MLK Day – Rabbi Jon 's Website and Blog

January 6, 2026

Brotherhood, Evolving (Parashat Shmot, MLK Weekend 5783/2023)

This is excerpted and adapted from a D’var Torah I gave in January 2023, when MLK Weekend began on Shabbat with Parashat Shmot, the opening reading in the book of Exodus. Here I’ve omitted the (long) opening, which is very similar to most of the other words I have posted about those opening chapters of… Continue reading

Civil Rights, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Equality, Ethics, Exodus, History, Inclusion, Justice, MLK Day, Moshe, Parashat Hashavua, Shmot, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Tzedek, USA, Young Jewish Adult, Youth

January 12, 2024

D’var Torah: Questioning and Certainty

This is my D'var Torah for Shabbat, Parashat Va-era, January 13, 2024. It also reminds me of a Rosh Hashanah sermon I gave in 2022/5783, "Right-ology: How To Be Right Better in the New Year" In August we went down to New York for the simchat bat celebration for our newest grandniece, and when we… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Ethics, Exodus, Gaza, Israel, Justice, Midrash, MLK Day, Moshe, Parashat Hashavua, Power, Shmot, Torah, Tzedek, Va’era, Young Jewish Adult, Youth

January 13, 2021

A New Page — USA

I just finished the first version of a new page on my site, which I'm calling simply "USA". It has sources and mostly my own reflections about American politics, racial justice, anti-Semitism, and political leadership. I will be updating it with the best links I want people to know about, and anything good I generate… Continue reading

Community Relations, Current Affairs, Election, Freedom, Hope, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Justice, Leadership, MLK Day, Peace, Rabbi, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Tzedek, USA

January 13, 2021

Rolling Waters, Mighty Stream — Exploring MLK’s Metaphor

This was my opening invocation for the annual Southern NH Outreach for Black Unity Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast on January 21, 2019. I am so honored to be invited to join you for some opening words today. My name is Jon Spira-Savett, and I serve as rabbi for the Jewish community in… Continue reading

Calendar, Community Relations, Conservative Judaism, Current Affairs, History, Holidays, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Justice, Leadership, MLK Day, Prophets, Shoftim, Theology, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Tzedek, USA

January 20, 2020

For MLK Day 2020 — Letter From Birmingham Jail

Go to my post from a couple years ago, with links to the text and to a later reading of the letter from King himself. Simply the most important teaching about what it means to be religious that I think I have ever read: https://rabbijon.net/2018/01/15/mlks-letter-from-birmingham-jail/ Continue reading

Calendar, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Ethics, Freedom, History, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Justice, Leadership, MLK Day, Peace, Prayer, Spirituality, Theology, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Tzedek, USA

March 10, 2019

The Megillah, Rep. Omar, and Where We Go From Here

This post is based on the D'var Torah I gave at services on Saturday, March 9, 2019. I also plan another post with some thoughtful articles on the topic from other sources. I always set out extra books for services in addition to the Siddurim (prayerbooks), on the cart outside the Sanctuary and in the… Continue reading

April 12, 2018

Reverend King and the Rabbis — Fifty Years Later

My D'var Torah of April 7, 2018: Fifty years ago last month, ten days before he was assassinated, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., appeared before the national convention of the Rabbinical Assembly, the annual gathering of Conservative rabbis. It turned out to be Rev. King’s last interview. He was greeted, for the first time… Continue reading

Community Relations, Conservative Judaism, Current Affairs, Freedom, Holidays, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Justice, Leadership, MLK Day, Shabbat, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA

January 15, 2018

MLK’s Letter From Birmingham Jail

"In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society…" Reading Rev. Dr. King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" should be part of our annual recognition of MLK Day. It's one of the most important… Continue reading

Calendar, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Freedom, History, Holidays, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Justice, Leadership, MLK Day, Peace, Prayer, Spirituality, Theology, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA

January 15, 2017

MLK Day 2017 — Dr King Teaches Us What Religion Ought to Be

While we all know 'I Have a Dream,' it is MLK's 1963 letter in response to clergy from jail in Birmingham that speaks most powerfully and timelessly about the meaning of religion. He wrote about churches, but I know the same words apply to synagogues as well. "On sweltering summer days and crisp autumn mornings… Continue reading

Community Relations, Current Affairs, Ethics, Freedom, Holocaust, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Justice, Leadership, MLK Day, Peace, Spirituality, Theology, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA

January 17, 2010

For Martin Luther King Day 2010

Some of the most important passages, in my mind, from Dr. King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" (1963), which I take as one of the most important religious texts of our time. Substitute synagogue for church, etc., and you'll get a flavor for how prophecy might sound to us in our day. In the midst of… Continue reading

Justice, MLK Day, Tzedek