Why have Jews been disproportionately drawn to movements seeking greater justice, equality, and a better life for all Americans?

Please join us for a fantastic opportunity to consider this question as we explore the valuable contributions made by American Jews to various social justice movements in the United States with Dr. Reena Sigman Friedman. Together, we will examine excerpts from the speeches or writings of American Jewish social justice trailblazers, which offer insights into their ideas, visions, motivations, and accomplishments.

We will learn about Jewish suffragists, abolitionists, feminists, environmentalists, labor leaders, civil rights activists, and pioneers in healthcare advocacy, gay rights, and immigrant rights.

Among Dr. Friedman’s former students are Rabbi Jake and Dr. Emily Bengels, CKS congregant.

Emily says of Dr. Friedman, her dissertation advisor:

"…[Dr.] Friedman is devoted to keeping the humanity in each bit of history…Never one to present a topic in black and white…She is encouraging and allows out-of-the-box thinking…Every so often, if you're lucky, you meet a mentor who inspires you to learn more, know more, create more, and be more... Reena was and continues to be all of that (and so much more!) for me."

Rabbi Jake says of Dr. Friedman, who supervised his independent research on his grandfather’s years in British Mandate Palestine:

“One of Reena’s greatest skills as an educator is in choosing and presenting engaging primary sources and cultural artifacts that bring the material to life. Her presentation is always engaging and informative, and she excels in drawing connections between the world of our predecessors and our present moment. But above all, her biggest strengths are her passion for exploring our history and for teaching, and her warmth and respect for her students.”