The St. Louis Jewish community is facing a crisis. Our congressional representative, Cori Bush, has repeatedly attacked our values and refused to even meet with us. Her smears of both Israel and the Jewish community fan the flames of racism and antisemitism. Bush shows no interest in solutions, only hateful slogans. Her actions and divisive language make her an embarrassment to congress, her district and herself.

However, we are extremely fortunate to have Wesley Bell running in the Democratic primary.  He has the character, education and values we need. His background as St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney and his strong support for the concerns of our Jewish community make him an excellent choice. 

We urgently need representation by those who will listen to our concern and represent our values. We are proud to support Wesley Bell and vote for him on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Alan and Alice Ludmer
St. Louis

I was disappointed to read the recent letter by local rabbis and cantors (“Clergy state support for Wesley Bell,” June 5 edition). When our congregation built a new building our rabbis (signatories of that piece) said it was essential the sanctuary have windows. One explanation cites the Baal Shem Tov: “Sanctuaries require windows, not for their color or beauty, but precisely because they are windows — for windows invite us to see without our walls and beyond ourselves; they allow us to survey the world outside our doors, and to recognize our likeness in those we have ignored, and to imagine our own lives in the lived experience of those we have wronged. And, of course, windows allow others to see us and to assess if our own deeds are aligned with our words.” 

Described this way, windows are essential for our public spaces including and importantly the halls of Congress. Cori Bush has been a window that “invites us to see without walls and beyond ourselves” since she arrived in Washington. She makes connections between her and her constituents’ lives and the important issues of our time. She begins each statement with “St. Louis and I rise” and asks herself and asks us to see ourselves in others. It is no surprise that she is critical of the U.S. support of the Israeli government and is for a permanent ceasefire. Bush is steadfast in her support of the oppressed. It is disappointing that our Jewish leaders do not share her steadfastness. We need Cori Bush in Congress.

Ilene Berman
St. Louis