Every year in May, we honor the contributions of Jewish Americans who have played a significant role in America’s democracy and its labor, women, and civil rights movements.
From Myra Wolfgang (one of the founders of the Coalition of Labor Union Women) to Samuel Gompers (founder of the American Federation of Labor) to Henry Moskowitz (one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) to Larry Cohen (former CWA president and founder of Jobs with Justice) and Randi Weingarten (national president of the American Federation of Teachers), Jewish Americans have been instrumental in building the American labor movement and helping to improve our country.
Explore the connections among the Jewish and labor communities by following the Jewish Labor Committee, an independent secular 501(c)3 organization. The committee is the voice of the Jewish community in the labor movement and the voice of the labor movement in the Jewish community.
Across the labor community and right here in AFGE, Jewish Americans are at the forefront of advancing the rights of working families, and each union member is grateful for all the ways they contribute their time and talents to the mission of our federation.
This year we are honored to spotlight Elliot Friedman, lobbyist in the AFGE Legislative Department.
Elliot Friedman
Elliot has worked as a legislative representative for AFGE and the National Veterans Affairs Council for eight years. In this role, he fights to protect and expand collective bargaining rights for VA employees and improve the pay and benefits for all AFGE members. He also crafts and advances legislation and policy for different groups of NVAC members, including Veterans Health Administration healthcare professionals, Veterans Benefits Administration claims processors, Board of Veterans’ Appeals attorneys, facilities staff, and VA police officers.
How did you get involved in the labor movement?
I interned and worked in a number of political roles in college, and I had the opportunity to partner with several unions on [Get Out the Vote] efforts. My first full time position in Washington was for the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA) as their Political Action Committee (PAC) manager. This job introduced me to the federal employee community and reinforced the value of unions in the federal government and policy space. Between the NRCLA, National Association of Postal Supervisors (NAPS), and AFGE, I have spent almost 14 years lobbying to help federal and postal employees.
Why is Jewish Heritage Month important to you?
The importance my parents placed on both Judaism and patriotism was always intertwined and taught me to be a proud Jewish American. My wife and I are trying to instill the same in our children. Like the stories of most ethnic groups in America, many Jewish American families can trace their roots back to immigrant ancestors who came to this country searching for place where they could build a better life for their family. As Jews make up only 2.4% of the U.S. population, we are a small but significant part of the American tapestry, and Jewish Heritage Month is an opportunity for Jews to highlight the contributions Jewish Americans make to our nation. It is particularly important, at a time of increased antisemitism in America, for Jewish Americans to continue to openly celebrate our heritage and culture now and in the future.
Which Jewish labor leader inspired you and why?
Many Jewish Americans were critical to the creation of the labor movement in the United States, including Samuel Gompers and Samuel Dubinsky, and leaders like Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, carry that legacy today.
But the labor role models I hold in the highest regard are closer to home. My two grandfathers, Leonard Friedman and Louis Kovitz, both served in the military, and after their service, came back to New York to start their families. Leonard was a member of the Insurance Workers International Union, AFL-CIO Local 5, which is now part of the United Food and Commercial Workers, and Louis was a member of the New York Pressmen’s Union No. 51, which is now part of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Both were family men who provided for their families and personified the importance of unions to helping workers and their families. While both died decades ago, I’m sure both would be proud that their grandson is now a lobbyist for AFGE.
Are you involved in your local community, including the Jewish community?
My family and I are proud and active members of the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C. I serve as the secretary for the Bryce Harlow Foundation's Alumni Advisory Board, which is an organization dedicated to ethics in government affairs. I also have the pleasure of coaching my sons’ recreational baseball team.
Anything else you'd like to add?
In Hebrew, the phrase “tikkun olam” means repairing the world, and this concept is a key reason why I first became interested in politics and public policy. In many ways, the labor movement has the same goal of improving the world so we all together can benefit from a better society. As an American Jew, it is a privilege to have a career that allows me to practice “tikkun olam” every day both professionally and personally.
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