Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Former Rabbi of Berlin and civil rights activist speaks eloquently at the 1963 March for Jobs and Freedom


 Rabbi Joachim Prinz (1902-1988) speaking at
The March for Jobs and Freedom August 28, 1963

He was the renowned Rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin under the Hitler regime.

He was often arrested and jailed by the Gestapo and each time released.

He urged his fellow Jews to escape.  Some listened to him and those that did owe their lives to him. 

His name was Rabbi Joachim Prinz. 

In this speech at the 1963 March for jobs and freedom, he eloquently speaks for just over six minutes. 

He emphasizes that "bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence. A great people which created a great civilization had become a nation of silent onlookers."

His speech preceded that of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Here is an audio link to his six minute and 34 second speech.

A documentary film on his life has just aired and here is a link to an extensive interview with the two producers on New Jersey TV News.  http://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/film-about-rabbi-prinz-is-made/

Here is the official  trailer to the film, Joachim Prinz: I Shall Not be Silent. (click here)




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