Together they share in the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
New Jersey Assembly Member Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood) joined the Moriah School as it visited the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The visit was a day-long program using the lessons of the Holocaust and other instances of human rights abuses to teach tolerance and civil rights. Assembly Member Johnson gave the keynote address, focusing on the historical connection between the African American and Jewish communities to reinforce the continuing need to jointly combat anti-Semitism and racism.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is a global human rights organization confronting anti-Semitism, hate and terrorism, promoting human rights and dignity, standing with Israel, defending the safety of Jews worldwide and teaching the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations. The Museum of Tolerance New York challenges visitors to confront bigotry and racism, and to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts.
Assembly Member Gordon Johnson joined Moriah’s middle school students as they engaged in museum’s exhibits such as “The Power of Words” and “The Power of Images,” which each demonstrate to the students the ability to use one’s inner resources for either positive or negative applications, and the responsibility and consequences of the choices one makes. Assembly Member Johnson also joined Moriah’s tour of an exhibit about civil rights, led by Holocaust survivor Sami Steigman, and another tour facilitated by Moriah parent, Englewood resident and Museum docent Tami Volodarsky.
“I want to commend both the Moriah School and Assembly Member Gordon Johnson for their laudable efforts to teach the next generation of Englewood’s Jewish community youth the importance of the bridges that bond the African American and Jewish communities in their historic quest to protect civil and human rights. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is dedicated to the mission of confronting all forms of bigotry, stereotyping and hate, and I can think of no better way to celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. than teaching the lessons of today’s program,” said Michael Cohen, Eastern Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
“Standing with Englewood’s Moriah School and teaching the next generation of our youth the importance of tolerance and acceptance is a true celebration of both Englewood’s diversity and the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The African American and Jewish communities are stronger when together we understand the discrimination we have each faced, and, more importantly, our true ability to overcome.” said Assembly Member Gordon Johnson.
“Visiting the Simon Wiesenthal Center both further expanded the students’ knowledge of the Civil Rights Era, which they have studied at Moriah for the past month, but also opened their eyes to prevailing injustices within our world.” said Rachel Schwartz, Moriah School Middle School English Department Chair who organized the school’s visit.
