Purim affirms Esther’s stand against official silencing, abuse of power, misogyny and anti-Semitism. At first an outsider, Queen Esther used her insider power to reveal and thwart official hatred that threatened Jewish life and safety. We celebrate one woman’s courageous cunning to right grievous wrongs within corrupt systems. The archetype of heroic woman standing against hatred continues to call out every society still wrestling with official misogyny, power abuses and silencing. For every official silencing and every threat to equality and freedom, may we all live the lesson of Esther and all who stand in her shoes: “Nevertheless, she persisted.” . . .
Contributor(s): Marcia Prager, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jack Kessler
Categories:  Modern, MLK Shabbat | Tags:  United States, social justice, civil rights, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Hafatarot, Cantillized readings in English, צדק צדק תרדוף tsedek tsedek tirdof 
These quotations from Dr. King’s speeches were edited by Rabbi Marcia Prager and set to Haftarah Trop by Hazzan Jack Kessler. This adaptation was first published in Kerem (Fall 2014), in Jack Kessler’s article, “English Leyning: Bringing New Meaning to the Torah Service.” . . .
Contributor(s): Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Martin Luther King, Jr. and David Evan Markus
Categories: Modern, MLK Shabbat | Tags: United States, social justice, civil rights, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Hafatarot, Cantillized readings in English, צדק צדק תרדוף tsedek tsedek tirdof 
In 2017, Rabbi David Evan Markus prepared the end of Dr. King’s famous speech read at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (August 28, 1963) with trope (t’amim, cantillation). The following year on Facebook he shared a recording of the reading hosted on Soundcloud. Rabbi Markus writes, “This weekend at Temple Beth El of City Island, I offered the end of Dr. King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, which I set to haftarah trope because I hold Dr. King to be a prophet. When my community applauded, I offered President Obama’s response, ‘Don’t clap: vote.’ And do more than vote: organize, donate, volunteer, help, heal, advocate. Only then, in Dr. King’s words quoting Isaiah 40:5, will ‘all flesh see it together.'” . . .
Prayer delivered by Rabbi Uri Miller, President of the Synagogue Council of America, at the March on Washington, August 28, 1963 . . .
Selections from speeches and letters by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. read in ecumenical services for Martin Luther King Day in the United States. . . .
Contributor(s): Abe Katz (translation) and Isaac Goldstein
Categories: Mourning, Washington's Birthday (3rd Monday of February) | Tags: 19th century C.E., United States, acrostic, Presidents Day, emancipation, civil rights, 57th century A.M., Memorial prayers, Eulogies, Abraham Lincoln, American Jewry of the United States, Prayers in honor of leaders 
Exalted are you Lincoln. Who is like you! You were highly respected among Kings and Princes. All that you accomplished you did with a humble spirit. You are singular and cannot be compared to anyone else. Who among the great are like Lincoln? Who can be praised like you? . . .
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