Are you a Jew who is finding life in the big Democrat-run cities too expensive? Or does the rise of antisemitism in your neighborhood have you nervous about going out at night? A group in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is creating a community for those who find themselves in this situation to get away from it.
Rebekah Kantor, executive director of Tulsa Tomorrow, says to come down for a weekend visit.
“We are simply aiming to help encourage people to explore what Jewish life could look like outside of the community that they're in. By the end of their three days with us, they're so positively surprised, and it's great,” says Kantor.
She says that Tulsa is a warm environment, especially if a person is from one of the cities in America or Canada that is experiencing a rise in antisemitism.
“We're catering to people that are currently in a climate that might feel uncomfortable to them,” states Kantor.
According to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, 70% of all religiously motivated hate crimes target Canadian Jews, although they make up only 1% of the population.
“Our efforts from a Canadian perspective have started working, now, in partnership with the Jewish Federation,” says Kantor.
Because of their partnership, Kantor says that there is a special effort to bring Canadian Jews to Tulsa with the Lech L’Tulsa program, even covering most of the cost of the visit and helping relocate. Best of all, for any Jew who wants to move to Oklahoma, it is in the middle of the Bible Belt.
“We're fortunate in that, as Jewish people, it has increasingly become more advantageous where you know a lot of — at least in Tulsa's community — the evangelicals, Baptists — you know, super Christian communities — are also very supportive of Israel,” says Kantor.
Go to TulsaTomorrow.com for more information.
