Today, January 19, 2026, we will once again commemorate the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man whose vision for equality and justice continues to resonate across generations. His birthday is not only a day of remembrance but also a moment to recommit ourselves to the ideals he championed: justice, equality, and unity.

Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963, remains a guiding light. In it, he spoke of the “bad checks” America had written to its citizens and called for urgent action to rectify systemic wrongs. His metaphor of “hewing a stone of hope from the mountain of despair” reminds us that even in times of deep division and turbulence, hope can and must be carved out through collective effort.

Today, our society still wrestles with that mountain of despair, built from layers of systemic discrimination, the persistence of antisemitism, political tribalism, and a lack of shared responsibility. Finding stones of hope feels more complicated than ever. Yet the imperative remains: to work toward reconciliation, dismantle institutionally supported racism, antisemitism, and bigotry, and build a future rooted in mutual respect and collaboration.

For the Jewish community, this pursuit aligns with our directive from Deuteronomy: “Justice, justice, you shall pursue.”

As Rabbi Harold Kushner teaches, justice is not passive; it demands active pursuit. Even when our systems seem incomplete or unfair, each of us must strive to bring ideals closer to reality.

History offers powerful examples of this active pursuit. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marched alongside Dr. King in Selma. Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, alongside James Chaney, were murdered in the pursuit of justice. In every decade, countless others, known and unknown, from the Jewish community have dedicated their lives to this pursuit. Today, we must write a new chapter in which communities stand shoulder to shoulder against racism, antisemitism, bigotry, and xenophobia.

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us reaffirm our commitment not just in words but in action. Let us pursue justice relentlessly, create new historic moments, and ensure that freedom rings for all. In doing so, we honor Dr. King’s dream and bring it closer to reality.