Torah thread for this day:
"Early morning, April 4 Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life. They could not take your pride" (from the U2 song Pride in the Name of Love.

On April 3, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr gave his final speech and iconic speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop." The speech was for the Memphis Sanitation workers who were on strike. In the speech, King challenges the United States to live up to its ideals.

At the end of the speech, he discusses the possibility of an untimely death and the next day on April 4, he was killed.
Today we read from the Torah portion Tzav, which means command.

The first commandment in this week's Torah Portion is for the priests to light an aish tamid a fire on the altar that is not allowed to be extinguished, an eternal flame. This eternal light is a symbol of holiness.

I can't help but think of King and his commitment to eternal hope and truth. King shared his inner light with the world. He longed for peace, justice, and wholeness in our society.

And just like the priests are commanded to light an eternal flame on the altar, an eternal flame shines brightly and forever at the gravesite of Dr. King. Shabbat Shalom and remember to let your light shine brightly and never let anyone extinguish it.