Kansas City won’t tolerate antisemitism. And it isn’t just a problem for Jewish people

Antisemitism has been in the news a lot recently. But beyond talk of celebrities, the statistics are shocking: 2021 was the most antisemitic year ever recorded in the U.S., since data collection began in the 1970s. Despite accounting for only 2% of the American population, Jews are the victims of 55% of all religion-based hate crimes. And 1 in 4 American Jews said they had personally experienced antisemitism over the past year.

Kansas City is not immune to the scourge of antisemitism, which has been rising steadily for years. In a recent survey of Jewish teenagers in our region, Overland Park’s Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee, or JCRB|AJC, found that 81% had experienced or witnessed antisemitism in their schools.

This reality is unacceptable. And it should be stirring us all to action.

You see, antisemitism is not a Jewish problem. I mean that in two ways. First, antisemitism is not a problem started by the Jewish community. Therefore, it is not a problem that the Jewish community can fix alone. The burden falls on all of us who identify as good-faith citizens, of all backgrounds and beliefs.

Second, antisemitism does not affect only Jews. The conspiracy theories at the core of antisemitism have proven, time and again throughout history, to corrode public trust in the institutions that form the pillars of our free society: government, media and business. Antisemitism is therefore a threat to our very democracy.

It is incumbent upon all Kansas Citians — as individuals and as institutions — to address this problem head-on. Our actions must be intentional in order to be effective. For the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, one of those actions is our work with 40 local organizations to establish our Welcoming Plan for Kansas City. The plan is a blueprint of steps needed to make our community welcoming to immigrants, refugees and others.

For combating antisemitism specifically, the American Jewish Committee has recently released its Call to Action report outlining specific steps that government, media, law enforcement, educational institutions, community partners and corporations can each take to understand, prevent and respond to antisemitism.

And so, I issue a plea to the greater Kansas City business and civic communities: Let’s work together to ensure that this growing tide of hatred begins to turn in 2023. I encourage you to reach out to JCRB|AJC, our local organization fighting antisemitism, and work closely with them to implement this Call to Action in your company or institution. The KC Chamber was proud to host JCRB|AJC’s diversity, equity and inclusion training on antisemitism in 2021, and your company can host one as well as a great start toward taking this issue seriously.

There is much to be done, and we must each accept our responsibility for ensuring that Kansas City is a safe and equitable community for all people — including our Jewish friends and neighbors. This year, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas. Let this be a reminder of the pluralism that America promises, and a reminder of the work we have yet to do to realize this country as a true safe haven for all.