Rabbi Steinsaltz Draws Huge Crowd, Salutes the Memory of MLK

In a truly transcendent opportunity, more than 500 members of Ohr Kodesh and the DC Metro Jewish Community attended a memorable and moving event: a presentation by world-renowned scholar, teacher, and Talmudist, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. His presentation was entitled: Dreams of Freedom - Honoring the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Rabbi Steinsaltz was joined by Ohr Kodesh member Arthur Spitzer, who heads the Washington Metro area chapter of the ACLU at Ohr Kodesh on Monday, January 18.


By turn approachable, witty, passionate and professorial, the soft-spoken Steinsaltz made his presentation in Ohr Kodesh's social hall to the highly attentive throng. Following a very brief introduction by Rabbi Lyle Fishman, Rabbi Steinsaltz slyly thanked Rabbi Fishman for not giving a eulogy as an introduction - without a recital of his achievements, he explained, expectations for his remarks would be lower!

Rabbi Steinsaltz suggested that Dr. King was greatly influenced by the tradition of the Hebrew Bible (which Rabbi Steinsaltz apologetically referred to as "The Old Testament" since it was known by that name to King in particular and as such to Americans in general). He remarked that while Christian theology is based on mercy (he called it "offering a second cheek"), Jewish tradition is based on the concept of Justice: "Tzedek, Tzedek tirdof" he quoted from Leviticus ("Justice, Justice you shall seek!"). According to Rabbi Steinsaltz, Dr. King demanded justice for his people; in so doing, he reflected the Jewish tradition of taking action, and not simply waiting prayerfully for help.

Rabbi Steinsaltz taught that Jewish tradition demands that we obey the laws of the land in which we live, but he noted an important caveat: where the law creates inequality, it is not a law we need observe. In fact, he stated, when a law is unjust, it is our religious obligation to oppose it.

Rabbi Steinsaltz stated that while King (and Gandhi before) him were able to overcome the oppression of their peoples through non-violent protest, such a course of action can only work when the "oppressor" society is essentially just. While England and the United States were moved to change through non-violence, he opined that such could not take place in Iran today or in Nazi Germany. Sometimes, he suggested, we must do what we must do, citing both Abraham and Moses as Biblical figures who took to arms when necessary.

In his remarks, the ACLU's Spitzer suggested that non-violent protest may indeed have worked "too well," as those seeking confrontation with authority have found that the laws they must break to gain notoriety often have no relationship to the object of their protest. While activists in King's day could march because they had improperly been denied a parade permit (a clear link), or sit in a restaurant which refused to serve African Americans, today’s protestors may seek arrest by sitting on the sidewalk in front of the White House in order to publicize their opposition to a range of governmental policies unrelated to limits on movement hear the White House.

The evening was co-sponsored by Ohr Kodesh and by the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning. On behalf of PJLL, Dr. Erica Brown was on hand to greet the crowd. She announced future educational opportunities being sponsored by PJLL, including the Routes Program on Sunday, March 7. For more information, please go to pjll.org.