As She Thinks....: Fair Trade from a Jewish Perspective

Thanks to companies like Starbucks, many people are catching on to the importance of supporting Fair Trade. Fair Trade is a growing movement that works with disadvantaged farmers in the developing world. Fair Trade includes:

A fair price for products

A fair wage for workers

Providing equal opportunities for all people, particularly the most disadvantaged

Building long-term trade relationships

Environmentally sustainable practices

Providing healthy and safe working conditions

Below is a great video outlining the basics of Fair Trade, and how it improves the lives of disadvantaged farmers:

The Fair Trade movement is quite modern, but the ethics and values behind it can be traced back to the Torah. Jewish values supporting the Fair Trade movement include:

Poverty

"Do not let him slip down until he falls completely, for then it will be difficult to raise him; rather strengthen him as he begins to fall. To what is this comparable? To a burden upon a donkey: while it is still on the donkey, one person can hold it and set it in place; if it falls to the earth, even five people cannot set it back" (Rashi’s commentary on Leviticus 25:35).

Treatment of Workers

“You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger in one of the communities of your land. You must pay him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets, for he is needy and he risks his life for it.” (Deut. 24:14-15)

"In disputes between employees and workers, the rights of the worker were given preference over those of the employer." (Talmud, Baba Metzia 77a)

Communal Responsibility

"The stranger among you shall be equal unto you as the home born and you shall love him as yourself." (Leviticus 19:34)

“It is forbidden to cheat people in buying and selling, or to deceive them.” (Rabbi Moses ben Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mechirah 18:1)

Sustainability

“The highest level of Tzedekah is when you support someone by giving him a gift, or loan, or entering into partnership with him, or creating a job for him so that he supports himself until he no longer needs to depend upon others.” (Rambam, Mishneh Torah Laws of Gifts to the Poor 10:7)

Below are some great resources about Fair Trade; I encourage you to do some research and support this movement!