Heschel on King

Rabbi Abraham Heschel speaking upon the death of MLK, Jr.:

"Martin Luther King is a sign that God has not forsaken the United States of America. God has sent him to us...his mission is sacred...I call upon every Jew to hearken to his voice, to share his vision, to follow in his way. The whole future of America will depend upon the influence of Dr. King."

My eyes almost bugged out of my head when I read that last sentence.

King's vision was not just that African Americans and other minorities have equal opportunity in civil space--i.e. an end to discrimination--although it included that as I guess a first step.

His real dream was for Americans to love each other and overcome the history of Indian genocide, slavery, hatred between Protestant and Catholic, Christian versus Jew, religious and secular .

To overcome not just discrimination in the exterior structures of our world, but racism in the inner sanctum of our hearts.