Israel Remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

March 8, 2007 at 10:02 am | In Face to Face, Religion |

Each year, in recognition of Black History Month the Consulate General of Israel in New York together with the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish National Fund, pays tribute to the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by honoring an individual who embodies his spirit and ideals.

This year, the honoree chosen was Reverend A.R. Bernard Sr., a popular spiritual leader and founder of the Christian Cultural Center (CCC) in Brooklyn.

The CCC was filled with the Reverend’s congregants, friends and delegates from the Israeli and Jewish organizations, who witnessed the moving collaborative performance of the CCC Choir and Israeli award-winning international soloist Ariela Kalif-Carmi.

Israel’s Consul General in New York Arye Mekel gave the keynote speech and presented Reverend A.R. Bernard Sr. with his award. Mekel characterized Reverend Bernard as a true friend of Israel. “A true friend is a friend in need,” he said. “Reverend Bernard led a group to Israel during the difficult days of the second Intifada.” Ambassador Mekel extended an invitation for the Reverend to visit Israel once more. He also mentioned the trees that will be planted in the Martin Luther King forest under his name next to trees planted for previous honorees.

In thanking the State of Israel for presenting him with this honor, Reverend A.R. Bernard Sr. gave a none too subtle reminder about the dangers of historical revisionism. “There are those today who say the Holocaust never happened. The day will come when some will say the forced transportation and enslavement of 10 million Africans to the Americas never happened,” he said.

“So we must celebrate the past. We must rehearse it in the ears of our children and the world, from generation to generation. So that History does not become Myth.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Israel is the only country, outside of the Unites States that marks Martin Luther King Day annually, with a special session in parliament.

WHY?

Because Israel chooses to embrace the legacy of Dr. King for it exemplifies values of hope and peaceful co-existence between people of diverse backgrounds.

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King were great friends to Israel and the Jewish people, both were active in the battle against anti-Semitism.

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The use of Dr. King to promote present commercial interests in Israel is not something he would have supported. Beyond the offensiveness of using him on a blog that is little more than a toursim promotional, Dr. King spent his life fighting against injustice and for equality. While he would have advocated for peace, he certainly would not have supported the Israeli government’s continued program of colonization against the Palestinians. The fact that this organ of the Israeli government uses Dr. King to advertise Israel while that same government pursues policies that promote injustice besmirches Dr. King’s memory.

Comment by Amazed — March 31, 2007
Dr. King supported Israel in its war for survival in 1967. I bet mr. Amazed did not know that. Just like he does not know that 25 % of Israel population are people of color, Asian Jews from Arab countries. Israel is not a European colonist state. And King often said to be anti Israel is to be anti semitic. Look it up. The Far right and Far left are anti Jewish. And promote ignorance. And hatred.

Comment by gil corby — June 8, 2007