Today was a very full day, starting off with a bus trip to Montgomery, Alabama. We arrived at the Civil Rights Center sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center to learn about some of the existing efforts in regards to current civil rights issues – handicap rights, LGBTQ rights, workers’ rights, among others. The SPLC fights hate groups across the country. We were shocked to hear how many of these groups are still in existence! We saw the beautifully designed Civil Rights Monument, visited a really authentic lunch spot, and then went to the gift shop for the AA Farm team of the Tampa Bay Rays (named the Montgomery Biscuits – their mascot is a biscuit; it’s tongue made from a pad of butter. Hilarious.) where many of the kids bought some Biscuit merchandise. After this much enjoyed detour, we ended our touring for the day at the Rosa Parks Museum. One thing that struck the kids was how interactive all of the sites we went to today are, both in terms of technology as well as with the media they use.
We ended the week together with a very special Shabbat preparation – where we stood together as a group and spoke about some of the things we were especially thankful for. Once we welcomed in Shabbat as a group with Jonah teaching the group a song, we entered Temple Beth Or of Montgomery, AL to be welcomed into their service. After the service we came back to the hotel, did some journaling, and then let out some energy in the pool.
The students’ prompts to choose from at the end of today were to either compare/contrast the Shabbat experience tonight with their experiences at Central Synagogue or to respond to the following statement: “The power of one person can have a huge impact on change.” And as always, the students were free to process the day as they want. Here’s what they had to say:
Rebecca C.
When I first heard that we would be attending a Friday night service I was already thinking of stereotypes that a service in the South would be like. However, after attending the service, I realized that a Friday night service here and a Friday night service at home at Central are very similar. I was able to recognize and chant the prayers and really follow along with the service. It was amazing how I came to a new place with very different traditions and different lifestyles that I was used to, but was still have to feel at home in the Jewish community. Although the synagogue here was not nearly as bit as central, it still seemed to be a place where Jewish people could feel at home and definitely enforced the same values as I am used to. Overall, I think that this whole trip has been an amazing experience and I am looking forward to the remainder of our journey.
When I first heard that we would be attending a Friday night service I was already thinking of stereotypes that a service in the South would be like. However, after attending the service, I realized that a Friday night service here and a Friday night service at home at Central are very similar. I was able to recognize and chant the prayers and really follow along with the service. It was amazing how I came to a new place with very different traditions and different lifestyles that I was used to, but was still have to feel at home in the Jewish community. Although the synagogue here was not nearly as bit as central, it still seemed to be a place where Jewish people could feel at home and definitely enforced the same values as I am used to. Overall, I think that this whole trip has been an amazing experience and I am looking forward to the remainder of our journey.
Reede G.
“The power of one person can have an effect on change.”
Today we really did learn that this quote was true. Rosa Parks, Louizzo, Emmett Till and Dr. King are just a few to name. All of these names and people were completely expanded to a point where I could recite their stories. Rosa Parks, a woman who refused to move out of her seat for a white man started a transportation boycott. Emmett Till was a boy who whistled at a white woman, then got kidnapped, beaten and shot. His mother made his funeral an open casket to show the world what someone did to her son. This sparked a revolution that still goes on today. Rosa Parks started something so big that she has her own museum full of amazing exhibits and shared experience. This quote seemed to be a theme today – something that definitely expired me, and probably many others.
“The power of one person can have an effect on change.”
Today we really did learn that this quote was true. Rosa Parks, Louizzo, Emmett Till and Dr. King are just a few to name. All of these names and people were completely expanded to a point where I could recite their stories. Rosa Parks, a woman who refused to move out of her seat for a white man started a transportation boycott. Emmett Till was a boy who whistled at a white woman, then got kidnapped, beaten and shot. His mother made his funeral an open casket to show the world what someone did to her son. This sparked a revolution that still goes on today. Rosa Parks started something so big that she has her own museum full of amazing exhibits and shared experience. This quote seemed to be a theme today – something that definitely expired me, and probably many others.
Sara S.
“The power of one person can have an effect on change.”
When you think of it there are about 6 billion people in the world. They all have families, their own lives in which they follow on a day to day basis. Out of all those 6 billion people, one person can make a significant change in the world. I am really proud to say that so many people have taken on that role. A woman like Rosa Parks simply didn’t raise from her seat on the bus which seems like it is not a big deal but then it was. Just that one small action from that one person out of the 6 billion people in the world started a movement that changed the lives of many. Because of her, people felt proud enough to stand up for their rights.
“The power of one person can have an effect on change.”
When you think of it there are about 6 billion people in the world. They all have families, their own lives in which they follow on a day to day basis. Out of all those 6 billion people, one person can make a significant change in the world. I am really proud to say that so many people have taken on that role. A woman like Rosa Parks simply didn’t raise from her seat on the bus which seems like it is not a big deal but then it was. Just that one small action from that one person out of the 6 billion people in the world started a movement that changed the lives of many. Because of her, people felt proud enough to stand up for their rights.
