♪♪ >>> COMING UP, MENACHEM DAUM REPORTS ON ACCUSATIONS THAT ULTRA-ORTHODOX JEWISH SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK ARE FAILING TO TEACH SECULAR SUBJECTS THAT WOULD HELP STUDENTS FIND WORK.

>>> PLUS, KIM LAWTON AND I TALK WITH REVEREND JIM WALLIS OF "SOJOURNERS" MAGAZINE ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK ON RACISM, WHICH HE CALLS AMERICA'S ORIGINAL SIN.

TO DEAL WITH ITS RACIAL TENSIONS, A CHURCH THAT IS DRAWING YOUNG PEOPLE TO ITS MINISTRY THROUGH BOXING.

>>> WELCOME, I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

IN THE FINAL PUSH TO NEXT WEEK'S IOWA CAUCUSES, PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, AND THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN REACHING OUT TO THEM.

MUSLIM AND INTERFAITH LEADERS SENT AN OPEN LETTER TO IOWA VOTERS URGING SUPPORT FOR WHAT THEY CALLED A UNITED VISION OF AMERICA THAT REJECTS DIVISIVE AND FEARFUL RHETORIC.

AND SEVERAL EVANGELICAL LEADERS SENT A LETTER TO THE CANDIDATES ENCOURAGING A COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE TO IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.

MEANWHILE, A NEW PEW SURVEY FOUND THAT A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, 51%, SAY THEY WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO VOTE FOR AN ATHEIST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

IN 2007, 61% SAID THEY'D BE LESS LIKELY TO VOTE FOR AN ATHEIST.

>>> PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCED NEW EXECUTIVE ACTIONS TO BAN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR JUVENILES IN FEDERAL PRISONS AND TO MAKE THE MAXIMUM PERIOD A FIRST-TIME OFFENDER COULD BE PUT IN SOLITARY 60 DAYS, RATHER THAN 365 DAYS.

A BROAD FAITH-BASED COALITION HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THE END OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT WITH A SERIES OF PROJECTS, INCLUDING SETTING UP MODEL SOLITARY CELLS IN HOUSES OF WORSHIP.

THE COALITION SAYS PROLONGED USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IS "IMMORAL."

>>> THIS WEEK, POPE FRANCIS MET WITH IRANIAN PRESIDENT HASSAN ROUHANI AT THE VATICAN.

THE TWO DISCUSSED ISSUES INCLUDING THE RECENT NUCLEAR DEAL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

THE SHIITE CLERIC ASKED FRANCIS TO PRAY FOR HIM.

THE POPE ALSO HELD A SPECIAL SERVICE WITH ECUMENICAL LEADERS WHERE HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S PAST PERSECUTION OF OTHER CHRISTIANS.

AND THE VATICAN ANNOUNCED THAT FRANCIS WILL TRAVEL TO SWEDEN IN OCTOBER TO PARTICIPATE IN A CEREMONY TO KICK OFF A YEAR OF EVENTS MARKING THE 500th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION.

>>> INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS LEADERS, SCHOLARS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE RELEASED A NEW DECLARATION CALLING FOR THE PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN MUSLIM NATIONS.

THE DECLARATION WAS HAMMERED OUT DURING A MEETING IN MARRAKESH, MOROCCO.

IT LISTS A SERIES OF PRINCIPLES IT SAYS ARE ROOTED IN ISLAMIC LAW TO SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS OF MINORITIES.

>>> WE HAVE A SPECIAL REPORT NOW ON SOME OF NEW YORK'S ULTRA-ORTHODOX JEWISH YESHIVAS.

A LAWSUIT ALLEGES THAT SOME OF THESE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS ARE DISOBEYING STATE LAW BY NOT TEACHING SECULAR SUBJECTS THAT WOULD GIVE GRADUATES THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO FIND WORK.

NEW YORK FILMMAKER MENACHEM DAUM IS OUR CORRESPONDENT.

>> THE HASIDIC COMMUNITY IS COMPOSED OF A NUMBER OF ORTHODOX JEWISH SECTS, EACH OF WHICH IS LED BY A CHARISMATIC AND REVERED LEADER CALLED A REBBE.

