Antisemitic comments on a Hanukkah post by a local library spurred a response of unity and pride among Jewish community preschools.
After Olathe Public Library shared a photo featuring the children’s book “Hanukkah Bear” on Facebook on Dec. 8, the slew of antisemitic comments that followed prompted PJ Library Kansas City and the Child Development Center at The J (CDC) to organize a mass reading of the book.
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA), Kansas Jewish Preschool (KJP) and Congregation Beth Shalom’s Rose Family Early Education Center also hosted readings of the book at the same time on Dec. 14.
“Hanukkah Bear,” written by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, is a short children’s book distributed by PJ Library, a program that mails free Jewish children’s books to Jewish families as a gift from a local community. The story is about a 97-year-old grandmother who hosts a bear for Hanukkah, mistaking it for her rabbi due to her poor eyesight and hearing.
The library’s Dec. 8 Facebook post was flooded with more than a hundred antisemitic comments (most of which are now removed). Many comments directly referred to Israel and the ongoing Israel-Hamas War, comparing Israelis and Jews to Nazis, murderers and terrorists. Some comments thanking and supporting the library were replied to with similar hatred.
In direct response to the antisemitic comments, PJ Library and the CDC organized a “read-in” of the book — more than 230 students were read the book by more than 50 teachers across 14 classrooms in the CDC. Simultaneous readings also took place at HBHA, KJP and Beth Shalom.
“When the Olathe Public Library featured ‘Hanukkah Bear’ on its Facebook page, I was quick to share,” said Bridey Stangler, Kansas City’s PJ Library coordinator and engagement specialist at the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. “It wasn’t until someone posted it to the ‘Jewish Moms of KC’ group that I saw the comments, and they’re awful. I felt sick and emotional over how personal it felt. That’s a book that so many of us have on our bookshelves at home. It’s a favorite among our kids, and this library, which only sought to include everyone’s holiday celebrations, is just down the street.”
Stangler and Jewish Federation’s idea to hold a reading was amplified by the suggestion of CDC Director Machaela Whelan to make the event a mass “read-in.” Stangler also reached out to local Jewish preschools and elementary schools to participate in the readings. Jessica Kyanka-Maggart, HBHA’s lower and middle school principal; Esty Perman, assistant director of KJP; and Judy Jacks Berman, Beth Shalom’s director of early childhood education, organized readings of “Hanukkah Bear” at their respective schools on one day’s notice.
PJ Library Kansas City also posted a video of Stangler reading “Hanukkah Bear” on its Facebook page.
“What started as a knee-jerk reaction to some horrid rhetoric has become a showcase for the very best of the Jewish community,” Stangler said. “This is how we fight antisemitism. We celebrate. We read our stories and share our pride with our children.”
The Jewish Community Relations Bureau | American Jewish Committee Kansas City (JCRB|AJC), has been tracking the recent escalation of antisemitism in greater Kansas City. According to Neta Meltzer, JCRB|AJC director of community and government relations, the organization has seen a 500% increase in antisemitic incidents, now including the comment section of the library’s Facebook post.
“What we’re seeing here is a local illustration of how pervasive antisemitism has become, amplified as it has been since Oct. 7,” Meltzer said. “Let’s be clear: commenting ‘Free Palestine’ on social media posts of Jewish content is antisemitism, as are some of the other hateful words and images in the comments on what was meant to be a heartwarming celebration of Hanukkah geared toward children readers.”
As of publication, Olathe Public Library’s post is still online and has amassed more than 7,200 reactions and 562 comments. Additional commenting was shut off on Dec. 13, five days after the post went online. Most antisemitic comments were removed after commenting was shut off.
