February is Black History Month, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy are being celebrated with events across our area.

The Shireinu Choir of Long Island and the Free Will Baptist Church Mass Choir sang together as a tribute to the civil rights leader at the Lake Success Jewish Center on Sunday, February 5. The two choirs joined voices to sing several songs to honor King’s legacy, including Matisyahu’s popular “One Day” and very spiritual “Total Praise” by Richard Smallwood. The synagogue was filled to capacity, and all in attendance were caught up in the emotion of the performance, singing and clapping along with the vocalists.

The atmosphere was uplifting and purposeful while remembering the prominent civil rights leader.

The event, Standing Together as a Community, also featured Dr. Anael Alston, a nationally recognized awardwinning educator. In these times where it is perceived that our world seems fractured, Alston called upon the audience to ask themselves to reach out to one another, referencing a quote from Dr. King which is so true today : “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

Deborah Tartell, Shireinu Choir’s conductor, remarked “Music has been called the universal language for a good reason. It allows everyone to express their desire for a better world without regard to religion or politics. The shared appreciation of the beauty in the song is a powerful force in bringing people together.”
Reverend La Christa Brown said the afternoon was joyous, and the combination of both choirs’ voices rising to the heavens brings us together. “No matter what language we speak, where we come from, or what color we are, music proves: We are the same. We are one,” shares Reverend Brown.

Event organizer Judy Liman recalls that the late Dr. King often visited churches and synagogues in the fight for social justice, including religious institutions in our local area. “The alliance of African Americans and Jews together, standing up for and with one another is the perfect weapon to combat antisemitism and racism,” Liman said.

Roger Tilles, Board Regent of New York State, local clergy and government dignitaries were also in attendance to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King. Among those present were Assemblyperson Gina Sillitti, Legislator Mazi Pilip, Councilperson Veronica Lurvey, Former Town of North Hempstead supervisor and current Suffolk deputy county executive Jon Kaiman, and Great Neck Public School District Trustees Rebecca Sassouni and Jeffrey Shi.

Rabbi Michael Klayman of the Lake Success Jewish Center delivered the invocation, Rabbi Gordon Yaffee of the L’Dor V Dor Oakland Jewish Center shared a prayer for our country, and Reverend LaChrista Brown of the Free Will Baptist Church delivered the Benediction.
The concert was also a fundraiser for two charities: the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County and the St John’s Baptist Church of Westbury Food Pantry.