THE REBBES SET THE EDUCATIONAL POLICIES FOR EACH SECT'S RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS, KNOWN AS YESHIVAS.

IT IS BEING ALLEGED THAT MANY OF THESE YESHIVAS FOCUS ON TEACHING TORAH AND TALMUD TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHER EDUCATIONAL SUBJECTS THAT ARE MANDATED BY LAW.

>> NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION LAW, SPECIFICALLY SECTION 3204, STATES MINORS WHO ARE ATTENDING NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS BE GIVEN EDUCATION IN ENGLISH, ARITHMETIC OR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND FINALLY HISTORY OR SOCIAL STUDIES.

WE NOW HAVE A CURRENT CONTROVERSY, AT LEAST IN NEW YORK CITY AND ALSO IN ROCKLAND COUNTY, WHERE SOME PEOPLE WITHIN THE ORTHODOX JEWISH COMMUNITY ARE RAISING THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT CERTAIN YESHIVAS AND OFFICIALS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ARE ENFORCING THAT LAW.

>> I AM A FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN, AND MY CONCERN TODAY IS THAT THEY SHOULD GET A PROPER EDUCATION, AS ALL CHILDREN ARE ENTITLED TO, IN ORDER TO SUCCEED IN WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WHEN THEY GET OLDER.

RIGHT NOW I'M 35 YEARS OLD, AND IT WAS QUITE A JOURNEY TO GET FROM WHERE I WAS UNTIL WHERE I'M NOW, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I'M MISSING AN EDUCATION BECAUSE YOU NEED AN EDUCATION TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING.

>> IN MOST HASIDIC YESHIVAS, BOYS STUDY JUDAIC STUDIES ALL DAY, FOR THE MOST PART.

IN YOUNGER GRADES, THEY DON'T GET ANY GENERAL EDUCATION OR SECULAR EDUCATION AS SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL IT.

AND THEN IN SOMETHING LIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL, FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF, THEY GET SOME GENERAL EDUCATION WHICH IS TAUGHT IN A SORT OF COMBINATION OF YIDDISH AND ENGLISH.

AT THE AGE OF 13, THEY GET CUT OFF COMPLETELY FROM GENERAL EDUCATION.

AT THAT POINT, BOYS ATTEND YESHIVA FROM 6:00 OR 6:30 A.M. TILL 8:00 P.M. OR EVEN LATER AND DON'T LEARN EVEN ONE WORD OF ENGLISH.

>> WOMEN, GIRLS, RECEIVE A BETTER SECULAR EDUCATION THAN MEN.

THEY DON'T SPEND THE AMOUNT OF TIME STUDYING THE TALMUD AS BOYS, SO THEY HAVE MORE TIME TO LEARN ENGLISH, AND THEY HAVE A MORE WELL-ROUNDED SECULAR EDUCATION.

BOYS, ON THE OTHER HAND, DON'T.

THEY GET MARRIED QUITE YOUNG, THEY BEGIN HAVING CHILDREN QUITE YOUNG.

THEY HAVE LARGE FAMILIES WHO THEY MUST SUPPORT.

>> I HAD A FEW CHILDREN ALREADY, AND I HAD TO GO TO WORK, AND THEN I STARTED LOOKING FOR A JOB, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHEN I FOUND OUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT I CAN DO.

THERE IS A BIG DEMAND FOR THESE KIND OF JOBS THAT DON'T REQUIRE A GENERAL EDUCATION, SO I WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO ASK SOMEONE WHO HAD AN OFFICE IF HE COULD PROVIDE ME WITH A JOB, AND HE ASKED ME, TELL ME SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO, AND MAYBE WE'LL GET YOU IN.

BUT THERE WAS ACTUALLY NOTHING THAT I COULD DO.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

>> THE BOYS' HASIDIC PRODUCT, I'D SAY, IS ON A LOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL READING LEVEL.

FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD GRADE READING LEVEL AT BEST -- AT BEST.

AND IS ESSENTIALLY INARTICULATE AND WILL MAKE MANY GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES WHEN HE SPEAKS, AND IN MOST CASES SIMPLY CANNOT WRITE ENGLISH AT ALL.

