Shabbat Service Honors Martin Luther King Jr.

All are welcome to join online for Congregation Beth Israel's Shabbat Service honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., featuring guest speaker the Rev. Rev Dr. Gerald Durley with the joyful, pre-recorded choral music from the Northwest Freedom Singers and Beth Israel’s Kol Echad choir that is a hallmark of this annual service.

The service will be Friday, Jan.14, at 6 p.m. to honor Dr. King’s work and legacy. The link will be available at www.bethisrael-pdx.org/joinus. 

Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley

The Rev. Dr. Gerald L. Durley was born in Wichita, Kansas,  grew up in California, and graduated from high school in Denver, Colorado.  He was recruited to play basketball for Tennessee State University, where he became a student leader in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.  Upon earning a degree in psychology, Durley became one of the first U.S. Peace Corp volunteers to serve in Nigeria, after which he relocated to Switzerland and played basketball for a national Swiss team while completing post-graduate studies.  His return to America saw him complete the master of science degree in community mental health/psychology at Northern Illinois University, after which he became the founder and administrator of a program that recruited and educated African Americans about their heritage.  He entered the University of Massachusetts and completed the doctorate degree in urban education and psychology.