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Rev. King and the Jews

The observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday will honor Rev. King for his powerful voice against racism and for civil rights.

Many American Jews were at Dr. King’s side, working to eradicate the racism that had tarnished the American landscape for more than 200 years. Dr. King returned the favor to his Jewish brethren as an important ally in the fight against anti-Semitism and for a secure Israel.

Stuart Appelbaum, a vice president of the AFL-CIO and president of the Jewish Labor Committee, came across a letter written by Dr. King in September, 1967, responding to strongly worded anti-Zionist resolutions at a black leadership conference.

“Israel’s right to exist as a state is incontestable,” Dr. King wrote. He then added, almost prophetically, “At the same time the great powers have the obligation to recognize that the Arab world is in a state of imposed poverty and backwardness that must threaten peace and harmony.”

We can only speculate how King, had he lived, might have helped heal the divisions between Jews and blacks — or even contributed to peace in the Middle East.

Copyright © 2012 by the Intermountain Jewish News




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