Oral history interview with Naomi Goodman, 2000

Biographical Note

Naomi Goodman was born August 26th, 1920. She attended Ethical Culture Fieldston School and Wellesley College. An early member of Women Strike for Peace, Goodman began working with the Jewish Peace Fellowship (JPF) and the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) in the early 1960s. Goodman served as President of the Jewish Peace Fellowship for ten years. She traveled around the world to discuss peace and reconciliation, and is the editor of "The Challenge of Shalom: The Jewish Tradition of Peace and Justice." Goodman was the wife of renowned urban theorist and architect Percival Goodman. She died September 4th, 2005

Scope and Contents

Naomi Goodman begins this interview describing her early upbringing and Women Strike for Peace in the early 1960s. Goodman grew up in New York and cites the Ethical Culture Fieldston School as an early political influence. After attending Wellesley College, Goodman began working with the Friends for Democracy, married architect Percival Goodman, and had children. Goodman describes her subsequent involvement in Women Strike for Peace with Bella Abzug, including a mass demonstration outside of the Pentagon. Goodman describes her experience at the Jewish Peace Fellowship (JPF) and the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFR). Goodman was introduced to the JPF through Rabbi Martin Freedman. Goodman explains the origin and mission of JFP, founded by Rabbi Abraham Cronbach, Rabbi Arthur Lelyveld, and Jane Evans. Goodman describes the interpersonal challenges of the peace movement and researching for her book "The Challenge of Shalom." Discussed at length is the actions of the United States military, the Israeli government, Ben Gurion, and the role of American Jews in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Goodman describes her work with the Committee to End the Draft and literature released by the JPF. Goodman describes JPF's support of Israeli peace organizations such as Peace Now, her children's support of pacifism, and the Israeli draft. Goodman concludes the interview with a mention of JFP's work against capital punishment, her husband's interest in utopias, and global events

Subjects

• Arab-Israeli conflict.
• Ethical Culture Fieldston School.
• Goodman, Naomi--Interviews.
• Goodman, Percival.
• Interviews.
• Jewish Peace Fellowship (U.S.).
• Michaels, Sheila, 1939-2017, interviewer.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Pacifism.
• Peace movements--Israel--History--20th century.
• Peace movements--United States--History--20th century.
• Women Strike for Peace.