Kentucky Chabad of Bluegrass Co-Director Rabbi Shlomo Litvin responded to neo-Nazi flyers permeating his central Kentucky neighborhood with flyers that preached tolerance, and the Chabad said it plans to launch educational initiatives about Judaism.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that the flyers stated in all capital letters, “WHITE POWER BLOOD AND SOIL BLOOD AND SOIL JEWS WILL NOT REPLACE US BLACKS WILL NOT REPLACE US MEXICANS WILL NOT REPLACE US WE STAND IN DEFENSE OF THE WHITE RACE.” Ronald Murray, vice president of the neo-Nazi organization 14 First The Foundation, told the Herald-Leader that his organization is responsible for the flyers and its members distributed around 150-250 flyers in central Kentucky on Aug. 11.
Litvin told the Herald-Leader that he has begun distributing flyers that counter the neo-Nazi flyers’ message.
“[The flyers] said, you matter, you are irreplaceable, and we’re glad that you are part of our community,” Litvin said.
He also told WKYT, “Our reply to being told to leave is to be prouder, to be more open and more vocal about our role in the community. We’re very proud to be a part of the community. I love Lexington and I love Kentucky, and there is nothing that is going to make us leave.”
Litvin told the Herald-Leader that on Aug. 10, a man who said he was responsible for the flyers called Litvin and yelled at him about how “my Jewish privilege is not going to protect me.” Litvin has reported the incident to police.
The Chabad of Bluegrass issued a statement saying that it planned to launch educational initiatives about Judaism in an effort to combat hate.
“Education is the greatest weapon against hatred,” Chabad of Bluegrass Co-Director Shoshi Litvin said. “The Rebbe [Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson] said many times that education should not just be about math and science, but about morals and values. Through this, we can build a more loving society.”