Alex F.
Today we saw something that really made an impact on me. The Southern Poverty Law Center is the place where Alabama law goes against hate groups. In it, they have exhibits showing 40 of the people killed in the Civil Rights Movement and how they made an impact. Some of the stories were shocking, like how a young boy was killed for whistling at a white girl. It showed me the true meaning of the term “senseless violence”. I felt sort of like I did when learning about the Holocaust – along the lines of “why did people let this happen.” This showed me just how brutal people can be and the evil nature in us all.
Today we saw something that really made an impact on me. The Southern Poverty Law Center is the place where Alabama law goes against hate groups. In it, they have exhibits showing 40 of the people killed in the Civil Rights Movement and how they made an impact. Some of the stories were shocking, like how a young boy was killed for whistling at a white girl. It showed me the true meaning of the term “senseless violence”. I felt sort of like I did when learning about the Holocaust – along the lines of “why did people let this happen.” This showed me just how brutal people can be and the evil nature in us all.
Samantha Z.
“The power of one person can have an effect on change.”
Today we learned the stories of many individuals who greatly impacted the Civil Rights Movement. It was amazing to discover how just one person could make such an impact on so many people. For example, we learned that one woman, Rosa Parks, just because she refused to get up from her seat changed the Montgomery bus system forever. Rosa Parks was able to spark the idea of a bus boycott throughout the entire Montgomery community which eventually led to equal rights on busses for blacks. Without this one individual, the change in the bus system could have taken many more years of could have never come at all.
“The power of one person can have an effect on change.”
Today we learned the stories of many individuals who greatly impacted the Civil Rights Movement. It was amazing to discover how just one person could make such an impact on so many people. For example, we learned that one woman, Rosa Parks, just because she refused to get up from her seat changed the Montgomery bus system forever. Rosa Parks was able to spark the idea of a bus boycott throughout the entire Montgomery community which eventually led to equal rights on busses for blacks. Without this one individual, the change in the bus system could have taken many more years of could have never come at all.
Clare S.
Sitting in Shabbat services tonight, it was hard to believe I was celebrating the same holiday. Temple Beth Or has around 300 members, and their religious school (which is combined with another synagogue) has the same number of students as we are traveling with on this trip! How could this simple, wooden synagogue be at all connected to Central Synagogue? I knew it was connected when I saw the Mishkan T’filah (Reform prayer book) and the choir hidden from behind the screen began to sing Mah Tovu. The service was definitely very different. There was no cantor present and the only person on the bima was the rabbi – the only rabbi. We made up over half the congregation, and most of the service was spoken in English, not sung in Hebrew. Yet, I felt an undeniable attachment to this tiny synagogue in Montgomery. It was impossibly different, but remarkably the same. I can’t imagine having 30 kids in a K-10 religious school, but it was a Shabbat service, and it was home.
Sitting in Shabbat services tonight, it was hard to believe I was celebrating the same holiday. Temple Beth Or has around 300 members, and their religious school (which is combined with another synagogue) has the same number of students as we are traveling with on this trip! How could this simple, wooden synagogue be at all connected to Central Synagogue? I knew it was connected when I saw the Mishkan T’filah (Reform prayer book) and the choir hidden from behind the screen began to sing Mah Tovu. The service was definitely very different. There was no cantor present and the only person on the bima was the rabbi – the only rabbi. We made up over half the congregation, and most of the service was spoken in English, not sung in Hebrew. Yet, I felt an undeniable attachment to this tiny synagogue in Montgomery. It was impossibly different, but remarkably the same. I can’t imagine having 30 kids in a K-10 religious school, but it was a Shabbat service, and it was home.
Jake M.
Today we went to Friday night services at Temple Beth Or in Montgomery, Alabama. Though equally enjoyable, Temple Beth Or was very different than services at Central. I would compare the service today with some suburban synagogues that I have attended. While our services are laden with guitar and sing-a-long prayers, this one had much more English speaking with a lot of call and response prayers (in English). Instead of a cantor with a guitar on the bima, there was a choir set behind, away from view. When we did sing, the melodies seemed much more traditional, where as I feel ours are more upbeat. Unlike our Friday night services, nobody read from the Torah and we only opened the Ark once near the end of the service. Though the way prayers were read was different, we recited many of the same prayers that we sing at Central. Even though the style of service was different, we are similar in a much more important way – the prayers we sing.
