WATCH: Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. - How his prophetic friendship with Heschel transformed the civil rights movement and Jewish-Christian relations

In this ALL ISRAEL Feature video, discover the extraordinary bond between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, whose prophetic friendship transformed both the civil rights movement and Jewish-Christian relations. From marching at Selma to standing for Israel, explore how their alliance showed the world what moral courage looks like. A timely reminder of the power of interfaith friendship in the face of hatred.

Watch the video above or read the transcript below.

Shalom, I'm Kayla Sprague for ALL ISRAEL NEWS. As America commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we in Israel reflect on him as a man who wasn't just a civil rights leader, but a true friend of the Jewish people and a steadfast supporter of Israel's right to exist.

"Peace for Israel means security," Dr. King declared in 1968, "and we must stand with all our might to protect her right to exist." These weren't just diplomatic pleasantries - they reflected King's deep understanding of Israel's struggles and the Jewish people's right to self-determination. He recognized that anti-Zionism often masked deeper prejudices, famously stating, "When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You're talking anti-Semitism."

But perhaps less known is King's profound friendship with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the most influential Jewish theologians of the 20th century. Heschel, who escaped Nazi Europe just months before the Holocaust claimed his mother and sisters, became not just King's ally but his spiritual brother in the fight for human dignity.

Their first meeting at a 1963 conference on religion and race sparked an extraordinary partnership. When they marched together at Selma in 1965, Rabbi Heschel later said he felt his "legs were praying." Together, they showed how faith could be a force for justice. King and Heschel shared platform after platform, speaking out not just for civil rights but for Soviet Jews and against the Vietnam War. Their friendship demonstrated what true allyship looks like - standing together not just when it's convenient, but when it matters most.

This friendship carried immense significance for the Jewish people. Rabbi Heschel saw in King something profound, declaring, "Where in America today do we hear a voice like the voice of the prophets of Israel? Martin Luther King is a sign that God has not forsaken the United States of America. God has sent him to us. His presence is the hope of America." He praised King as "a truly great prophet," someone who refused "to remain silent behind the safe security of stained glass windows" and was "forever seeking to make the great ethical insights of our Judeo-Christian heritage relevant in this day and in this age."

Here was one of America's greatest moral leaders, a Christian minister, who understood that supporting Jewish self-determination in Israel wasn't just about politics - it was about justice. King's support wasn't tepid or conditional - it was principled and unwavering.

Today, in the aftermath of October 7th, we understand more than ever the importance of true allies. As we face a surge of antisemitism worldwide, King's moral clarity rings especially true. His words remind us that you cannot claim to fight for justice while denying Israel's right to exist.

We too have a dream - that one day, people of all faiths and backgrounds will acknowledge what Dr. King recognized: that the Jewish people have the right to exist in dignity and security in their ancestral homeland. King understood that Israel's cause was not separate from the universal cause of human dignity - it was essential to it.

Today, as the nation of Israel faces new challenges, we remember Dr. King's legacy not just as a civil rights leader, but as a man who understood that standing with Israel meant standing for justice itself. His example reminds us that true allies speak the truth even when it's difficult, stand firm even when it's costly, and recognize that Israel's security is inseparable from the cause of justice worldwide.

Thank you for watching this video, and please subscribe to this channel and visit us at allisrael.com for more Israel-related content. For ALL ISRAEL NEWS, I'm Kayla Sprague.