Workers Circle (formerly known as the Workmen’s Circle) is a Jewish cultural organization that supports left-of-center social justice politics.

Originating in 1900 as a mutual-aid society, the Workers Circle rose to 84,000 national members with a strong base in socialist, communist, and labor-union politics. Throughout the 20^th century, the organization’s politics moderated as its membership fell. The last decade has seen the Workers Circle’s membership decline below 10,000. The group has returned to more radical politics under CEO Ann Toback.

History

The Workers Circle originated in 1900 (then known as the “Workmen’s Circle”) as a mutual aid society for Eastern European Jewish immigrants to the United States based in New York City. Its operations were tightly bound with numerous labor unions and its political aspirations tended to be far-left and secular. Workers Circle’s schools closed for May Day and the anniversary of the Russian Communist Revolution yet remained open for Yom Kippur. During its early years, the Workers Circle contained many socialist and communist members, the latter of which unsuccessfully attempted to take control of the organization in the 1920s with support from the Soviet Union. ^{1 2 3}

By the 1930s, the Workers Circle had expanded its operations beyond providing insurance and welfare for families to managing a national network of health clinics, schools, camps, and libraries. It also taught and maintained Yiddish as a language in Jewish communities. ^{4 5} Membership peaked at 84,000 in the 1920s and declined to around 50,000 after the communists split away in the early 1980s. ⁶

Over the middle of the century, the Workers Circle moderated its politics and religious views. For instance, the membership and policy goals switched from opposition to support for Israel and Zionism, and synagogue attendance became more prevalent. In the 1980s, executive director Jack Noskowitz said, ”We stopped talking about socialism and began talking more about Jewish cultural values.” ⁷

Membership continued to decline, reaching 26,000 by 1996, when the organization maintained a “Democratic-liberal agenda,” including strong support for universal government-provided or subsidized health care. ⁸

In the late 2000s, the Workers Circle attempted to combat steeply declining membership, reaching 9,500 in 2010. In 2008, Ann Toback, a “lifelong progressive activist” who previously worked for the AFL-CIO ^{9 10} became the first female CEO of the organization. In 2009, the Workers Circle restructured as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Workers Circle continued to be involved in labor activism, and in 2020, Toback spoke at the Women’s March. ^{11 12}

In 2020, the organization officially changed its name from the Workmen’s Circle to the Workers Circle, as “a gender-neutral nod to the hardworking activism of its members.” ^{13 14}

Political Goals

Democracy

According to the Workers Circle, “right now the US is experiencing a surge in fascist political tactics as former President Trump and the right-wing extremists and lawmakers in his thrall try to consolidate power.” ¹⁵

The Workers Circle supports expanded voting access, “an end to the racist filibuster,” and “democratic rights in the workplace.” To this end, the Workers Circle sets up “Democracy Circles,” groups of up to seven individuals led by a “circle convener,” that fights for left-wing policies through projects like a “phonebank to voters of color with information to help them surmount barriers to voting.” ^{16 17}

Social Justice

The Workers Circle claims that Judaism has a heritage of fighting for social and economic justice. It proclaims itself to be an “anti-racist organization” fighting to change the culture and politics of the United States which are based on fundamental inequality and systemic discrimination. ¹⁸

Economics

The Workers Circle supports the Build Back Better Act government funding proposal, strengthening unions with the PRO Act, and raising the minimum wage. ¹⁹

The Workers Circle actively participated in the Fight for 15 campaign. ²⁰

Immigration

The Workers Circle supports more liberal immigration policies, including the HEAL for Immigrant Families Act, which would permit illegal immigrants to access the American healthcare market established by the Affordable Care Act. ²¹

The Workers Circle has worked with the New York Immigration Coalition and Make the Road New York on pro-immigrant campaigns in New York City. ²²

Israel and Antisemitism

The Workers Circle is broadly pro-Israel and pro-Zionist. It supports a two-state solution and opposes the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement against Israel. ²³

In 2021, the Workers Circle rejected the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s new definition of antisemitism for being too broad, stating, “we strongly believe that this definition unnecessarily inhibits expression as it relates to Israel.” ²⁴

In an interview, Workers Circle CEO Ann Toback claimed that a supposed rise in global antisemitism is “really coming from the Trump administration and allies, and a growth of white nationalism in the United States.” Specifically, then-President Donald Trump’s (R) response to the 2017 Unite the Right rally supposedly emboldened and empowered individuals “to make both threats and perpetrate violence against Jews, against blacks, against Muslims, against many populations that are marginalized and at risk.” ²⁵

