Students Volunteer in Atlanta on MLK, Jr. Day

This past Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a group of my peers from the Interreligious Council volunteered for Emory’s Day On. All of us on the council were asked to liason back to our respective religious groups. I couldn’t believe that even with the snow delay, Hillel brought 20 volunteers! (This was by far the most volunteers from any group.)

The enthusiasm brought to the Oakland Cemetery was tangible. Together we dedicated our time to tikkun olam, hand-in-hand with other religious groups, students, and Atlanta natives. All together, we mulched, shoveled, laughed, played, and smiled. Dr. King would've been proud: on the red hills of Georgia, we all sat together at the table of brotherhood.

As Jewish tradition says, doing for the deceased is a chessed shel emet - the truest type of kindness, for giving to someone who cannot give back. This past Monday, we not only connected back to our roots, but we also lived in the spirit of Dr. King, giving tremendous meaning to our existence Atlanta Jews.