We have been horrified over the past weeks to bear witness to antisemitic tropes used to cast aspersions on Jewish political candidates in Missouri.

This month, State Representative Sarah Unsicker attacked her erstwhile opponents in the Missouri Attorney General race—Will Scharf and Elad Gross—together with Gross’s mother Margalit Gur-Arie, and his wife, Tasha Kaminsky, trafficking in a conspiracy theory that they are Israeli sleeper agents on a mission to destroy American democracy. To utilize this ancient “dual loyalties” trope and claim that American citizens of the Jewish faith and ancestry are, simply by virtue of their identity or birth, disloyal Americans is not only offensive but profoundly harmful rhetoric that has been used throughout history to persecute, denationalize, imprison and even kill Jewish citizens.

We strongly condemn these attacks and all harmful assaults against Missouri’s Jewish citizens and community members. No one should have their integrity questioned, their families harassed, or face public abuse because of their cultural, ethnic, or religious heritage. Antisemitism, as well as all forms of prejudice and bias, have no place in the public discourse or in our democratic process.

No matter our differences in opinions, backgrounds, or policy priorities, we call upon all those within our region to stand united against hateful, biased propaganda and attacks based on people’s religious, cultural, or ethnic background. We join together with our partners across the political, religious, ethnic and civic spheres to speak out and fight against any individuals and groups who would use the tools of antisemitism and hate speech to disparage and denigrate, foment fear and discord, or peddle baseless and harmful conspiracies. Our communities, our region, our state, and our nation are stronger and healthier for the diversity of voices welcome within it.

Maharat Rori Picker Neiss
Executive Director
Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis

Joel Iskiwitch
Board Chair
Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis