Letter: The real 'Jewish community' stands with Israel, not terror

Regarding the op-ed " Our Jewish community stands with Palestine " (Oct. 9), let's be clear: writer Megan Cass does not speak for the St. Louis Jewish community, only for a group singularly devoted to hating Israel and other Jews who support the Jewish state.

Cass' group, Jewish Voice for Peace, is so disdainful of Israel that she cannot bring herself to acknowledge that 1,200 people, not just Jews, but Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists too, were slaughtered by terrorists on that horrible day. That is what Oct. 7, 2023, means to the vast majority of the Jewish community and its partners.

We also have deep empathy for the lives lost and for the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza. They have suffered under the tyranny of Hamas since Israel withdrew from the territory in 2005 and throughout this war, used as human shields while Hamas stockpiles bombs under homes, schools and hospitals.

A year later, Hamas continues to hold 101 hostages, including seven Americans, rather than stop the war. The Jewish people continue to feel immense anguish.

There were 2,000 people gathered at a memorial Oct. 7 in St. Louis. We prayed for the lives lost, for the hostages and for the end of the war. Those at the memorial were the true Jewish voices for peace.

Nancy Lisker

Director, American Jewish Committee/St. Louis