Nathan Chanin
{{Short description|American labor organizer}}
Nathan Chanin (December 6, 1885-August 8, 1965) was an American labor activist. He served as the general secretary of the Workmen's Circle.
Biography
Chanin was born in Khalopenichy, Belarus and was educated at a cheder and a Talmud Torah in Borisov.{{Cite web |title=Khanin, Nokhum (Nathan Chanin) — The Congress for Jewish Culture |url=https://congressforjewishculture.org/person/3706/Khanin-Nokhum-Nathan-Chanin |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=congressforjewishculture.org |language=en}} Chanin became active in the Jewish Labor Bund.{{Cite book |last=Kadar |first=Naomi Prawer |title=Raising Secular Jews: Yiddish Schools and Their Periodicals for American Children, 1917–1950 |date=2017 |publisher=Brandeis University Press |isbn=9781611689877 |pages=265}} Due to his political activities, he was sentenced to eight years in Siberia.{{Cite web |title=Nathan Chanin, Outstanding Leader of Jewish Labor Movement, Dead |url=https://www.jta.org/archive/nathan-chanin-outstanding-leader-of-jewish-labor-movement-dead |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}
Chanin escaped from Siberia in 1912 and immigrated to America.{{Cite news |date=1965-08-09 |title=Nathan Chanin Is Dead at 78; Unionist and Liberal Party Aide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/08/09/archives/nathan-chanin-is-dead-at-78-unionist-and-liberal-party-aide.html |access-date=2025-06-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} In America, Chanin supported himself as a hat maker, which led to his involvement in the Cap and Millinery Union.{{Cite book |last=Shapiro |first=Judah L. |title=The Friendly Society: A History of the Workmen's Society |date=1970 |publisher=Media Judaica |location=New York |pages=153}} After several years, he became the vice-president of the Cap and Millinery Union.{{Cite news |date=August 13, 1965 |title=Chanin's Death Saddens Jewish Labor Movement |url=https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/bbh/1965/08/13/01/article/136/? |work=B'nai B'rith Messenger |pages=24}}
Following the Jewish Socialist Federation's decision to leave the Socialist Party in 1921, Chanin helped create the Jewish Socialist Verband, which opposed Communism.{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia of the American Left |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1998 |isbn=0195120884 |editor-last=Buhle |editor-first=Mari Jo |edition=2nd |location=New York |pages=403 |editor-last2=Buhle |editor-first2=Paul |editor-last3=Georgakas |editor-first3=Dan}} Chanin was described by Louis Harap as part of the "spearhead of anti-Sovietism in the United States".{{Cite journal |last=Harap |first=Louis |date=March 1950 |title=Program on the Left |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_jewish-currents_1950-03_4_5/page/24 |journal=Jewish Currents |volume=4 |issue=5 |pages=24}} In 1954, Chanin attacked Communism, arguing that Americans were "completely unaware of the destructive nature of world communism", and defending the Workmen's Circle's efforts to aid Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union.{{Cite news |title=Workmen's Circle General Secretary, Chanin, Says Communism is a Menace |url=https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/bbh/1954/02/05/01/article/171/? |work=B'nai B'rith Messenger |pages=23}} As a result of these efforts, Earl Browder accused him of secretly contributing money to anti-Communist conspiracies within the Soviet Union.{{Cite news |date=April 17, 1943 |title=Communists Launch Smear Drive Against Jewish Labor Committee |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_new-leader_1943-04-17_26_16/ |work=The New Leader |pages=1}}
Chanin served as the educational director of the Workmen's Circle from 1936 until 1952.{{Cite book |last=Goldstein |first=Bernard |title=Twenty Years with the Jewish Labor Bund: A Memoir of Interwar Poland |date=2016 |publisher=Purdue University Press |isbn=9781612494470 |pages=317}} In 1952, he was elected as the Workmen's Circle's General Secretary, replacing Joseph Baskin.{{Cite news |date=September 12, 1952 |title=Workmen's Circle Elects Chanin |url=https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/amjwld/1952/09/12/01/article/21/? |work=The American Jewish World |pages=5}} He retired from the position of General Secretary in 1963.{{Cite news |date=April 12, 1963 |title=Nathan Chanin Retires as General Secretary of Workmen's Circle |url=https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/indianajpost/1963/04/12/01/page/13/? |work=The Indiana Jewish Post and Opinion |pages=13}}