LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Antisemitic incidents aren't new, yet 2022 saw a spike in cases.
It sparked the White House to address Antisemitism countermeasures with President Joe Biden saying, "Antisemitism has no place in America."
Yet, in the Commonwealth, the Kentucky Jewish Council recorded 30 instances of antisemitism in 2022.
The most recent one was in December when someone drove by yelling at a Lexington Rabbi saying “Kayne is right,” referring to the rappers recent antisemitic remarks, followed by threats of violence.
Rabbi Shlomo Litvin helps preserve traditions and Jewish values.
He said the 30 documented incidents are unprecedented for Kentucky, which they’ve taken steps in past years to address the issues.
“So, if want to address a serious problem, then we need to look at the impact over time. And when you look at the past year in Kentucky with a way above and beyond record for antisemitic incidents,” Litvin said. “And again, Kentucky being a safe place for Jews compared to many places in the United States.”
The Kentucky Jewish Council said the report aims to show a trend, and hopes it can educate community leaders, and light a path to address these incidents.
“So when you look at the build-up over time, you’re able to recognize what the problem is and help to address it,” Litvin said.
Breaking barriers through food
A warm bagel and schmear pair well as a classic combination for a cold Kentucky morning.
“Cold Smoke Bagels is kind of a bagel/sandwich concept but in a very specific Jewish vein,” said Alexander Chack.
He’s behind the counter whipping up a bagel. He brought the New York-style cuisine to Logan Street Market.
“You know it’s smoked salmon, it’s herring, its pickles, it’s kind of the cold nosh that you would have before a meal or as snacks or as appetizers, and it’s still done in New York, in a few kind of old school places, so this kind of my attempt to bring it here,” Chack said.
It’s why he shares his dishes so that walls of hate crumble.
“Doing Jewish food is a real expression of my identity and an expression of what I grew up with and where I come from, and it’s especially important here in Louisville because Louisville, generally, is non-Jewish and doesn’t have a huge Jewish community. There’s a big Jewish community but it’s not everywhere,” Chack said.
It’s so he can stay connected.
“So often it’s hard to feel Jewish in Louisville. So the food is one of the ways that people connect, that I connect to our identity to our traditions here,” Chack said.
Thankfully, Chack said he hasn’t experienced any hostility or discrimination, but he’s certainly aware.
“Community is really like kind of organizing to provide a lot of security, and resources to synagogues and Jewish organizations, in case God forbid, there is an incident. So you see that and it is scary because that makes it a lot more real than just hearing about things,” Chack said.
On Feb. 8, the Kentucky Jewish Council will present this report to members of the state legislature, the governor’s office, and the attorney general’s office.