IN TERMS OF GENERAL WORLDLY KNOWLEDGE, IT IS VERY, VERY LIMITED.

THEY WOULD HAVE LITTLE IDEA OF WHAT THE MAP LOOKS LIKE, BASIC GEOGRAPHY, CERTAINLY NO HISTORY, NO IDEA OF SCIENCE AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.

>> THE PROBLEM IS THE CHILDREN THEMSELVES DON'T KNOW THEY ARE BEING DENIED AN EDUCATION.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.

THEY ONLY KNOW TO VALUE WHAT THEIR PARENTS VALUE, AND WHATEVER THEIR TEACHERS TELL THEM TO VALUE.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, THEY CAN'T SPEAK OUT EVEN IF YOU WOULD ASK THEM.

>> I THINK THAT LIMITING THE SECULAR EDUCATION, KEEPING PEOPLE SPEAKING YIDDISH AND NOT REALLY BEING ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH, IT MADE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO LEAVE.

IF YOU CANNOT COMMUNICATE VERY WELL WITH PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE WORLD, YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH HAMPERED FROM ENGAGING WITH THEM.

>> NOW WHAT ALLOWS THIS TO TAKE PLACE?

TO SOME EXTENT, OR TO A LARGE EXTENT, IS THE GREAT GENEROSITY OF THE MODERN WELFARE STATE, WHICH PICKS UP THE TAB FOR LOTS OF LIFE'S BASIC NECESSITIES, AND THIS IN MANY WAYS SERVES AS AN ENABLER OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE POVERTY IN THE COMMUNITY IS VERY BAD.

THE HASIDIC LIFESTYLE ITSELF IS A VERY EXPENSIVE ONE.

WE HAVE FAMILIES WITH A LOT OF CHILDREN, WHICH COSTS A FORTUNE, AND THEN BECAUSE WE LIVE IN AREAS WHERE WE ALL WANT TO LIVE TOGETHER, SO THE PRICE OF RENT IS SKEW ROGSD IS WILL BEYROCKETING.

SO WITH ALL THE BENEFITS THAT WE GET FROM THE GOVERNMENT PEOPLE ARE STILL VERY, VERY POOR.

>> THERE'S THE WHOLE ISSUE OF FOOD STAMPS AND ALL THESE OTHER BENEFITS.

AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO TO A LOT OF PEOPLE BECOME HUMILIATING.

THERE'S A SENSE THAT, YOU KNOW -- OF FRUSTRATION.

OF, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A STUPID PERSON, I COULD BE CONTRIBUTING MORE BUT I'M REALLY, REALLY HAMPERED.

>> THERE ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING TOWARDS TEXTBOOKS, CERTAINLY TRANSPORTATION IS COVERED, TEACHER TRAINING IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED, THIS IS ALL BY TITLE GRANTS, AS WELL AS ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDIES AND SPECIAL EDUCATION AS WELL.

SO THERE IS FEDERAL AND STATE SUPPORT GOING INTO THE YESHIVAS TO HELP THEM WITH THIS.

WHAT THEIR OVERALL BUDGETARY CONCERNS AND HOW ALL THIS IS DISTRIBUTED, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THERE IS FUNDING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE EARMARKED FOR THOSE STUDIES, PARTICULARLY ENGLISH.

>> MOST OF THE POLITICIANS -- HANDS OFF.

THEY DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S RADIOACTIVE, AND IT WILL BLOW UP IN THEIR FACE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THAT THERE WILL BE BLOC VOTING, AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO RUN CITYWIDE, WHETHER IT'S THE MAYOR, PUBLIC ADVOCATE, CONTROLLER, CONGRESSPERSON, U.S.

SENATOR, THEY DON'T WANT TO ALIENATE THIS 100,000-PLUS BLOC VOTE.

NOW THAT'S A PROBLEM.

>> POLITICIANS ARE ONLY DEALING WITH THE LEADERSHIP, AND THERE'S MORE DISSENSION IN THE RANK AND FILE, BUT THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ACCESS TO THE POLITICIANS.

