Honoring the Legacy of Dr. King Through Action

MLK Memorial

January is a month for reflection and introspection. While Shabbat and Tu B’Shevat (the birthday of the trees) are the Jewish holidays this month, there is another holiday many Jews celebrate as it aligns with our values. MLK Day, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, is a great way to kick off a year of volunteerism and social action. Using his example, and those of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and other civil rights leaders, is a great way to make it relevant for your kids.

Books and Story Time

To learn about the life of Dr. King and his legacy, try one of these books:

Planting for the Next Generation on MLK Day and Tu B’Shevat

Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is right and just that the legacy of Dr. King is now celebrated not with a day off but with a day ON: MLK Day of Service, the first federal holiday designated as a national day of service. This is a great opportunity to volunteer as a family to make a difference in our world, and the best way to honor and continue Dr. King’s work.

“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
—Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Ancestors), 2:21

The work of Dr. King and so many others continues today, with a new generation picking up the mantle of social justice and activism. The work is not done, but we can all participate in the process. How fitting that the MLK Day of Service (Monday, January 17th) and Tu B’Shevat (the Jewish “Birthday of the Trees,” which starts Sunday, January 16th at sundown) fall on the same day this year. Both have themes of planting the seeds (both metaphorical and literal) for future generations. There’s a story of Honi the Circle-Maker, who was flabbergasted to find an older neighbor planting a carob tree, since these trees do not bear fruit for 70 years. However, the reply he received was:

“Just as my ancestors planted for me, so I will plant for my children.”
—Babylonian Talmud Taanit 23a

As our predecessors worked for a more just world, we can do the same. See below for ideas for books to read before and after participating in community service, and a full list of MLK Day of Service opportunities. Check them out and share with us how you’re celebrating Tu B’Shevat and MLK Day of Service this year!

Service Opportunities and Religious Services

To get involved with your family, consider one of the many MLK Day of Service Opportunities in Greater Washington. All are on the third Monday in January unless otherwise noted.

Discussion to Have Before Volunteering

  1. What do we care about as individuals in our family?
  2. What do we care about as a family?
  3. What kinds of activities are we involved in that might relate to this activity?
  4. Do we have a personal connection to one of these issue areas? Is someone we love directly affected by one of these issues? (The only exception is, of course, the environment which affects all of us!)

Please make sure every member of the family gets to speak up and share during this conversation.

Additional Ideas

Additional Resources