114 years ago, tragedy struck: the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 was one of the most devastating workplace disasters in United States history. Due to unsafe working conditions in a New York garment factory, a raging inferno led to the deaths of 146 people in under an hour. The victims were mostly Yiddish- and Italian-speaking young women, paid meager wages despite two years of agitation and activism by the Jewish immigrant women in the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union. The leadership of young Jewish activists like Clara Lemlich and Rose Schneiderman in the wake of the fire catalyzed a wave of labor reform to address workers’ needs, first in New York and eventually across the country.

This wide-ranging class will cover Jewish teachings on work and worker’s rights, the history of Jewish participation in labor organizing and feminist activism in 20th century America, and tools for grappling with the moral qualms that emerge when Jews are on opposite sides of a political problem – all through the lens of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Come prepared to learn and discuss the Factory Fire's relevance 114 years later! No prior knowledge or experience with Jewish text required.

Rachel Florman is pursuing her MDiv at Harvard Divinity School with a focus on diasporic Jewish community formation and faith-based activism. She is also a class host and intern with the House of Learning here at Lehrhaus! When she’s not working or studying, you can find Rachel hunting down Camberville’s best gluten free desserts and volunteering with her local abortion fund.