Times of Challenge
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
鈥擬artin Luther King Jr. Strength to Love (1963)
Last Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the rabbinical school went to Union Theological Seminary to learn with three special teachers. Rev. John Vaughn and Rev. Fred Davie shared their stories of having grown up black in the United States, struggling against racial bias in one case and poverty in the other. They explained how Dr. King鈥檚 leadership helped them imagine themselves as leaders and citizens who could and should help shape society. He offered them dignity and affirmed that each of us must act to achieve justice for everyone. Peter Geffen asked us what would be different at 91快播 next King Day. Would we, in a year, have done any more than just have a nice session with a few Christian leaders of color and learned a bit about Dr. King?
It鈥檚 now one year later鈥攎uch has changed, and the work is urgent. Last week, together with Chancellor Eisen and some faculty members, we studied the book of Jeremiah with black clergy and lay leaders from Harlem. This is a group that has committed to learning together regularly and expanding our membership. Julio Medina told us that the catalyst for him to create was studying Jeremiah in Sing Sing Prison. To be challenged to seek the welfare of the community where you live (Jer. 29:7), when you live in Sing Sing, was for him a call to build community anywhere, no matter who is 鈥渋n charge鈥濃�� because ultimately, each of us in charge in some way. Each of us will be judged by our leadership, or lack of it, in moments of challenge.
The challenge is here鈥攁t our feet. What will we do? How will we create durable relationships in the communities where we live and commit to standing for justice, even when鈥攅specially when鈥攊t is unpopular?
