NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Continuing a long standing tradition, The Coalition for Mutual Respect will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a community-wide dinner and Sabbath service to be held at Temple Israel of New Rochelle, Friday, January 17. The dinner, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. will be followed by the service at 7:30 p.m.
The event, attended by people of all faiths, will feature Rev. Michael J. Rouse of St. Catherine AME Zion Church in New Rochelle as guest speaker. The choir from St. Catherine AME Zion Church will participate in the service which will be conducted by Rabbi Scott Weiner, Rabbi Beth Nichols and Cantor Tanya Greenblatt of Temple Israel.
Rabbi Emeritus Amiel Wohl will welcome clergy and other significant guests at the dinner. Participants in the dinner celebration include community leaders as well as young people from various schools who have been invited to read selections from Dr. King’s writings
Pre-registration by name is required for dinner reservations. The cost for adults is $25 each while young people attend without cost. However, attendees are urged to include donations to cover the youth dinners. A portion of the donations will also be given to feed the hungry. Reservations for dinner are mandatory but all are invited to the Sabbath service.
Reservations for the dinner can be made by calling the Temple at 914-235-1800 or by mailing a check, made payable to the Coalition for Mutual Respect, to Temple Israel of New Rochelle, 1000 Pinebrook Blvd., New Rochelle, NY 10804.
The Coalition for Mutual Respect, now in its 35th year was formed in 1979 as a Black Jewish dialogue. Reverend Vernon Shannon of St. Catherine AME Zion Church and Rabbi Amiel Wohl, then Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel of New Rochelle, both involved community leaders, joined forces and after several meetings with members of each congregation, the focus shifted from international to local problems with an emphasis on developing specific projects and an interchange of congregational events, all designed to enhance mutual respect. This continues with Reverend Michael Rouse, successor to Reverend Shannon, who now serves as Co-Chairman with Rabbi Wohl.
