Hebrew Actors' Union

The Hebrew Actors' Union (HAU), formed in 1899 as a craft union for actors in Yiddish theater in the United States (primarily in New York City), was the first actors' union in the United States. Until it was decertified by the umbrella organization of theatrical unions in October 2005, it remained as one of the seven branches of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4As). It was founded by Jewish labor leader Joseph Barondess.

A 1925 article in The New York Times described the union as having, at that time, "over three hundred" members, and notes that it has, "not only placed all of its members in good positions, but it has also granted many privileges to non-members..." It also notes that, "A great many members of the union are American-born and all of them are thoroughly Americanized." The union represented "performers (except musicians) who are engaged in the field of Hebrew or Yiddish Language Theater".

In October 2005, the Hebrew Actors Union was declared defunct by its parent union, the 4As, following the 2002 death of its 91-year-old president, Seymour Rexite. After his death, Ruth Ellen became acting head of the union, which continues, with few remaining members. In 2006, a cache of material including programs, photographs, plays, costumes, music manuscripts, props and other memorabilia, which The New York Times described as "moldering" in the Hebrew Actors Union building, was deposited at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, housed in Manhattan's Center for Jewish History. The weekly Jewish newspaper Forward reported in October 2006 and again in October 2007 about controversies surrounding the disposition of the union's building on Manhattan's Lower East Side.