What if…
“We are not the makers of history, we are made by history” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
When you hear the word “archive,” what comes to mind? Maybe dusty shelves, microfiche machines (remember those?), or endless rows of yellowing, brittle documents. But here at the Jewish Historical Society of Greater MetroWest NJ (JHS), we see it differently.
In our archives, we’re preserving the voices and moments that changed everything and made us who we are—including the profound connection between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and our Jewish Greater MetroWest community.
In 1961, Dr. King brought his powerful message to Temple Sharey Tefilo in Essex County. Rabbi Israel “Sy” Dresner and Rabbi Joachim Prinz echoed his call to action locally and nationally, often inviting him back to Greater MetroWest to inspire change and rally support for the civil rights movement. Two years later, in 1963, he returned to deliver another speech at Congregation B’nai Abraham, mobilizing our community to continue standing on the right side of history.
In that speech, Dr. King spoke about the concept of being “maladjusted.” He reflected, “Modern psychology has a word that is probably used more than any other…It is the word maladjusted. Certainly, we all want to avoid the maladjusted life. But…I am proud to be maladjusted and wish all men of goodwill would be maladjusted until the good society is realized.”
Dr. King urged humanity to embrace what he called “creative maladjustment,” challenging us to reject complacency in the face of injustice. He continued by declaring the need for people who, like the prophet Amos, would cry, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” He called on us to be as “maladjusted” as Abraham Lincoln, who envisioned a nation that could not endure “half slave and half free,” and as Thomas Jefferson, who, in an age deeply adjusted to slavery, could write words “lifted to cosmic proportions”:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Dr. King saw “creative maladjustment” as the key to overcoming “the bleak and desolate midnight of man’s inhumanity to man” and emerging into “the bright and glittering daybreak of freedom and justice.”
By preserving Dr. King’s speech and artifacts from this era, the Jewish Historical Society ensures that his challenge to embrace “creative maladjustment” continues to resonate more than 60 years later. And as his legacy inspires us to stand against today’s injustices, our archives hold the records of what is possible when we rise together.
Today, the Jewish Historical Society of Greater MetroWest (JHS) is honored house this speech from B’nai Abraham’s 1963 annual speaker’s program, as well as photographs from the historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery march, led by Dr. King and other nonviolent groups.
JHS is dedicated to caring for these important documents, sharing the rich history and cultural heritage of our community. Through our carefully curated collections, the Society highlights the stories, traditions, and contributions of Jewish individuals and families that have shaped the area’s history. Images and documents are safely housed in our archive, ensuring that these invaluable pieces of history are protected for future generations. By providing access to these materials, the Society fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Jewish experience in Greater MetroWest and beyond.
To view these historic documents, explore our collections, or take a tour of our archive, please reach out to me at [email protected].
History is waiting for you.