>> I HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE STATE OF THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, WHO LOVE BEING A HASIDIC, WHO LOVE THEIR FAMILIES, WHO LOVE THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY LIVE IN, WHO DON'T WANT TO MOVE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE, THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN EXPELLED, BUT THEY ARE PETRIFIED TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS OR TO COMPLAIN OR CRITICIZE IN ANY WAY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION FOR FEAR OF BEING SHUNNED OR WORSE.

>> I ADMIRE VERY MUCH THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE IN.

I WOULD NEVER WANT TO CHANGE, AND I WOULD WANT MY KIDS TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP OUR WAY OF LIFE.

>> PEOPLE REALLY HELP EACH OTHER OUT, AND THERE IS A GREAT WARMTH IN ALL OF THAT.

AND I THINK ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO CONTEMPLATE LEAVING, THEY FEEL LIKE, HOW AM I EVER GOING TO REPLACE THAT?

BECAUSE ASIDE FROM THE RELIGIOUS STUFF, THIS IS SORT OF A HUGE EXTENDED FAMILY FOR PEOPLE, WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT FAMILIES ENTAIL.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S HARD TO FIND THAT OUTSIDE OF THAT WORLD.

IT'S HARD TO FIND PEOPLE WHO JUST SORT OF CARE ABOUT YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE PART OF THE FOLD.

>> VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY WILLING TO COME FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT IT PUBLICLY FOR FEAR OF RETALIATION, SO THAT'S WHAT'S KEEPING A LOT OF PEOPLE -- KEEPING THEM BACK FROM COMING OUT AND TALKING ABOUT IT PUBLICALLY.

>> HOW COME YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE THIS RISK?

>> I GUESS I'M JUST NOT AFRAID.

I LIKE TO SPEAK MY MIND.

I'M VERY OPINIONATED.

SOME PEOPLE HATE ME FOR IT, BUT WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID IF YOU HAVE ENEMIES, IT MEANS YOU STOOD UP FOR SOMETHING SOMETIME IN YOUR LIFE.

>> CITING PENDING LAWSUITS AGAINST A NUMBER OF YESHIVAS, THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING ULTRA-ORTHODOX JEWS, AGUDATH ISRAEL, DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THIS REPORT.

FOR "RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," THIS IS MENACHEM DAUM.

>>> RACIAL TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH IN AREAS ACROSS THE U.S., AND MANY RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR A NEW NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT RACISM.

TODAY, OUR MANAGING EDITOR KIM LAWTON IS HERE WITH ME TO TALK WITH REVEREND JIM WALLIS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF "SOJOURNERS" MAGAZINE ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK "AMERICA'S ORIGINAL SIN: RACISM, WHITE PRIVILEGE AND THE BRIDGE TO A NEW AMERICA."

HE IS LAUNCHING THREE MONTHS OF TOWN HALL MEETINGS ON THE SUBJECT.

JIM, KIM, WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.

JIM, MEETINGS AND TALKS AND ARTICLES ARE GREAT, BUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> WELL, THIS NEW CONVERSATION IS BEING LED BY A NEW GENERATION OF YOUNG BLACK ACTIVISTS, AND THE VOICES OF YOUNG BLACK AND BROWN PREACHERS ARE PART OF IT.

PASTORS.

SO IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO LISTEN TO EACH ANOTHER AND HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION AND THEN CHANGE WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> AND WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS PLAYING WITHIN THAT CHANGE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE ONES IN THE COMMUNITIES AND ON THE STREETS, SO WE'RE ASKING EVERYWHERE, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW TO OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, TO OUR POLICING, TO THE DISPARITIES IN OUR EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS?

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THE LIVES OF REAL PEOPLE?

THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, BLACK PASTORS AND BLACK CHURCHES.

WE'VE ALL GOT TO NOW JUMP IN THE CONVERSATION.

THAT'S THE NEW OPPORTUNITY HERE.

ALL OF US CAN BE INVOLVED.

>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.

THERE HAS BEEN TALK FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WRINGING OF HANDS AND EVERYTHING.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THIS MOMENT PROVIDES NEW OPPORTUNITIES?

>> WELL, WE'VE SEEN THE KIND OF SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON, HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.

