A rabbi from California has alleged that his invitation to lead the closing prayer at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event was withdrawn due to his associations with Israel.
Rabbi Hanan Levelman, affiliated with the Tiphareth Israel Synagogue in San Diego, shared details on Instagram about his disinvitation from the All People’s Celebration taking place in Balboa Park. He insists that his perspective aligns closely with Dr. King’s teachings, no matter how others may interpret it.
“When I agreed to participate in this event, I was fully aware that I would be sharing the stage with people who did not necessarily share my politics or ideas,” the rabbi mentioned. “For me, that is exactly the work that Dr. King called us to do: to share space with those who disagree, to look for common ground, and to recommit to the dream that all people are treated equally.”
It remains unclear who was behind the decision to remove Rabbi Levelman or when it occurred. Efforts to reach out to the event organizer, Alliance San Diego, for comment went unanswered.
Alliance San Diego describes itself as a community-focused organization aimed at fostering an inclusive democracy where everyone can contribute meaningfully.
The keynote speaker for the event will be BA Parker, who co-hosts NPR’s podcast “Code Switch,” which focuses on race and identity. This year’s theme is “Choose Courage.”
In the days leading up to the celebration, at least one leader from the organizing group emphasized the importance of unity among all Americans. Misha Rice, who serves as the Advancement Director for Alliance San Diego, stated, “Now more than ever, we must rise above our hesitations and speak out. We must assert our dignity and speak out for the truth that an attack on anyone is an attack on us all.”
