Michael Robinson

Michael Aaron Robinson (December 13, 1924 – July 20, 2006) was an American Reform rabbi, civil rights activist, and human rights activist. He was known for his association with Martin Luther King Jr., with whom he marched in Selma and on whose request he participated in a 1964 demonstration in St. Augustine, Florida, at which he was arrested and jailed together with 15 other Reform rabbis.

He was for decades the rabbi of Temple Israel of Northern Westchester in Northern Westchester, New York. After his retirement, he served for seven years as a part-time rabbi at Congregation Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa, California.

Early life and education Michael Aaron Robinson was born on December 13, 1924, in Asheville, North Carolina. During World War II, while studying architecture at North Carolina State College, he interrupted his studies to join the US Navy. He worked in electronics maintenance on a landing ship tanker in the Pacific theater, and returned home with the desire to be a rabbi and a pacifist. he joined Temple Beth Israel of Pomona, serving for five years. He went on to serve as rabbi for 29 years at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester in Croton, New York, retiring as Rabbi Emeritus.

In the summer of 1964, he and other Reform rabbis who were attending the meeting of the Central Conference of American Rabbis answered the call of Martin Luther King Jr. to stand with him for civil rights in St. Augustine, Florida. They were released in the morning after posting a bond; the charges against them were later dropped.

In 1965, Robinson marched with King in Selma.