BUT NOW THEY'VE BEEN MADE VISIBLE.

VIDEOS.

PEOPLE ARE SEEING THINGS, AND THEY'RE NOW BELIEVING THINGS THEY DIDN'T KNOW WAS GOING ON BEFORE.

WHITE PEOPLE.

AND THE TITLE, "AMERICA'S ORIGINAL SIN," IT ISN'T JUST SLAVERY.

IT'S THE KIND OF RACISM WE CREATED TO JUSTIFY THE USE OF BLACK PEOPLE AS CHATTEL AND PROPERTY TO BUILD THIS NATION, TO SAY FROM THE BEGINNING THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER LESS THAN WHITE LIVES, AND THAT SIN IS STILL WITH US.

WE HAVE A BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT NOW.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO SAY THIS IS THEOLOGICAL, THIS IS MORAL, AND WE'VE GOT TO REPENT OF THAT ORIGINAL SIN, WHICH MEANS NOT JUST BEING SORRY, BUT TURNING AROUND AND GOING IN A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION.

>> AND THAT DIRECTION IS WHERE?

>> THAT DIRECTION IS TO HONESTLY SEE WHERE -- THAT DIRECTION IS TO SEE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THESE DIFFERENCES, THESE RACIAL DIFFERENCES THAT ARE BEING USED TO JUSTIFY THESE SYSTEMS THAT STILL REFLECT THAT ORIGINAL SIN, HAVE TO BE CHALLENGED AND SPOKEN UP AGAINST BY WHITE CHRISTIANS, ALONG WITH THEIR BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SOME KIND OF BASIC POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REVOLUTION?

>> WELL, I'M TALKING ABOUT REPAIRING THE BREACH ALREADY.

ISAIAH SAYS, YOU'LL BE THE RESTORERS OF STREETS TO LIVE IN AND THE REPAIRER OF THE BREACH.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REPAIR THIS SIN THAT WE HAVE ACCEPTED FOR SO LONG IN THE WHITE CHURCHES?

I THINK IT'S -- PASTORS NEED TO LOVE THEIR PEOPLE ENOUGH TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THEM.

AND THE GOSPEL SAYS THAT WE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST, NO JEW OR GENTILE.

WE'RE ALL ONE.

AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING DAY TO DAY.

THAT'S HAS GOT TO BE CHANGED.

>> MANY THANKS TO JIM WALLIS OF "SOJOURNERS" MAGAZINE AND TO KIM LAWTON OF "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY."

WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION ON PBS.ORG/RELIGIONETHICS.

>>> BALTIMORE CONTINUES TO HEAL FROM VIOLENCE THAT FLARED LAST YEAR AFTER THE DEATH OF FREDDIE GRAY, A BLACK MAN IN POLICE CUSTODY.

WE VISITED THE CREATED FOR SO MUCH MORE WORSHIP CENTER IN THE CITY'S CHERRY HILL DISTRICT.

THE CHURCH IS DRAWING YOUNG PEOPLE TO ITS MINISTRY WITH A BOXING GYM WHICH TEACHES DISCIPLINE, RESPECT AND A SENSE OF PRIDE.

♪♪ >> MY NAME IS MIKE MOSLEY.

I'M THE HEAD COACH OF CROSS4CHRIST GYM HERE AT CREATED FOR SO MUCH MORE WORSHIP CENTER.

♪♪ I WAS BORN IN BALTIMORE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES FROM THE GYM.

I GREW UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE COUNTRY, A LITTLE BIT IN THE CITY.

AND I ALSO ALWAYS GREW UP WITH A FASCINATION WITH FIGHTING.

ALL RIGHT, SO YOU ALL GET IN THE LINE AND LOOK AT THIS MIRROR.

BEND AT YOUR KNEES.

GOOD.

I ENJOY FIGHTING.

NEVER WAS A BULLY.

ALL RIGHT, LEFT FOOT.

SO, I WAS TALKING TO MY COUSIN ONE DAY.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY RECENTLY OPENED UP A BOXING GYM IN THE AREA.

BOOM.

PUT THIS FIST UP.

ALWAYS PROTECT HOME.

