Paying tribute to Dr. King

Temple Israel of Lawrence hosted the eighth annual Greater Long Island Jewish Community Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemoration on Thursday night, Jan. 14. .

The keynote address for the event honoring the late civil rights leader was delivered by Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. Honored guest speakers included Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president for the New York Board of Rabbis, and Reverend Victor Hall, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica, Queens. Remarks were also delivered by Rabbi Sholom Stern, spiritual leader at Temple Beth-El of Cedarhurst.and Rabbi Steven Graber of Temple Hillel in North Woodmere. The event also included a musical tribute to Dr. King presented by the renowned Calvary Baptist Church Choir.

Numerous Jewish organizations and New York area synagogues participated in the tribute. Other participants in the commemoration included Dr. Benjamin Paterson from First Presbyterian Russell Sage Memorial Church in Far Rockaway and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) and Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights).