Page 92 - issue
P. 92
Rosalie and Dina their workers. The sweat- helping the working man’s plight,
photo courtesy of Esky Cook shop management imposed Morris became very involved in labor
terrible working conditions unions. He was one of the founders of
remembers her Aunt Annie entertain- and long hours and even the local branch of the ACWA
ing the family with stories. She was locked the doors so that no (Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
“almost like an actress” making every- worker would leave early or America), traveling to Memphis,
one laugh. (Her sense of humor may even go out for a bathroom Tennessee, for the founding in 1914. He
have served her well as she lived to be break! The hypocrisy Morris was the chairman in the Baltimore
over 100.) saw caused him to lose his branch until 1934. Dina Karlip has the
taste for religiosity award presented to Morris by the
Morris ACWA, which says, “As a high tribute to
Yacha’s son Morris had attended a bais According to Rosalie’s Brother Morris Michelson for his splen-
midresh in Chabne, a small shtetl near grandson, Josh Karlip, asso- did services…” and wishes him “a long
Kiev, as well as another yeshiva, and he ciate professor of Jewish history at life of happy usefulness”!
was a religious youth when he arrived Yeshiva University, Morris’ disillusion-
in Baltimore. However, as his daughter ment occurred at a time when the sec- Morris was a very principled man.
Rosalie tells it, he witnessed the terrible ular Jewish socialist movement became He refused to accept a salaried job
working conditions to which some a very strong influence on many Jewish with the union, and remained a facto-
“frum” sweatshop owners subjected immigrants. Working in the sweat- ry worker. He felt that if he took
shops, Morris was radicalized and money for his union work he would
essentially became a socialist. This sec- not be able to always speak his mind.
ular movement viewed religion as a One time, during a strike at one of the
tool of the rich to ensure the submis- local factories, goons with guns had
siveness of the workers. been hired to intimidate the strikers.
Despite his estrangement from Morris risked his life to walk through
Yiddishkeit, however, there is no doubt their armed ranks and talk with the
that his mother Yacha’s emphasis on management to try to get to a peace-
chesed and serving others influenced ful settlement.
Morris to do the same. Dedicated to
Years later, Rosalie had an urgent
88 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
photo courtesy of Esky Cook shop management imposed Morris became very involved in labor
terrible working conditions unions. He was one of the founders of
remembers her Aunt Annie entertain- and long hours and even the local branch of the ACWA
ing the family with stories. She was locked the doors so that no (Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
“almost like an actress” making every- worker would leave early or America), traveling to Memphis,
one laugh. (Her sense of humor may even go out for a bathroom Tennessee, for the founding in 1914. He
have served her well as she lived to be break! The hypocrisy Morris was the chairman in the Baltimore
over 100.) saw caused him to lose his branch until 1934. Dina Karlip has the
taste for religiosity award presented to Morris by the
Morris ACWA, which says, “As a high tribute to
Yacha’s son Morris had attended a bais According to Rosalie’s Brother Morris Michelson for his splen-
midresh in Chabne, a small shtetl near grandson, Josh Karlip, asso- did services…” and wishes him “a long
Kiev, as well as another yeshiva, and he ciate professor of Jewish history at life of happy usefulness”!
was a religious youth when he arrived Yeshiva University, Morris’ disillusion-
in Baltimore. However, as his daughter ment occurred at a time when the sec- Morris was a very principled man.
Rosalie tells it, he witnessed the terrible ular Jewish socialist movement became He refused to accept a salaried job
working conditions to which some a very strong influence on many Jewish with the union, and remained a facto-
“frum” sweatshop owners subjected immigrants. Working in the sweat- ry worker. He felt that if he took
shops, Morris was radicalized and money for his union work he would
essentially became a socialist. This sec- not be able to always speak his mind.
ular movement viewed religion as a One time, during a strike at one of the
tool of the rich to ensure the submis- local factories, goons with guns had
siveness of the workers. been hired to intimidate the strikers.
Despite his estrangement from Morris risked his life to walk through
Yiddishkeit, however, there is no doubt their armed ranks and talk with the
that his mother Yacha’s emphasis on management to try to get to a peace-
chesed and serving others influenced ful settlement.
Morris to do the same. Dedicated to
Years later, Rosalie had an urgent
88 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
