Antisemitism is increasing. To suggest otherwise hurts the Jewish people | Opinion

On Monday, the Herald Leader published an op-ed guest column claiming that concerns about antisemitism are “exaggerated,” mischaracterizing bipartisan legislative efforts to combat it, and even belittling Holocaust education. These claims are factually false, morally wrong, and deeply harmful to Kentucky’s Jewish community.

Let’s start with the facts. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Kentucky Jewish Council, and the U.S. Department of Justice have all documented that antisemitism is not only real — it is skyrocketing. According to the DOJ, Jews are the target of more hate crimes per capita than any other group in America. This is not speculation or “buzzwords,” it is data confirmed by federal law enforcement.

In Kentucky, this disturbing reality has inspired bipartisan action.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear created the Kentucky Antisemitism Task Force, while the Republican-led General Assembly, under the leadership of state senators Robert Stivers, Lindsey Tichenor and Robby Mills, has championed legislation to combat antisemitism. Both have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.

The IHRA definition is not “controversial.” It is the single most widely accepted, practical tool for identifying antisemitism, endorsed by the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and virtually every major Jewish organization. It provides clarity in enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Pretending that antisemitism can be effectively addressed without a definition is like trying to prosecute theft without defining what stealing is.

The op-ed also attacked Holocaust education, suggesting that remembering the Holocaust somehow takes attention away from other histories. This is not only inaccurate—it’s shameful. The Holocaust is the most documented genocide in history and the ultimate example of where unchecked hatred leads. Teaching its lessons protects all communities, not just Jews.

To diminish its importance dishonors the 6 million Jews murdered and ignores the reality that the ideologies that drove their extermination still find adherents today, as seen in the burgeoning pro-Hamas movement.

Equally troubling was the op-ed’s insinuation that Jewish-Americans are somehow “weaponizing” antisemitism for political gain. This echoes one of the oldest and most dangerous antisemitic tropes— that Jews exaggerate their suffering for influence or profit.

It is the same lie used for centuries to justify exclusion, violence, and even genocide. Suggesting that Jewish Americans are not sincere in their fear of antisemitism is not a legitimate political opinion — it’s an insult to a community that has buried its dead after recent killings in Boulder and Washington, D.C.

In Kentucky, Jews have stood shoulder to shoulder with other communities to combat all forms of hate. We reject the false choice implied in the op-ed — that recognizing antisemitism somehow diminishes the fight against other prejudices. Hate is not a competition. Fighting antisemitism does not detract from fighting any other bigotry — it strengthens the moral foundation to fight them all.

We live in a time when antisemitic incidents — from harassment to vandalism to outright violence — are on the rise in schools, on college campuses, and in our streets. Jewish children have been targeted at Jewish centers and synagogues have faced bomb threats. These are not “exaggerations.” They are the lived experiences of our neighbors, and ignoring them will not make them go away.

Kentucky has chosen a better path — Republicans and Democrats working to protect all our citizens from hate. That is something we should be proud of, not undermining.

By adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition, our state has taken an important step toward ensuring clarity and accountability in the fight against antisemitism. By supporting Holocaust education, we equip future generations to recognize and resist the forces of hatred before they spiral out of control.

The op-ed in question does more than misstate facts—it sends a message to Kentucky’s Jewish community that their concerns are unwelcome, that their safety is negotiable, and that their history can be diminished. We cannot allow that message to stand unchallenged.

Antisemitism is real. It is growing. And it demands a united, bipartisan response grounded in truth, not tropes.

Rabbi Shlomo Litvin is the Chairman of the Kentucky Jewish Council, the leading advocate for the Kentucky Jewish community.