concord Street in South Saint Paul. See you then!

By the way, if you want to read more about justice and kosher food, read this great new website about a local Rabbi’s work!