Martin Luther King Day Resources
“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land ... I still believe that we shall overcome.” --Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Noble Prize Acceptance Speech, Dec. 10, 1965
Every January, our nation honors the memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Martin Luther King Day, we have an opportunity to celebrate the strides our country has made in the ongoing struggle for civil rights and a chance to pause and reflect on all of those who sacrificed their lives for the sacred cause of equality. But this day also provides us with another opportunity: to renew our commitment to Dr. King’s audacious vision of a world in which all of God's children, blacks and whites, 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."
Genesis teaches us that we are all created b’tselem Eloheim, “in the Image of God.” Dr. King’s faith was, too, guided by this principle. The Christianity of Dr. King and the Judaism of the Reform Jewish Movement share a common vision, grounded in the Godliness of human life and committed to the pursuit of a more just society. This year, may we today find the strength to continue marching on that long road to freedom.
Religious School Assembly Ideas to Honor MLK
- Show the clip of the March on Washington and Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech" (Ten minute clip, and text of speech available under "Writings and Speeches" section of Webpage
- Read from other MLK speeches, available below
- Discuss how MLK and the Civil Rights Movement relates to the week's Parsha.
Websites and Resources about Martin Luther King, Jr.
The King Center was established by Coretta Scott King in 1968 as the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site was established in 1980 to protect and interpret the places where Dr. King was born, worked, worshipped and is buried.
The King Papers Projectis a major research effort to assemble and disseminate historical information concerning Martin Luther King, Jr. and the social movements in which he participated.
The National Civil Rights Museum exists to assist the public in understanding the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement and its impact and influence on the human rights movement worldwide, through its collections, exhibitions, research and educational programs.
The Noble Prize’s official website has both an excellent brief biography of Dr. King and a bibliography for further research.
Writings and Speeches
A Letter from Birmingham Jail (Apr. 16, 1963)
I Have a Dream (March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Aug. 28, 1963)
Video: (10 minute Real Video clip)
TextNobel Prize Acceptance Speech
A Letter from Birmingham Jail (Apr. 16, 1963)
Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, (Oslo, Norway, Dec. 10, 1964)
Beyond Vietnam, (Riverside Church, New York City, Aug. 16, 1967)
I Have Been to the Mountain Top,(Speech in support of the striking sanitation workers at Mason Temple in Memphis, TN, on Ap. 3, 1968, the day before his assassination)
Articles of Interest
The Meaning of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, by Corretta Scott King
A Special Bond: Martin Luther King, Jr., Israel and American Jewry- by Stuart Appelbaum
Programming Ideas and Resources
Examples of congregational programs for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The RAC's Civil Rights Issue Page
Consult this page for information on the Reform Jewish Movement and Civil Rights
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
This organization, led by Rabbi Marc Shneier, is devoted to strengthening relationships between ethnic communities. To download their extensive Student's Guide to Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jewish Community, click here.
Operation Understanding DC’s mission is to build a future generation of community leaders who will work to eradicate racism, anti-emitism and all forms of discrimination, and to promote respect, understanding and cooperation within their communities.
For More Information
For information on the Reform Jewish Movement and the Civil Rights, please contact Legislative Assistant Kate Bigam at 202.387.2800.
