Missouri adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism this week while at the same time recognizing September as Jewish American Heritage Month. The month was chosen to coincide with the High Holiday season.
“Missouri’s own Harry S. Truman was the first world leader to officially recognize Israel as a legitimate Jewish state, and we continue our proud support for members of the Jewish faith today,” Missouri’s Gov. Mike Parson said at a Sept. 19 gathering in Jefferson City, Mo., to announce two new initiatives.
Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe added “during Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate our state’s strong support for Israel and those of the Jewish faith. We also reaffirm Missouri’s commitment to rejecting antisemitism and discrimination toward the Jewish community.”
Missouri state officials and the Missouri Chapter of the Coalition for Jewish Values also attended the event.
“We also want to take this opportunity to unequivocally reject antisemitism towards Jewish people and bigotry of any kind. Today and every day, we say hate and discrimination have no home in Missouri,” Parson said.
The state has been a strong proponent of Israel and economic and security ties betwen it and the U.S.