Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
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"Our tradition says that 3 million Israelites left Egypt on foot, yet we know only a handful of the names of the righteous resisters, organizers, and spokespeople who effected our liberation from Egypt. Many more of the names of the heroes of the civil rights movement we celebrate this weekend are known to us: Claudette Colvin, Bayard Rustin, Fannie Lou Hamer, along with dozens of other organizers, activists, and thinkers. But many of those names are unknown, or not counted among the heroes. This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let’s hold in our memories the unnamed millions of heroes of a movement that changed our country and the world, who the Rev. King was privileged to represent. Although none of us is Moses and none of us is the Rev. King, may we yet live up to the memories and legacies of those known and unknown who walked before us in justice, the midwives of redemption.” Rabbi Ariann Weitzman. According to AMERICORPS, "MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities." We encourage you to take that concept one step further, and use this day as a point of reflection and inflection when we think about what each of us can do to continue to improve our communities. Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is not a one-day event. The day is an entry point to learn about and discuss various issues, and an opportunity to get re-energized so we can keep working. Here are some online opportunities to engage:
Judaism and Justice: A Morning of Meaningful Learning in Honor of MLK Day
UJA Federation, in partnership with the The Shalom Hartman Foundation, is sponsoring a virtual slate of sessions from 9am to 12pm that will discuss communal responsibility, Dr. King's powerful writing as seen through the lenses of Jewish text and thought, wellness as seen in Torah and in the social justice sphere, how we can comfort the ill, bereaved, and socially isolated right now, and racial disparities in the healthcare system. Click HERE to register.
The Riverdale Y is hosting two sessions in the afternoon:
Food Justice, 3pm - Join teams from the NW Bronx Food Justice Project and the Riverdale Y Senior Center as they discuss what they are doing to address food insecurity and how the community can get involved. Click HERE to register.
Climate and Environmental Justice Workshop, 4pm
Join a conversation with local representatives from the Jewish Climate Action Network (JCAN) and other Riverdale climate and environmental advocates to explore new laws and opportunities for action, as well as find out what you can do locally to support composting, recycling, and other ways to care for the environment during the pandemic. Click HERE to register.