Dear eBriv subscribers and Arbeter Ring members:

 As I move to northern California, I will miss the District Committee as well as all the Workmen's Circle members and supporters. My time as Director of the Southern California Arbeter Ring / Workmen's Circle has given me the opportunity to connect with many interesting people, organize fantastic events, and bring together progressive Jews in Los Angeles in new and exciting ways. I plan to continue to build progressive Jewish community in the Bay Area, and look forward to seeing how the SoCal Arbeter Ring grows and changes through the leadership of Tera Greene, the new Interim Director. She has demonstrated her leadership and dedication to this organization through her service as a member of the District Committee, as our social media volunteer, and through her work producing several events for the organization over the past two years. I know that she will do many wonderful things for the Arbeter Ring, and wish her much success in creating a smooth leadership transition for the organization.  

 

I also want to thank two stellar leaders of the community for their recent contributions. Thank you to Uncle Ruthie for a fantastic benefit concert last month - we had a great turnout, and the crowd loved Uncle Ruthie's performance as always. Thanks also to District Committee member Sheila McCoy for organizing last Friday's trip to the Autry to see The Jews in the Los Angeles Mosaic exhibit. We got to see some of the history of the Workmen's Circle included in the exhibit, and were lucky to have knowledgeable members in attendance, adding much needed information to that provided by the docent.

 

Rosh Hashana (rosheshone) with the Sholem community

Come to a Labor Listening Session on Monday, August 26th!

 

Attention, all Arbeter Ring members and friends!

 

Working people must be heard!  

 

That message becomes clearer every day as we continue the struggle for fair wages, immigrant reform, lower student debt, and union recognition.

 

The AFL-CIO, in advance of its convention here in L.A. in September, has issued a call for Listening Sessions, a way for working people to come together and add our creative ideas and strategies for building the labor movement. (See aflcio2013.org for more information.)

 

The Arbeter Ring (Workmen's Circle), true to its history and philosophy, is very excited about the direction the AFL-CIO is taking. We understand the importance of strengthening and broadening the labor movement. We are working men and women with varying amounts of experience in the labor movement, eager to participate in the struggle to make real changes in the lives of American workers.  

 

We look forward to a dynamic event with full participation from the attendees so that our Report Back to the Convention becomes an important piece of the conversation. Our Arbeter Ring is well-known in the labor/social justice community, and we have agreed to co-sponsor and host this event. We encourage a sizable and engaged turn-out. We invite you to attend, and to circulate this flyer to inform interested friends and colleagues.

 

Our Listening Session takes place on Monday, August 26, from 7-10 pm at the Workmen's Circle at 1525 S. Robertson Blvd. Unions such as CSEA, SAG/AFTRA, National Writers Union, etc., as well as organizations that we have a relationship with, such as LAANE, CLUE and, importantly, the general public, have been invited to participate.

 

Recognizing the need for full participation of rank and file workers (and non-union workers), the AFL-CIO is encouraging us to participate in three main areas of discussion:

1. Changing the labor movement to speak for working people now and in the future through growth, innovation and political action
2. Creating a voice for all in the global economy
3. Building genuine, durable community partnerships and effective grassroots power

We look forward to your attendance. We are aiming for a full house on the 26th.  

 

Please contact our District Committee member Susan Gosman at suenu35@aol.com or at 323-899-8875 if you have any specific questions.

The CLEAN Carwash Campaign invites you to the Carwash Worker Center Open House.

November 1-3, 2013

 

 The most significant family of writers in Yiddish, the three Singer siblings are fascinating individually -- and even more remarkable when considered as a group. 

Join Professor Anita Norich November 1-3, 2013, at the Yiddish Book Center to explore what the writings of Esther Singer Kreitman, I.J. Singer, and Isaac Bashevis Singer reveal about each sibling's views of Jewish life, of the future and past of the Jews, of their contemporary world, and of one another. 

Cost: $260/members & students; $300/non-members. (Register by Sept. 3 for an early bird discount - $25 off.) 

For details and to register: