As rabbis and cantors from across the spectrum of Jewish denominations, serving St. Louis-area congregations and Jewish communities, we are unified in our personal private capacities to publicly support Wesley Bell for Congress.

Three weeks after our community was devastated and in pain by the news of Hamas’ horrific massacre in Israel, Prosecuting Attorney Bell announced he was running to represent Missouri District 1 in Washington, D.C., which represents a large segment, but not the entirety, of the St. Louis metropolitan area and has impact beyond its boundaries.

We were grieving, processing the incomprehensible accounts of the atrocities, and overwhelmed by the tidal wave of antisemitism throughout our country. Bell immediately reached out to console us following Oct. 7, committed to being a voice for our community and made clear he was our much-needed ally.

Recalling his own personal experience in Israel visiting the communities hardest hit by Hamas’ horrific attack, Bell demonstrated genuine empathy and moral clarity. 

“You have to be there to fully understand what our Jewish brothers and sisters and our Israeli brothers and sisters have to deal with,” he said. “Hamas is a terrorist organization, and I will not waver in my support for Israel.”

His words have not only been comforting but were also a stark departure from the ongoing caustic, offensive, and — yes, in our view — antisemitic rhetoric from the current representative in Washington, D.C.

Congresswoman Cori Bush, with her long track record of anti-Israel votes, has continually fanned the flames with the most outrageous smears of Israel, accusing the Jewish state of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” as it has fought to defeat the terrorists.

On Jan. 31, Bush was one of just two House members to oppose bipartisan legislation barring Oct. 7 terrorists from entering the United States, a direct slap in the face to our Jewish community.

“Rep. Bush’s vote is offensive and embarrassing to our community,” Bell rightly stated in response. “We will never be a safe haven for terrorists, and we need a Congressperson who knows better.” We wholeheartedly agree.

Last November, dozens of rabbis and local Jewish leaders wrote to Congresswoman Bush urging her to stop the divisiveness. We implored her “to stop this incendiary language about Israel, apologize to the Jewish community in St. Louis, and engage in honest and accountable dialogue about the issues related to Israel and the Palestinian people.”

Bush ignored our call. Wesley Bell answered it. 

We urgently need representation in Congress by one who listens, cares, and represents the values of our collective community. 

We believe that must be Wesley Bell and are proud to support him.

Signed,

St. Louis Rabbis & Cantors for Wesley Bell for Congress

Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham

Rabbi Yaakov Berkowitz

Rabbi Daniel Bogard

Rabbi Karen Bogard

Rabbi Chaim Bogopulsky

Rabbi Yosef David

Rabbi Josef Davidson

Rabbi Randy Fleisher

Rabbi Tzvi Freedman

Rabbi Dovid Fromowitz

Rabbi Jordan Gerson

Rabbi Avrohom Goldman

Rabbi Yonason Goldson

Rabbi James Goodman

Rabbi Seth Gordon

Rabbi Menachem Greenblatt

Rabbi Shmuel Greenwald

Rabbi Brad Horwitz

Rabbi Yerucham List

Rabbi Howard Kaplansky

Rabbi Shmuel Miller

Cantor Sharon Nathanson

Rabbi David Reinhart

Rabbi Neal Rose

Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg

Rabbi Michael Rovinsky

Rabbi Mark Shook

Rabbi Moshe Shulman

Rabbi Ze’ev Smason

Rabbi Yitzchak Staum

Rabbi Lane Steinger

Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman

Rabbi Susan Talve

Rabbi Menachem Tendler

Rabbi Shmuel Wasser

Rabbi Menachem Weiman