Instructions
Activity 1: Jewish American Civil Rights Leaders
Teach students about Jewish Americans like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel or Sarah Berman, who advocated for social justice.
Have students write a short essay or create a poster on one of these figures and their role in social justice movements.
Activity 2: Social Justice Campaign
Have students choose a current social justice issue and create a campaign or poster advocating for positive change, inspired by Jewish American leaders.
Materials
Paper, cardboard, or clay
Markers
Stickers/embellishments
Glue
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Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel – A prominent Jewish theologian and activist who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, advocating for racial justice and equality.
Arthur Spingarn – President of the NAACP from 1914 to 1939, he played a pivotal role in the organization’s early civil rights efforts.
Rabbi Joachim Prinz – A German-Jewish immigrant and rabbi who delivered a powerful speech at the 1963 March on Washington, linking Jewish and African American struggles for justice.
Betty Friedan – A feminist and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) and advocated for women’s rights and equality.
Jackie Robinson – While primarily known as the first African American major league baseball player, Robinson was strongly supported by Jewish allies and activists in his fight against racial segregation.
Morris Dees – Co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), dedicated to combating hate groups, including antisemitic organizations.
Bendict Arnold – An early Jewish-American advocate for racial justice, Arnold worked to challenge segregation and discrimination in the 19th century.
Leonard Bernstein – A celebrated conductor and composer who supported civil rights and played a major role in advocating for social justice causes.
Doris Kearns Goodwin – Though not directly a civil rights activist, this historian and writer has chronicled the lives of various leaders who fought for civil rights and equality.
Rabbi I. Bernard Sacks – Active in advocating for African American civil rights in the 1960s, especially through the Jewish community’s involvement in anti-segregationist activities.
Simon Wiesenthal – While known for his post-Holocaust work, Wiesenthal was an outspoken advocate for racial equality and justice, especially in combating fascism and hate.
Max Lerner – A journalist and public intellectual who advocated for social justice, racial equality, and civil rights.
Josephine Baker – Though primarily associated with her career in France, Baker worked alongside American Jewish allies to advocate for racial equality and civil rights.
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Add a short summary or a list of helpful resources here.