YOUR FACE IS HOME.

AND I SAID OH, WHERE?

AND HE SAID IN THE CHURCH UP THE STREET.

DON'T HIT IT HARD.

JUST TRY TO HIT IT QUICK.

AND I SAID, IN THE CHURCH?

AND HE SAID, YEAH.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I SEE THE GUYS OUT THERE.

THEY GOT EQUIPMENT.

THEY GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

LET'S GO.

THE FACT THAT THE GYM WAS IN A CHURCH, IT DIDN'T REALLY AFFECT ME EITHER WAY.

GOOD, GOOD, A.J.

THIS WAS A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I WAS AS FAR FROM THE CHURCH AS I'VE BEEN IN MY LIFE.

GOOD.

STAY IN A GOOD STANCE.

LIVING ONLY FOR MYSELF, NOT REALIZING THAT THERE IS MORE OUT THERE.

AS FAR AS GOING TO CHURCH, PRAISING AND WORSHIPPING GOD, THAT WAS THE FURTHEST THING FROM MY MIND.

OH, OH, OH.

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THAT, I WAS GOING THROUGH SOME PERSONAL PROBLEMS.

JUST SOME THINGS THAT PUNCHING A BAG WASN'T DOING -- IT WASN'T CUTTING IT.

I WENT TO THE SERVICE, AND IT WAS SO MOVING AND AMAZING, IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

♪♪ PASTOR WILLARD SAUNDERS, HE'S AN AMAZING PASTOR, AMAZING BISHOP.

HE'S CHANGED MY LIFE IN MORE WAYS THAN I CAN COUNT.

HALLELUJAH.

THANK YOU, JESUS.

>> HOW MANY OF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE GREAT AT SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE?

YOU GUYS THAT ARE BOXING, YOU WANT TO BE GREAT?

YOU KNOW WHAT THE PRICE OF GREATNESS IS?

NEVER SATISFIED.

SOMETIMES THE DISSATISFACTION COMES THROUGH TRAUMA AND PAIN.

SOMETIMES GOD PUTS YOU IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU GOT TO EITHER FIGHT OR DIE.

THAT HAS TO BE THE DEFINING FACTOR OF WHO YOU'RE GOING TO BE.

THE BOXING PROGRAM HAS BECOME A MEDIUM THAT IS A PART OF OUR MINISTRY TO HELP CHILDREN, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, TO BE ABLE TO REACH THEIR OWN POTENTIAL THROUGH AN ACTIVITY THAT CREATES DISCIPLINE.

>> HOW YOU ALL LATE AGAIN?

>> AND IT ALSO CREATES COMMITMENT.

>> 6:00.

6:00.

6:00.

>> AND IT REALLY HELPS US TO BE ABLE TO MINISTER TO THEM.

IT'S NOT EVEN SEPARATE FROM OUR MINISTRY.

IT IS OUR MINISTRY.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO SEE THE GREAT SUCCESS IT HAS HAD, TO BE ABLE TO GET KIDS WHO WOULD BE INVOLVED IN VIOLENCE IN SOME SORT OF WAY OUT ON THE STREET TO NOW COME TO THE BOXING GYM AND BE ABLE TO LEARN AND TO LEARN THE SKILL OF BOXING AND ALSO GET THE WORD OF GOD AT THE SAME TIME.

>> I HAVEN'T EVEN LIVED A LIFE HALF AS ROUGH AS SOME OF THESE KIDS.

THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO IT.

LET'S GO.

EVERY MINUTE THAT A KID IS IN THIS GYM, EVERY EVENING THAT A KID IS IN THIS GYM, THEY ARE IN A SAFE ZONE.

JAB YOUR WAY IN THERE.

THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO.

THEY ARE PROTECTED.

I LIKE THAT.

>> BOXING ISN'T ABOUT ANGER OR VIOLENCE.

IT IS MORE ABOUT TECHNIQUE AND FLOW.

IT LETS ME REACH MYSELF.

MAKE HIM PAY FOR IT.

UH-HUH.

IT KEEPS ME OUT OF THE STREETS.

IT KEEPS ME BUSY.

