The Jewish communities across Missouri welcome the Missouri Republican Party’s comments unequivocally condemning the anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, and racist rhetoric of Steve West, who won the Republican primary for Missouri House District 15.

We are grateful for the recent statement that this “abhorrent rhetoric has absolutely no place in the Missouri Republican Party or anywhere.” We wholeheartedly agree. While our Constitution protects every person’s right to free speech, this kind of bigotry and hate speech – whether targeting Jews or any other group – has no place in legitimate public discourse, let alone public office. It is incumbent upon us as community leaders and elected officials to work together to ensure that such views will be repudiated loudly and clearly.

We expect all parties to closely monitor their candidates throughout the state and to demonstrate swiftly and in the strongest possible terms that our Missouri leadership finds all forms of bigotry unacceptable. The custom of parties not intervening in primaries should not extend to those who proudly proclaim discriminatory beliefs.

Our Jewish values make clear our obligation to speak out against all forms of discrimination. As a minority community intimately acquainted with the dangers of bigotry and scapegoating, we recognize that our own security is inexorably tied to the security of all minorities.

The Jewish communities of Missouri welcome ongoing dialogue with both parties about ways in which we can collaborate to ensure that our elected officials are held to the highest moral standard and reflect the diversity of our state.

Respectfully,

John Kalishman, Board Chair
Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, Executive Director
Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis

Gerald P. Greiman, Board Chair
Andrew Rehfeld, President & CEO
Jewish Federation of St. Louis  

John Isenberg, Board Chair
Helene Lotman, President & CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City                     

AJC St. Louis
Hillel at Washington University in St. Louis
Holocaust Museum & Learning Center, St. Louis
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, Kansas City
Jewish Community Relations Bureau/AJC, Kansas City
Jewish Community Center of St. Louis
Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City
Jewish Family & Children’s Service in St. Louis
Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City
Jewish Vocational Service (JVS), Kansas City
Jewish Voices United, Kansas City
Maryville University Hillel
Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, Kansas City
National Council of Jewish Women, St. Louis
St. Louis Rabbinical Association
University of Kansas Hillel
University of Missouri, Columbia Hillel