Antioch University AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses Dissertations & Theses 2021 Applying the Present to the Past: The Experiences of Five Civil Rights Rabbis in Context of Contemporary Leadership Theory Bradley G. Levenberg Antioch University - PhD Program in Leadership and Change Follow this and additional works at: https://aura.antioch.edu/etds Part of the Jewish Studies Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons, and the Social Justice Commons Recommended Citation Levenberg, B. G. (2021). Applying the Present to the Past: The Experiences of Five Civil Rights Rabbis in Context of Contemporary Leadership Theory. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/709 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses at AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations & Theses by an authorized administrator of AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. APPLYING THE PRESENT TO THE PAST: THE EXPERIENCES OF FIVE CIVIL RIGHTS RABBIS IN CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY LEADERSHIP THEORY A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Leadership & Change Antioch University In partial fulfillment for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Bradley G. Levenberg ORCID Scholar No. 0000-0001-9727-6596 May 2021 APPLYING THE PRESENT TO THE PAST: THE EXPERIENCES OF FIVE CIVIL RIGHTS RABBIS IN CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY LEADERSHIP THEORY This dissertation, by Bradley G. Levenberg, has been approved by the committee members signed below Who recommend that it be accepted by the faculty of the Graduate School in Leadership & Change Antioch University in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Dissertation Committee: S. Aqeel Tirmizi, PhD, Chairperson Donna Ladkin, PhD, Committee Member Rabbi Samuel K. Joseph, PhD, External Reader ii Copyright © 2021 by Bradley G. Levenberg All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT APPLYING THE PRESENT TO THE PAST: THE EXPERIENCES OF FIVE CIVIL RIGHTS RABBIS IN CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY LEADERSHIP THEORY Bradley G. Levenberg Graduate School of Leadership & Change Antioch University Yellow Springs, OH This dissertation examines the experiences of five civil rights-era rabbis (William Silverman, Randall Falk, Alfred Goodman, Irving Bloom, and Burton Padoll) to highlight their contributions, leadership approaches, struggles, and achievements with a particular emphasis on social justice. As each of the rabbis dreW from their understanding of the richness of the JeWish textual canon, the study includes a survey of Biblical, Talmudic, and contemporary JeWish sources that laid the groundwork for their rabbinic activism and which compel rabbis today. The study dramatically highlights those texts as providing applicable strategies with regard to leading a congregation with a “prophetic” voice, knowing When to speak out, and how to do so, strategies that inspired—and inspire—rabbis to engage in work intended to make their communities more just and equitable. Each of the five rabbis featured in the dissertation produced vast amounts of correspondence, sermonic materials, and other writings, making archival research a particularly useful methodology to explore the volumes of primary sources and provide insight into the individual and collective experiences of these rabbis. Particular attention is further paid to context as a means of highlighting and distinguishing the choices that iv these rabbis made as leaders of and within their communities. The dissertation contributes to the leadership legacy of these rabbis by contributing neW and relevant materials to scholarship around the civil rights movement, the American JeWish experience, and the intersection of the tWo. Four contemporary leadership theories are highlighted through their experiences (Transformational Leadership Theory, Servant Leadership Theory, Relational Leadership Theory, and Courageous Leadership Theory), Which, in turn, makes current scholarship in the field of leadership and change accessible to clergy. Additional theories of leadership are also explored through these exemplars, as is the introduction of a composite theory of leadership based upon the shared experiences of these rabbis. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu/. Keywords: archival research, civil rights, leadership, leadership theory, rabbi, social justice, South, synagogue v Acknowledgements The research behind this dissertation Would not have been possible without the help of an incredibly gifted and knowledgeable set of archivists: Susan Thomas (Springhill Avenue Temple Archives), Jeremy Katz (Breman Museum Archives), Scotty Kirkland (Alabama State Archives), Leona Fleischer (JeWish Community Archives, Nashville), Cheryl Guyer (The Temple Archives), Gina Block (Temple Israel Archives), Amy Waters (State of Missouri Archives), Joe Weber (American JeWish Archives), Dana Herman (American JeWish Archives), Sam SteWart (College of Charleston Archives), Dale Rosengarten (Southern Jewish Historical Society/Center of Southern JeWish Culture), Harlan Greene (College of Charleston Archives), Josh Parshall (Institute of Southern JeWish Life). The dissertation itself is a reflection of the guidance and thoughtful suggestions of Dr. Aqeel Tirmizi, Dr. Donna Ladkin, and Rabbi Sam Joseph, PhD, Who each invested substantial hours to evolve this project at every stage of development. Their valuable insights and approach have added immeasurably to this research project and made it a very worthwhile exercise. I am at a loss for words to effectively express how appreciative and grateful I am to this assembled “Dream Team.” It is to you that this work is dedicated. The dissertation is the product of an academic journey that began with Dr. Laurien Alexandre accepting my application and Dr. Mitch Kusy giving me the thumbs-up after my intervieW for the program. You opened the door that changed my life. Thank you. And thank you as well to C-18, my cohort of peers and friends whose thoughtful contributions to my role as reflective-scholar-practitioner are evidenced on these pages. The entire academic journey Would not have been possible without the support of clergy colleagues Rabbi Ron Segal, Rabbi Sam Trief, and Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair Beth Schafer, vi Who each took on added responsibilities to enable this growth journey. Steve and Candy Berman provided substantial funding which turned this dream into a reality, as did the Endowment Committee of Temple Sinai in Atlanta. Thank you to my Sinai family! Thank you as well to my wife, Rebecca, whose presence is a daily source of strength and love and Who enables my every success and consoles me in every defeat. Ilana and Evan, thank you for your understanding, and especially for your patience, these last feW years. My hope is that, in time, this work, and this journey of continued education, Will inspire you in much the same Way that my own father’s story inspired—and inspires still—my own. vii Table of Contents ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................. 4 Why Civil Rights-Era Reform Rabbis? .................................................................................. 6 Scope: Geographical Boundary ................................................................................................ 7 Scope: Temporal Boundary ...................................................................................................... 8 Scope: Why These Rabbis? ....................................................................................................... 8 Understanding Social Justice in a Jewish Context ............................................................... 10 Positionality .............................................................................................................................. 11 Dissertation Chapters .............................................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................. 14 The Traditional Jewish Textual Canon as It Informs Perspectives of Reform Jews Regarding Social Activism ...................................................................................................... 14 Lovingkindness ..................................................................................................................... 20 Dignity of All Creatures ....................................................................................................... 20 Pursue Peace ........................................................................................................................