Every other year at Passover, my family would pitch our traditional Maxwell House Haggadah—anyone else remember those?—in favor of my aunt and uncle’s more modern haggadah, which drew connections between the story of Passover and recent history. And each night, after the afikomen had been found and consumed, we’d conclude the seder with a recording of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Not all of my relatives were fans of hearing the dynamic speaker’s voice over and over again—but I loved it. He’d been assassinated years before my parents ever met, and yet I developed a deep admiration for the brave man who had spoken out against racism and so many other injustices.
Okay, so Passover is over two months away, but Monday, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, some of us will sleep in, grateful for the day off work; others will revel in faster-than-usual commutes—how many of us will actually reflect on the great leader’s life and work?
Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated for basic human rights. In fact, his work during the Civil Rights Movement was much like our Federation’s own work today, caring for Jews in need, engaging with the community, and ensuring the Jewish future. Martin Luther King, Jr. cared for his brothers and sisters in need, whose rights were being squandered because of the color of their skin. He engaged with the greater community through powerful speeches and peaceful demonstrations. And he tried to ensure a better future for the black people by bringing them justice.
While racial equality was at the forefront of his social activism, King was also a huge proponent of Israel, often speaking out on Israel’s need to protect itself as a pathway to peace.
The Holy Land aside, it’s easy to see why so many Jews participated in the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout history, the plights of Jews and African-Americans have had some striking parallels. According to the Book of Exodus, the Jews were once slaves in Egypt, and black slavery persisted in the U.S. for years, even after the Thirteenth Amendment was signed in 1865. European Jews once endured the shame of storefronts publicly prohibiting them from shopping and dining in gentile establishments, while the racial segregation in the 1960s kept blacks from entering white-only soda shops, restrooms, and public pools.
It’s true that we’ve come a long way from our Pre-Civil Rights Era ways. Some might argue that on the topic of racism, Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream came true. We no longer have segregated buses, drinking fountains, and restaurants—and we just elected our first black president to his second term. But each year, news springs up of segregated high school proms in the South. Hate crimes persist every day. Racial slurs are still made and swastikas continue to appear on synagogue walls, right in our own community. Something is still very much amiss; there is still work to be done.
Thankfully, our Federation’s work mirrors many aspects of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream. Through a variety of impactful programs supported by our generous donors, we promote a greater understanding of the Jewish people and of Israel through our Community Engagement strategic initiative.
So whether you plan on attending L.A.’s Kingdom Day Parade this Saturday, or you’re heading out of town for a much-needed 3-day weekend, I hope you’ll take a moment to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., who was not afraid to be our visionary. After all, he was speaking for all of us when he so eloquently said, “we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’”
For more information on how you can help honor Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and make a difference with The Jewish Federation’s Community Engagement strategic initiative, please visit www.JewishLA.org/CE.
Jenny Platt is a copywriter for Jewish Federation Los Angeles.
