The Temple Bombing

Woodruff Arts Center
1280 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30309

The explosion that ripped through the wall of The Temple, Atlanta's oldest synagogue, in October of 1958, shook the city -- and the country -- to its very core, revealing yet another important battlefront in the war for civil rights while creating a precarious path for change. Inspired by real events and Melissa Fay Greene's multi-award-winning book, The Temple Bombing shines a light on the courage of Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, a friend and colleague of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., who spoke out against segregation, despite the well-founded fears of his Southern Jewish congregation that they would face violent reprisal. But in the wake of the attack and the resulting national outrage, Atlanta leaders resolved to find and bring the bombers to justice, pulling the city closer together. This world-premiere play celebrates The Temple's 150th anniversary as it explores this important, though little-known chapter in Atlanta history.