>> BOXING IS NOT ABOUT AGGRESSION AT ALL.

IT MADE ME HUMBLE AS A YOUNG TEEN.

IT KIND OF TOOK ME AWAY FROM THE IMMATURITY AND OUTSIDE OF THE GYM, AND KIND OF BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND IT KIND OF MADE ME SEE THE WORLD A DIFFERENT WAY.

WHEN I CAME IN HERE, LIKE I FELT LIKE I BELONGED HERE, LIKE I ACTUALLY BECAME A PART OF THIS FAMILY.

>> MY HOPE FOR THE KIDS IS JUST TO AWAKEN SOMETHING IN THEM THAT CAN'T BE PUT TO SLEEP.

WHAT'S UP, '‘‘TE?

ONE OF THE FIRST KIDS THAT I WORKED WITH AND HELPED WITH HIS SKILLS, DANTE, BECOME AN ASSISTANT COACH.

TO SEE A KID WHO USED TO BE ON THE STREET MAKING MONEY IN WAYS THAT WEREN'T LEGAL, TO SEE HIM WORKING WITH THE KIDS AND SPENDING HIS TIME AND GIVING THEM HIS GIFTS, HIS INTELLIGENCE, HIS SKILLS, HIS SAVVY, AND REALLY ENJOYING DOING THAT, THAT JUST MAKES ME ECSTATIC, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY DON'T KNOW WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE AND DISCIPLINE LOOK LIKE TOGETHER.

THEY DON'T KNOW LIFE.

THEY DON'T KNOW DEATH.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT, BECAUSE THAT PIECE OF IT HAS BEEN MISSING.

BOXING DOESN'T JUST TEACH YOU RESPECT FOR YOUR ABILITY, BUT RESPECT FOR YOUR OPPONENT, THAT YOU CAN BE DEFEATED.

THEY LEARN WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO FAIL IN THE BOXING GYM, BUT THEY LEARN HOW MUCH HARDER THEY HAVE GOT TO GO BACK AND WORK AND COME BACK AND BE SUCCESSFUL AND TO BE ABLE TO WORK AT IT.

THAT GIVES YOU A RESPECT FOR LIFE.

IT ALSO GIVES YOU A RESPECT FOR DEATH.

AND IT GIVES YOU, MORE IMPORTANTLY, A RESPECT FOR YOURSELF AND FOR OTHER HUMAN BEINGS.

♪♪ ♪ I WANT TO SEE YOU HIGH AND LIFTED UP ♪ >> I HAVE A LOT OF DREAMS FOR THIS GYM, BUT MY REAL DREAM AND MY REAL HOPE IS JUST FOR THE KIDS.

♪♪ ♪ AS WE SING HOLY ♪ THIS GYM IS MY EVERYTHING.

♪ AS WE SING EVERYTHING WE SING HOLY HOLY HOLY ♪ IN LIFE, THERE IS SO MUCH TEMPTATION.

THERE'S SO MUCH BAD OUT THERE THAT IT'S HARD TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

♪ I WANT TO SEE YOU ♪ I KNOW 100% OF THE TIME WHEN I'M IN THE GYM IS THE RIGHT THING.

♪ LIFTED UP ♪ >>> FINALLY, ON OUR CALENDAR, THIS PAST WEEK WAS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY.

AT A CEREMONY AT THE ISRAELI EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT OBAMA HELPED HONOR FOUR PEOPLE WHO SAVED JEWS DURING WORLD WAR II.

ONE WAS A TEACHER ON A MENNONITE SERVICE PROJECT.

ANOTHER WAS AMERICAN MASTER SERGEANT RODDIE EDMONDS.

WHEN HIS NAZI CAPTOR ASKED JEWISH PRISONERS IN A GERMAN CAMP TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES, EDMONDS, A CHRISTIAN, REPLIED, "WE ARE ALL JEWS HERE."

CITING EDMONDS' RESPONSE, THE PRESIDENT URGED ALL AMERICANS TO REMEMBER THAT "AN ATTACK ON ANY FAITH IS AN ATTACK ON ALL OF OUR FAITHS."

>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.n WE'RE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.

>>> BE MORE.

PBS.