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

    • 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.

  • Add a short summary or a list of helpful resources here.