A Friday night synagogue service brought smiles to those attending as winners of the annual Martin Luther King Scholarship awards were highlighted. The head of the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas called the awards service something she looks forward to.
Eight high school students from public, private, and parochial schools in the St. Thomas-St. John District took turns reading the essays they wrote in response to a question. They were asked if given a chance to speak with King, what would they say about his vision of a nation made up of many different people living in peace and equality.
Rabbi Julia Margolis had assumed leadership over the synagogue in 2023 just before the King Day service was to take place. “This specific Shabbat is a time to envision the world as it could be,” she said.
Margolis also stressed the message of peace in light of the ceasefire agreement reached Friday between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Synagogue president Marilyn Blackhall said she could not be more pleased with those keeping King’s legacy alive with their thoughts and words. “I’d like to express our pride in honoring our students,” Blackhall said.
And having recited Friday Shabbat prayers in word and in song, the congregation turned their attention to the pulpit as each of the honorees read their winning essays. Each one had a different take on how King’s vision could solve today’s challenges.
Yazmeen Turner from All Saints Cathedral School wanted to see efforts to curtail an epidemic of loneliness; Laila Carter from CAHS called for greater mental health awareness among her generation. Nadjah Jn Phillip from Gifft Hill School said discouraging negative images of minority groups could lead to greater equality;
Eudora Kean H.S. ‘s Helova Mathurin read an essay promoting mutual understanding. “Building understanding helps people connect and work together,” she said.
Jessica Joshi from Sts. Peter and Paul School evoked three pillars: justice, education, and community empowerment; Temple-Ahrie Baptiste from St. Thomas-St. John 7th Day Adventist School said society could improve by reading more and logging on less.
But there were also some sobering thoughts expressed in the essays of Saba Gever Alemu from Antilles School and Stanley Trotman from Peter Gruber International Academy.
“Many were taught that the civil rights movement solved these problems. However, the reality is far more complex,” Gever Alemu said.
And Trotman used his words economically; if he could speak to King today about his dream of equality and peace his message would be blunt: “Unfortunately, your dream of justice, peace, and equality is still a dream,” he said.
For their efforts, each student received $500 and a copy of the book “Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Jewish Community” by Rabbi Marc Schneier.
University of the Virgin Islands President Safiyah George served as the keynote speaker.
