Why MLK Day is so Important to the Jewish Community

[Behind the Aegis]

THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP!

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, Jewish communities all over the country will be participating in a “day of service” for their local communities. On Monday, January 19th, the Jewish community is honoring this secular holiday as if it was one of their own, but why is this holiday so important to the American Jewish community?

Jews like Christian’s value equality as one of their core principles. In Jewish tradition, equality is based on the concept that all of God’s children are “created in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27). Moreover, the Torah states, "Never mistreat or oppress foreigners, because you were foreigners living in Egypt.” (Exodus 22:21)

Yet, beyond our tradition, the Jewish people have a long and storied history as active participants in the fight for civil rights in America. During the early stages of the Civil Rights movement, Jews represented a disproportionate number of whites in the struggle, and were leading members of some of the most important civil right organizations, such as the NAACP. Naturally, the Jewish community feels a tremendous sense of pride when discussing the history and memory of civil rights champions such as Martin Luther King (who by the way, was a great friend to the state of Israel and the Jewish people), because they feel as if they were contributors, if not partners.


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