Temple Israel of Hollywood celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.

Saturday, January 17, 2015
Temple Israel of Hollywood celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. accepted an invitation to speak at Temple Israel of Hollywood. Fifty years later on Sunday, the same temple will hold an event celebrating King's legacy.

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- In 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. accepted an invitation to speak at Temple Israel of Hollywood. Fifty years later on Sunday, the same temple will hold an event celebrating King's legacy.

Hollywood composer Michael Skloff is producing the show, which will feature King's actual words from the original sermon.

"He was looking for us to all appreciate our differences in each other and for us all to be valued and treated equally," Skloff said.

The event will feature keynote speaker Tavis Smiley, music, videos and a desert reception.

On Monday, Big Sunday will host a food drive to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The non-profit organization started as a project for Temple Israel and focuses on getting people to volunteer. It now features 50,000 participants around the world.

"Whoever you are, whatever you do, there's some way that you can help everybody else," said David Levinson, founder and executive director of Big Sunday.

Levinson added: "The world is full of people working overtime trying to tear us apart, but most people really want to focus on what we have in common."

Temple Israel of Hollywood's Martin Luther King Jr. event

7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 18

7300 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90046

To RSVP, tioh.org/nomenuarticles/511-mlkcelebration

Big Sunday volunteer event

9 a.m. - noon, Monday, Jan. 19

111 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038

To RSVP, bigsunday.org