Temple Beth Am to Celebrate Martin Luther King's Life

Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr., the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, will deliver the keynote address at an interfaith service celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at on Jan. 13.

The free nondenominational service, starting at 7:30 p.m., will host five local choirs: the temple‘s choir, the bell choir of  , youth choir, choir of and choir. Cantor Inna Serebro-Litvak will lead the service with the participation of interfaith clergy.

Soaries is a former secretary of state under Gov. Christie Whitman and former chairman of the Election Assistance Commission. A graduate of Fordham University, he received his divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a his doctorate at United Theological Seminary.

An activist, he created Harvest of Hope, an organization that seeks individuals to adopt African American children and dfree, a strategy to empower people to overcome debt problems. He has worked with the Urban League and Operation PUSH and was featured in a CNN documentary, “Almighty Debt,” on debt and economic pressures on African Americans.

Founded in the mid-1960s, Temple Beth Am is a Reform congregation led by Rabbi Ronald W. Kaplan.

“We open our doors to adults and youth, singles and couples, Jews-by birth and Jews-by-choice, and interfaith couples. A warm and nurturing congregation, we welcome all who want to worship in an inclusive, egalitarian community,” a part of a statement from the temple read.