On April 30, I sent this letter to our [Kansas] Junior Senator Dr. Roger Marshall. As of publication, I have not received a reply. I feel the Jewish community should know.
“According to today’s The Forward, Senator Roger Marshall insists that Federal legislation regarding antisemitism not include the most frequent and scurrilous antisemitic charge that resulted in murdering Jews for nearly 2,000 years, that Jews are responsible for murdering Christ. I understand that this statement resides in Christian scripture. I also understand not only its historical inaccuracy but also that it places Jews outside of the protection of law in that Jews are condemned for the crime of deicide. As a matter of history, this charge has been the cause of the expulsion of Jews from every country in Europe except Denmark at some time in history, and resulted in the heinous and merciless murder of tens of thousands of Jews. Senator Marshall believes, according to The Forward, that this is protected speech regardless of its murderous history.
“Obviously, the Catholic Church repudiated this charge with Vatican II in 1965, in the famous theological statement known as Nostra Aetate. But I know that Senator Dr. Marshall is not a Catholic.
“As a constituent and because the Senator’s position is a threat to my life, my family, and my entire community, I would like the opportunity to discuss the Senator’s position with him at his earliest opportunity. I would like the Senator to please explain to me his position and the reason for it. Given the graveness of the Senator’s position and my half century of service as a rabbi in this community, I believe a conversation is warranted.
Thank you for your help in this matter.”