Overview

This journey brings you face to face with the history of the Civil Rights Movement and with the Jewish communities of the South whose story is woven into it. Traveling through Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, you will hear directly from foot soldiers who marched as young people, stand in the places where history turned, and learn how Southern Jews navigated the movement, from those who spoke out to those who faced difficult choices about whether to. In Birmingham, we welcome Shabbat at the historic Temple Emanu-El and take part in Temple Beth El’s “In Solidarity” program, exploring the relationship between the Black and Jewish communities, then and now. Along the way there is plenty of room for the joys of the South, from the blues in Memphis to barbecue and good conversation over shared meals. Throughout the journey, we connect what we see to Jewish values such as Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof (justice, justice you shall pursue) and B’tzelem Elohim (every person is created in the divine image), with time to reflect together each day. Whether you lived through these years or learned about them in school, you will come away with a deeper understanding of the past, a stronger connection to Jewish history and values, and a renewed sense of your own role in the work of justice today