In 1966 Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “To ignore evil is to be an accomplice to it.” In 2024 I experienced something I had never felt before and couldn’t ignore – I sensed evil in the air!
The Baltimore Jewish Council’s (BJC) and The Associated’s Civil Rights Journey started in Atlanta on Sunday, September 15, and ended in Montgomery, Alabama on Wednesday, September 18.
The last night of our four-day journey, I felt it. It hit hard after dinner while walking past the Montgomery railroad terminal where people who were taken from Africa ended their journey, then passing the historic buildings on Commerce Street where they were “warehoused” until they were taken to the Court Square Circle to be auctioned off to become slaves (the City of Montgomery’s historical marker at the circle reads – the “Historic hub for business in Montgomery”)! The spirit of evil was pervasive.
These are the experiences of our journey that sharpened that sense:
Since our trip, I’ve reflected on how many similarities there are between the African American experience and our Jewish communal history. The dehumanization experienced in Kelly Ingram Park evoked photos I’ve seen of Jews cleaning gutters under the watch of Nazis in the late 1930’s. The railroad transport to forced labor was similar to the Holocaust experience. The Pettus Bridge/Selma to Montgomery March reminded me of the Death Marches just before concentration camp liberations. The Birmingham Church bombing was a clear act of terrorism similar to the challenges we face today. And, the holograms in the holding cells at the museum spoke like the 101 remaining hostages in Gaza crying to me for help.
As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, I’m reminded of three of Dr. King’s quotes:
Many agencies of The Associated offer substantive and impactful opportunities to volunteer your time, talent or treasure in service of others – both within our Jewish community (in Baltimore and Israel) and our neighbors throughout the Baltimore region. The civil rights mission reinforced my commitment to double down on the call to service. Hopefully, you will be inspired to answer the call on the National Day of Service on January 20 and beyond.
The Associated is a home for everyone in the Baltimore Jewish community. We offer several email lists to help people find a community, engage with their peers and support Jewish journeys around the world.
Join Our Mailing ListSign up for our newsletter
The Associated is a home for everyone in the Baltimore Jewish community. We offer several email lists to help people find a community, engage with their peers and support Jewish journeys around the world.
Join Our Mailing List