Discussion Questions
Part I
- Initial assessment: Who wrote this article? When?
- In what context was it written?
- Who was the intended audience for this document? How do you think this influenced the message of the article and/or what the rabbis told the interviewer?
- What did Rabbis Braude, Leeman, and Rosen do, according to this article?
- According to this article, why did these rabbis choose to march in Alabama? What other reasons do you think might have influenced their decision?
- According to this article, what kind of reception did these rabbis receive from people in Alabama? How did this reflect the feelings of the different groups whom they met?
- Did they feel that the march was effective? Why?
- How did the rabbis build on their experience by bringing it to the attention of others?
Part II
- How do you think these rabbis' experience and/or Jewish values influence their participation in the Civil Rights Movement? What clues from the article make you think that?
- How would you describe the role that these rabbis played in the Civil Rights Movement?
- Do you think this is an appropriate role for a rabbi? Why or why not?
- Are there any current political/social issues on which you think rabbis today should take a stand? What kind of role would you want to see them take?