Heschel-King Interfaith Service

The congregations of both the Park Avenue Christian Church and the Temple of Universal Judaism joined together for a service honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his trusted colleague and friend Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. Dr. King and Rabbi Heschel both fought for civil rights in America and interfaith relations internationally.

The 5th Annual Heschel-King Award for Interfaith Activism was awarded to Rabbi David Saperstein, the head of the Center for Religious Action of Reform Judaism in Washington, DC.

We were treated to readings of the words of Dr. King and Rabbi Heschel, the music of Reggis Harris and Rabbi Jonathan Kligler, and a call to action from Rabbi Saperstein. A special treat was a new musical work, "In Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." by Karl Jenkins, performed by Laurie Singer on cello and Andrew Adams on the church's magnificent organ.

The congregants, led by Reggie Harris and Rabbi Kligler, ended the service by joining together in a rousing rendition of "We Shall Overcome."

Rabbi Saperstein, Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor of TUJ, and I joined the congregants in the Idleman Parlor for fellowship after the service.