Rabbi gives powerful eulogy at Muhammad Ali's memorial service

Rabbi Lerner

Rabbi Michael Lerner spoke as a representative of the Jewish faith at Muhammad Ali's interfaith memorial service in Louisville, Kentucky yesterday, and delivered a powerful sermon, echoing many of the calls Muhammad Ali made in his lifetime.

Rabbi Lerner, who is based in Berkeley, California, received many ovations as he called for justice and peace around the world, including the ending of drone warfare, racism, the ending of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and Turkey's oppression of the Kurds. He appealed for governments to do more to establish a just banking system, to end homelessness, poverty, hunger, inadequate healthcare, education and many more issues.

The best way to honour Muhammad Ali is to follow his brave example, Lerner said. He prayed for the United States "to become known as the most generous and caring country in the world, not the most powerful.

The eight-minute eulogy can be seen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNskuw-jf-4