Local Rabbis Take Part in the NAACP "Journey for Justice" March from Selma, Alabama to Washington, DC

On Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18, Rabbi Marc Kline of Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton Falls and Rabbi Laurence Malinger of Temple Shalom of Aberdeen, will be participating in the NAACP sponsored America’s Journey for Justice, marching in 20 mile segments from Athens, Georgia towards the South Carolina state line. They will gather with friends and supporters at the Ebenezer Baptist West Church located in Athens, Georgia. Both rabbis will carry the sacred Jewish Torah scroll during the march, sharing the responsibility with colleagues and other supporters. At the conclusion of the day’s march, they will gather at the church for a meal and teaching session, sharing thoughts of the day’s experience as well as discuss and learn our sacred teachings on the issues of justice for all.

The NAACP Journey for Justice began on August 1 and continues to September 16, a historic 860-mile march from Selma, Alabama, to Washington, D.C. These two rabbis are part of mobilizing activists and advancing a focused national advocacy agenda that protects the right of every American to a fair criminal justice system, uncorrupted and unfettered access to the ballot box, sustainable jobs with a living wage, and equitable public education. Follow the journey on social media using #JusticeSummer.

Ordained in 1995, Rabbi Marc Aaron Kline comes to Monmouth Reform Temple from Temple Adath Israel in Lexington, Kentucky and Beth Israel Congregation in Florence, South Carolina. Prior to entering Hebrew Union College, Rabbi Kline practiced law in Little Rock Arkansas.

Rabbi Kline has taught Ethics, Philosophy, Religion and Government courses at the high school, college, and graduate school level for most of the last fifteen years. He has served as Chair of the Lexington Fayette County Urban Government Human Rights Commission. This commitment to social justice saw him co-lead the march on Columbia, South Carolina in 2000 to bring the Confederate Battle Flag from atop the Statehouse dome.

Rabbi Laurence P. Malinger was born in Philadelphia and raised in Florida, Virginia and Texas. He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics in 1987 and completed graduate work at Trinity University in Master of Education with School Psychology in 1988.

Upon ordination in 1993, Rabbi Malinger became Assistant Rabbi and Director of Education at Congregation Beth Emeth in Wilmington, Delaware. He was promoted to Associate Rabbi in July, 1997. In June of 1999 Rabbi Malinger was elected as senior Rabbi of Temple Shalom of Aberdeen, New Jersey.

He is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the New Jersey-West Hudson Valley Association of Reform Rabbis (NJWHVARR), and the Bayshore Ministerium. Rabbi Malinger has been involved in many civic activities in New Jersey including Garden State Equality, and he serves as a rabbinic advisor for the Jewish Addiction Resource (JAR) of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County.

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