By: Andrew Coen
For the second year in a row, Temple Israel of Lawrence and the greater Long Island Jewish community will pay tribute to the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in formal commemoration ceremonies.
The event is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the temple, 140 Central Ave. in Lawrence, and is expected to be the largest gathering of Jewish organizations commemorating the life's work of Dr. King.
During last year's commemoration, also led by Temple Israel, about 20 synagogues and temples throughout Nassau County, including Orthodox, conservative, reform and reconstructionist congregations, along with three African-American churches, participated. About 400 Jews and African-Americans were on hand for the program, which was described as both inspirational and emotional.
"The message must be reinforced that all hyphenated people, whether African-American or American Jews, have the same needs and concerns and that we have to work together for the sake of our peoples and our nation to realize the dreams that Dr. King spoke of, which were nothing less than the universal dreams of the prophets," said Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, spiritual leader of Temple Israel.
Rosenbaum said he hopes the event can also unite different segments of the Jewish community. "It's my goal to use this event to help bring together the diverse elements of the Jewish community of the Five Towns and to show that what happens to one Jew anywhere affects all Jews everywhere," said Rosenbaum.
After greetings from Ambassador Alon Pinkas, the consulate general of Israel, the keynote speaker will be Israel Singer, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, president of the Claims Conference and chairman of the International Jewish Committee on Inter-Religious Consultations. The other speakers will be the Rev. Victor Hall, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica, Queens, and a leading social activist, along with William E. Rapfogel, executive director of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty.
Remarks will also be given by Rabbi Rosenbaum and Rabbi Marc Schneier, author of "Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jewish Community."
"This is truly a program that speaks of unity and diversity, exhibited by the fact that two of my speakers are Orthodox," said Rosenbaum, referring to Singer and Rapfogel. "We are both fortunate and honored to have such a distinguished group of guest speakers celebrate Dr. King's life."
Among the many participating organizations for the event are the American-Jewish Committee, Long Island Chapter; the Anti-Defamation League, New York Region; the Conference of Jewish Organizations of Nassau County; the Jewish Community Center of the Greater Five Towns; the Long Island Board of Rabbis; the Metropolitan Council on Poverty; the National Council of Jewish Women, Peninsula Section; the New York Board of Rabbis; the UJA Federation-New York; and the World Jewish Congress.
There will be many rabbis taking part from synagogues across the area, in addition to Temple Israel. They include Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence, Young Israel of Woodmere, Temple Hillel in North Woodmere, the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach, Temple Beth El of Cedarhurst, Reconstructionist Congregation Beth Emeth of Hewlett, Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, Temple Emanu-El of Lynbrook, East Meadow Jewish Centre, Plainview Jewish Center, the Reform Congregation of Merrick, Temple Avodah in Oceanside, Oceanside Jewish Centre, Central Synagogue of Nassau County, Merrick Jewish Centre, Wantagh Jewish Center, Congregation Mount Sinai in Brooklyn, Hillcrest Jewish Center in Queens, Temple B'nai Sholom in Rockville Centre, Young Israel of Oceanside, Jewish Center of Island Park, Temple Sinai of Merrick and Congregation Ohav Sholom of Merrick.
"We have synagogues from all denominations represented," said Rabbi Rosenbaum.
For further information on the event, call (516) 239-1140.
