Stitt writes letter to Trump welcoming Jewish families to Oklahoma

Gov. Kevin Stitt has written a letter to President Donald Trump offering refuge to Jewish families fleeing antisemetic violence anywhere in the world, but singling out Canada, since the outset of the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza.

"Reports of increasing violence, intimidation, and discrimination directed at Jewish communities since Oct. 7, 2023, are deeply troubling," Stitt wrote in the July 22 letter. The governor's office shared the letter on X on Monday, Aug. 31. "It is especially disturbing to see such ugly hostility in western nations that otherwise hold themselves out as bastions of tolerance and civility, such as Canada. No one should be forced to live in fear because of their faith."

Stitt added that Jewish families that "lawfully come to the United States in search of safety and opportunity," would be welcome in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has welcomed families seeking refuge from Afghanistan and, decades earlier, Vietnam. But Stitt's letter comes as many Muslims in Oklahoma feel he has stepped up hostility against them after recently ordering state agencies to investigate the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Oklahoma .

"You shouldn't live in fear because of your faith," Stitt said in his X post sharing the letter. "In Oklahoma, you can practice freely without fear of violence."

Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, emphasized the need to protect people of all ethnicities and religions in response to Stitt's letter.

"No one should live in fear because of their religious beliefs or lack thereof," Dollens said in a statement. "Jewish families facing antisemitism should know they are welcome in Oklahoma, just as people of every faith and no faith should be welcomed into our communities. Jews, Muslims, Christians, people of faith and people with no religious beliefs at all deserve the same dignity, safety and equal treatment. Oklahoma is at its best when we choose kindness and reason over bigotry and hate."

Rabbi Vered Harris, of Temple B'nai Israel in Oklahoma City, said much the same and also emphasized the rise in antisemitism in recent years during an interview with The Oklahoman.

"Yes, there are people all over the world who experience discrimination and targeted violence," Harris said in a text to The Oklahoman. "Concern about the global rise of attacks against Jewish people does not diminish our concern for other people who suffer. This is not a competition. In a time when few people seem concerned about the baseless hatred Jewish people are facing, including from people who seem concerned about the rights of other minorities, I am grateful for Gov. Stitt drawing attention to the deadly attacks targeting Jewish people all over the world."

Antisemitism has been on the rise in Canada since 2019, according to the Canadian government. The number of police-reported hate crimes has risen every year. In 2023, there were about 900 religiously motivated hate crimes against the Jewish community, according to statistics from the Canadian government.

Press Secretary Tevis Hillis said Stitt wrote Trump the letter after seeing the rise in antisemitism in Canada and after Jewish leaders across Oklahoma asked for his support.

The United States has also seen a rise in antisemitic actions. The American Jewish Committee reported that 91% of American Jews reported that they feel less safe as a Jewish person in the United States today.

In Stitt's letter, he credited the rise in antisemitism since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as the reason for his letter to Trump. Since that attack, Israel has responded with intense military operations against Hamas inside Gaza that a United Nations inquiry described as a genocide.

"Reports of increasing violence, intimidation and discrimination directed at Jewish communities since Oct. 7, 2023, are deeply troubling," Stitt said in the letter. "It is especially disturbing to see such ugly hostility in western nations that otherwise hold themselves out as bastions of tolerance and civility, such as Canada. No one should be forced to live in fear because of their faith."

In the last year, Trump has escalated tensions with Canada and has repeatedly threatened to increase tariffs on the country.

Stitt touts Oklahoma's strong Jewish community

In his letter, Stitt said, "Oklahoma is blessed with a strong and vibrant Jewish community... that has contributed to our state's success since before statehood and stands ready to welcome new neighbors." He also thanked the president for his "steadfast leadership" confronting antisemitism and defending religious liberty."

The letter came days before Stitt, in an Aug. 12 order, asked the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security to determine whether the Muslim Brotherhood, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) or any of their members are connected to a terrorist effort.

Islamic leaders said they feared that this implication that Oklahoma Muslims could be connected to terrorist actions would endanger them.

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OKC Jewish temple works to help refugees

Rabbi Harris emphasized her temple's commitment to helping people regardless of faith and praised her congregation's work to relocate refugees.

About two years ago, Temple B'nai Israel established an Oklahoma City chapter of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, an international group that helps refugees, regardless of religion or ethnicity, find homes.

"We've helped Muslims and Christians and people with many different backgrounds," Harris said.

Through the congregation's work with HIAS, Temple B'nai has helped relocate more than 200 people from across the globe. Of these, the temple helped relocate one Jewish family from South Africa.

"It's one of the ways in which we see ourselves as helping the world, helping humanity," Harris said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Stitt writes letter to Trump welcoming Jewish families to Oklahoma