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Harvey Belovski, rabbi at Golders Green United Synagogue

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TodayÌýin the USAÌýis Martin Luther King Day.ÌýÌýRev. DrÌýMartin Luther KingÌýJn. – theÌýdriving force in ending racial segregationÌý– wasÌýawarded the 1964 Noble Peace Prize forÌýcombatting inequalityÌýand hatred.ÌýToday is the 89thÌýanniversary of King’s birth andÌýan opportunity to reflect onÌýsome remarkable episodes in his life.Ìý

ÌýIn 1965, King was a majorÌýinfluence in a series of non-violent marches from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, the state capital.Ìý The marchers wereÌýprotestingÌýdiscriminatory laws that prevented black people from voting.Ìý They garnered support from many segments of American society, including Professor A.J. Heschel, a rabbi,ÌýandÌýleadingÌýJewishÌýthinker of 20thÌýcentury. HeschelÌý– a prolific author andÌýone of my intellectual heroes –ÌýmarchedÌýwithÌýDr King and other activists and there’sÌýan iconic photographÌýtaken at SelmaÌýof King, Heschel and other faith leadersÌýwearing garlands of flowerÌýmarching arm-in-arm.ÌýÌýIt was dangerous –ÌýsomeÌýparticipantsÌýhad been hurtÌýor arrested, but HeschelÌýknew that if he was to carry his community, he needed to lead by example.Ìý The marches were a success and President Lindon Johnson pushed through legislation thatÌýdelivered voting rights to black minorities and triggered the end of segregation.Ìý

Leading by example appears in many Jewish sources.Ìý Leaders don’t often admit that they aren’t sure what to do, but they know they must act nonetheless.Ìý An ancient Jewish teaching says that the person who becomesÌýleader is notÌýnecessarilyÌýthe one who knows the way, but the one who behaves as if he or she knows it.Ìý King, Heschel and their colleagues didn’t just talk about righting an injustice, theyÌýinstinctively knew when toÌýact.Ìý

Just two years earlier, in 1963, Martin Luther King had delivered his most famous ‘I have a dream’ speech, which galvanised millions.Ìý One line really grabbed my attention:Ìý

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.Ìý

This dignified, peaceful approachÌýwas a key reason so many people were drawn to Martin LutherÌýKingÌýand why nuns, rabbis and ordinary people were willing to stand with him at Selma.Ìý And, it is why, almost 50 years after his assassination, he remains an inspiration to so many.Ìý