In 2019, Toback wrote an op-ed denouncing then-President Trump’s executive order empowering local officials and universities to crack down on antisemitism on university campuses. Toback claimed that the executive order would encourage censorship which is antithetical to a free society. ²⁶

1. ^[1] Margolick, David. “Workmen’s Circle: 85 Years Of Aid To The Jews.” The New York Times. November 10, 1985. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/10/nyregion/workmen-s-circle-85-years-of-aid-to-jews.html.
2. “About Us.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/about-us.
3. Wax, Dustin M. “”Brother, Friend, Comrade”: The Workman’s Circle and Jewish Culture, 1900-1930.” Dustin M. Wax. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/our-issues#workers-rights.
4. “About Us.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/about-us.
5. Wax, Dustin M. “”Brother, Friend, Comrade”: The Workman’s Circle and Jewish Culture, 1900-1930.” Dustin M. Wax. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/our-issues#workers-rights.
6. Margolick, David. “Workmen’s Circle: 85 Years Of Aid To The Jews.” The New York Times. November 10, 1985. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/10/nyregion/workmen-s-circle-85-years-of-aid-to-jews.html.
7. Margolick, David. “Workmen’s Circle: 85 Years Of Aid To The Jews.” The New York Times. November 10, 1985. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/10/nyregion/workmen-s-circle-85-years-of-aid-to-jews.html.
8. Greene, Donna. “A Keeper of the Flame of Jewish Culture.” The New York Times. November 3, 1996. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/03/nyregion/a-keeper-of-the-flame-of-jewish-culture.html.
9. Winship, Michael. “The Workers Circle Fights Injustice with Activism – and Joy.” Common Dreams. February 24, 2020. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/02/24/workers-circle-fights-injustice-activism-and-joy.
10. “Ann Toback, CEO.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/staffbios/ann-toback.
11. Beckerman, Gal. “Storied Jewish Group Tries to Reboot.” Forward. December 8, 2010. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://forward.com/news/133796/storied-jewish-group-tries-to-reboot/.
12. “Ann Toback, CEO.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/staffbios/ann-toback.
13. “The Workmen’s Circle is now The Workers Circle as Organization Embraces Change on the Cusp of its 120^th Year.” The Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/press-releases/the-workmens-circle-is-now-the-workers-circle-as-organization-embraces-change-on-the-cusp-of-its-120th-year#:~:text=Contact-,The%20Workmen’s%20Circle%20is%20now%20The%20Workers%20Circle%20as%20Organization,Cusp%20of%20its%20120th%20Year.
14. Winship, Michael. “The Workers Circle Fights Injustice with Activism – and Joy.” Common Dreams. February 24, 2020. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/02/24/workers-circle-fights-injustice-activism-and-joy.
15. “Demand Democracy – Fight Fascism.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/demanddemocracy.
16. “Demand Democracy – Fight Fascism.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/demanddemocracy.
17. “Democracy Circles.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/democracycircles.
18. ^[1] “Racial Justice.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/racialjustice.
19.  “Workers Rights.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/our-issues#workers-rights.
20. Winship, Michael. “The Workers Circle Fights Injustice with Activism – and Joy.” Common Dreams. February 24, 2020. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/02/24/workers-circle-fights-injustice-activism-and-joy.
21. “Immigrant Rights.” Workers Circle. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/our-issues#immigrant-rights.
22. Winship, Michael. “The Workers Circle Fights Injustice with Activism – and Joy.” Common Dreams. February 24, 2020. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/02/24/workers-circle-fights-injustice-activism-and-joy.
23. “The Workers Circle Issues Statement on Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations’ Adoption of Working Definition of Anti-Semitism.” Workers Circle. January 26, 2021. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/news/the-workers-circle-issues-statement-on-conference-of-presidents-of-major-american-jewish-organizations-adoption-of-working-definition-of-anti-semitism.
24. “The Workers Circle Issues Statement on Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations’ Adoption of Working Definition of Anti-Semitism.” Workers Circle. January 26, 2021. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.circle.org/news/the-workers-circle-issues-statement-on-conference-of-presidents-of-major-american-jewish-organizations-adoption-of-working-definition-of-anti-semitism.
25. Winship, Michael. “The Workers Circle Fights Injustice with Activism – and Joy.” Common Dreams. February 24, 2020. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/02/24/workers-circle-fights-injustice-activism-and-joy.
26. Toback, Ann. “President’s actions will further isolate Jewish people.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 23, 2019. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:xa4TnoxzpsEJ:https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2019/12/23/presidents-actions-will-further-isolate-jewish-people-opinion/&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us.