Today we went to Friday night services at Temple Beth Or in Montgomery, Alabama. Though equally enjoyable, Temple Beth Or was very different than services at Central. I would compare the service today with some suburban synagogues that I have attended. While our services are laden with guitar and sing-a-long prayers, this one had much more English speaking with a lot of call and response prayers (in English). Instead of a cantor with a guitar on the bima, there was a choir set behind, away from view. When we did sing, the melodies seemed much more traditional, where as I feel ours are more upbeat. Unlike our Friday night services, nobody read from the Torah and we only opened the Ark once near the end of the service. Though the way prayers were read was different, we recited many of the same prayers that we sing at Central. Even though the style of service was different, we are similar in a much more important way – the prayers we sing.
Jonah V.
Today we visited two amazing museums. The first was the Southern Poverty Rights Center and the second was the Rosa Parks museum. In the evening we attended a Friday night Shabbat service at a local Synagogue. The service was short and didn't remind me of Central at all. Instead of everybody rushing out of the doors hoping to catch a cab, the members and visitors stayed for a while to get to know one another,. The southerners were so nice and some tried to have me try a new type of food. I thought it was interesting that one person out of hundreds could make a difference. Would one less person i these massive protests for freedom make a difference? I think it would. Perhaps that one person could make a statement or make an action that would change history forever. Everyone can make a difference. If you want to make a change, you as an individual can have an impact.
Today we visited two amazing museums. The first was the Southern Poverty Rights Center and the second was the Rosa Parks museum. In the evening we attended a Friday night Shabbat service at a local Synagogue. The service was short and didn't remind me of Central at all. Instead of everybody rushing out of the doors hoping to catch a cab, the members and visitors stayed for a while to get to know one another,. The southerners were so nice and some tried to have me try a new type of food. I thought it was interesting that one person out of hundreds could make a difference. Would one less person i these massive protests for freedom make a difference? I think it would. Perhaps that one person could make a statement or make an action that would change history forever. Everyone can make a difference. If you want to make a change, you as an individual can have an impact.
Noah K.
The power of one person can make a huge difference. Today at the Rosa Parks Museum, we saw the story of a woman who stood up to a bus driver and then a police man. She impacted millions of lives including mine and everyone who's reading this. She impacted not only this country, but countries around the world. She taught me an important lesson: "Even when people think it can't be overcome, with courage and the power of speech it be"
The power of one person can make a huge difference. Today at the Rosa Parks Museum, we saw the story of a woman who stood up to a bus driver and then a police man. She impacted millions of lives including mine and everyone who's reading this. She impacted not only this country, but countries around the world. She taught me an important lesson: "Even when people think it can't be overcome, with courage and the power of speech it be"
Andrew S.
Today we went to Temple Beth Or. I found it very interesting how different a synagogue in Montgomery Alabama could be from ours in New York. The first thing I noticed was how the Rabbis in our synagogue, at least for me, connected to the congregation more. Another thing thats stood out for me was that the choir was in the background, and that we have more instruments in our service. I really enjoyed my time there, though. i liked how there was a college there that was not Jewish, because it made me feel that the Synagogue was open to a lot of religions.
Today we went to Temple Beth Or. I found it very interesting how different a synagogue in Montgomery Alabama could be from ours in New York. The first thing I noticed was how the Rabbis in our synagogue, at least for me, connected to the congregation more. Another thing thats stood out for me was that the choir was in the background, and that we have more instruments in our service. I really enjoyed my time there, though. i liked how there was a college there that was not Jewish, because it made me feel that the Synagogue was open to a lot of religions.
Scott E.
Today I couldn't stop thinking about how sad but lucky I am. I am lucky because I have a grandfather who marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma Alabama and he risked his life in doing so. I am sad, though, because I never had an opportunity to meet him and experience his bravery and courage first hand. But I guarantee that he would be proud of me. This both makes me happy and sad because he lived his life amazingly but I never got to see him.
David S.
Our service at Beth Or was different than our services at central. We both use the same prayer book so the prayers ere familiar. They did a lot more responsive reading so there was less prayer. Also, the size of the community was much smaller. They have 370 members with 30 children enrolled in the Hebrew school and confirmation class. Their choir and organ were behind the bima, hidden from view. Also, although the service was shorter in length, each prayer was said much slower than I was used to. In addition, there were no other instruments. As for the architecture, it looked more modern compared to our Synagogue,
Austin O.
Services at Central and at Beth Or have major similarities and differences. Allow me to indulge you in a period of compare and contrast, Both synagogues are Reform and use the same Siddur, Mishkan T'Filah. Both congregations have New York Rabbis and conduct services in both english and hebrew. However there are drastic difference between the two that must be made clear. There are no instrument played while at central we use many such as the guitar all the time. Also, at Beth Or, the choir is hidden, while at Central they are on the bima. Also, it was interesting to experience a small service with about 50 people in the audience rather than the massive 300-400 person service at Central. I was also stricken by the friendly and inquisitive nature of the congregants. At the oneg, everyone was asking us questions and giving us advice on how to travel in the south. At central, people are in too big of a rush to get taxis after services to engage in conversations of this nature. I can honestly say that I enjoyed my southern synagogue experience.
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