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Beth David’s involvement in the American civil rights movement dates back to our founding more than 75 years ago and mirrors the Reform movement’s goal to create a more just world. In addition, 2025 marks these milestones: the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, the 60th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march to protest Black voter suppression, the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act and the 40th anniversary of the Martin Luther King holiday observance. In that spirit, Beth David is pleased to offer an opportunity to join Cantor Goodlev on a lifelong learning journey to Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma and Birmingham to explore the places where the American civil rights movement took wing and meet and learn from some of those involved! And, as part of our celebration of these events and our recognition that the fight for racial equality is not over, we will be presenting programming throughout 2025 relating to these issues and how Beth David can renew its commitment as a champion of civil rights. We’re sharing the details of the trip now because advance reservations and preparations are required. Look for additional information on programming and registration coming soon to your inbox.
The trip begins in Atlanta and runs from Saturday, November 8 though Tuesday afternoon November 11, finishing either in Birmingham, Alabama or in Atlanta depending on the flight arrangements you make back to Philadelphia. It is organized and run by Etgar 36, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization which has specialized in these trips for years.
Click here for our tentative Etgar 36 itinerary, which will be supplemented by a private Beth David reception on Saturday evening.
DETAILS
Trip dates: Saturday, November 8 to Tuesday, November 11. Travel: Travel to Atlanta and back from Atlanta or Birmingham is on your own. Trip activities will begin on the evening of Saturday, November 8 with a private reception at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta. There is plenty to do in Atlanta but if you are making flight arrangements and want to arrive just in time for the reception, we estimate it will be at around 6 p.m. What’s included: The portion of the trip provided by Etgar 36 begins Sunday morning in Atlanta. You can stay anywhere you like in Atlanta Saturday evening on your own, but we’ve booked a block of rooms at the Marriott Marquis at a group rate of $209 per room plus tax.
The cost outlined below includes all lectures and admission fees, all travel throughout the South, the services of Etgar 36’s guide, the Saturday evening reception, two nights of hotels (Sunday and Monday), Sunday lunch and dinner, Monday breakfast and lunch, Tuesday breakfast and lunch, a security guard to accompany us, and snacks and water on our bus. Dinner Monday night is on your own in Birmingham. Who can attend: Any member of Beth David and immediate family members aged 12 and older are invited. (We are told that portions of the trip are difficult and likely not suitable for those younger than 12. Those ages 12 – 15 should have an adult who accompanies them.) We need 20 participants to run the trip with a maximum of 50 permitted. If you would like to invite someone who is neither a member of our community nor an immediate relative, please let us know and if we have room we will attempt to accommodate them.
Cost: The trip will be $1,065/person if we have 25 participants. The tuition increases to $1,205/person if we have only 20 – 24 participants. This includes hotel accommodations for Sunday and Monday, based on double occupancy. There’s a $205 single room supplement although we can work with you to pair participants to avoid that. In addition, there will be a $100/person security fee to have a security officer with us at all times. We will also be requesting that you contribute to a fund to provide gratuities to our bus driver, guide and security officer. We will have some scholarships available so if cost is a problem, please let us know and we will try to help. We want everyone interested to come!
Questions: Many questions specific to the trip are answered on the FAQ portion of the Etgar website, found here. If you have other questions contact our Past President, Louis Bricklin, who will be one of the trip coordinators. You can reach Louis at louis.bricklin@gmail.com or 215-205-8418. Our second coordinator is Bill Madway, co-chair of Beth David’s Social Action Committee.
Registration and payment: * Registration is now open. *Click on link below. We require a $500/person deposit at the time of registration. Registration will conclude on May 31 and full payment will be required by that date. However, your payments are refundable through August 1. After that date all payments become non-refundable as final payment will have to be made to Etgar 36 and it offers no refunds after that date. We hope to see you for these wonderful learning opportunities and to join in community with other Beth David members. Be certain to look for our emails about Beth David programming surrounding our journey and our community’s commitment to a more just world in which to live.
* REGISTRATION LINK: https://bdavid.shulcloud.com/civilrights2025
Louis Bricklin and Bill Madway, co-coordinators