Thank you very much Rabbi Saperstein for this very kind introduction and thank you for your very powerful and inspiring words.

It is a joy to see so many personal friends, friends of the embassy, and most importantly friends of the State of Israel. I would like to also thank the Religious Action Center for co-sponsoring today's important event. I'd like to recognize and thank for coming my good friends the Ambassadors of Ghana and Ethiopia who are here, and also the NAACP Washington Office Director, Hillary Shelton.

Congratulations to this evening's honorees, Diana Aviv and Hugh Price, for all of their magnificent work as leaders and proponents of civil rights.

Today, not only do we commemorate a great man, but we also commemorate his ideas. Dr. King's contributions lasted far beyond his lifetime, and his influence extended far beyond his own community. He took the ideas of equality and freedom and did so much to ensure that they became real and meaningful principles in our lives. He was a compassionate protector of the oppressed, a writer, a theologian, and a charismatic leader.

As Jews, we share many common bonds with the African American community. Both of our peoples have suffered bigotry, segregation, and oppression. Dr. King forged strong relations with the Jewish community and together they battled these evils.

Dr. King was also an important advocate on behalf of Soviet Jews who yearned for freedom from an oppressive regime. He publicly sought support for the re-establishment of the religious and cultural freedom of Soviet Jews and urged the then Soviet Union to "end all discriminatory measures against the Jewish community."

Dr. King once referred to Israel as, "one of the great outposts of democracy in the world." I am proud to represent this outpost and I applaud our relationship both with the African American community and with other diverse communities and denominations.

Israel, together with the Jewish community as a whole, and the Religious Action Center in particular, are united in a commitment to the vision of tolerance, equality and peace that Dr. King advocated and devoted his life to.

Rabbi Abraham Heschel stated after the assassination of Dr. King, "Martin Luther King is a sign that God has not forsaken the United States of America. God has sent him to us.his mission is sacred.I call upon every Jew to hearken to his voice, to share his vision, to follow in his way. The whole future of America will depend upon the influence of Dr. King." Let me add that the future of the whole world depends upon fulfilling his vision.

As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy, let us pray for a future without discrimination, hatred, incitement, and terror. May Dr. King's memory be a blessing to us all.