Pete Jansons, co-host of the Lake Forest Podcast, said local religious leaders failed to show solidarity after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, noting Rabbi Moshe Spalter and Reverend Luke Back remained silent and describing their inaction as “elitism at work in Lake Forest.”
“Here's what I got back from Rabbi Moshe Spalter, whom we all stood with during anti-Semitic flare-ups at the menorah lighting," said Jansons on the Lake Forest podcast. “He says, ‘Neither I personally nor Shabbad in general issues public statements on world events. Our way has always been to respond by being there for people through prayer, teaching, dialogue, and encouraging acts of goodness and kindness.’ Translation: when it was his community needing solidarity, Lake Forest showed up. But when we needed him, he chose silence.”
“Reverend Luke Back, from the Church of the Holy Spirit, wrote, ‘I have never intentionally given an on-the-record pastoral statement," said Jansons. “Pastoral care is an interpersonal ministry, and it's much more about listening than telling.’ This is the same man who preaches about sins of omission — about how failing to act is just as wrong as acting wrongly. Yet when it came time to say violence is not okay, suddenly listening became the excuse for doing nothing. This is elitism at work in Lake Forest. Elitism says, ‘I don't need to get my hands dirty. I don't need to show up when it's risky. I'll just quietly stay in my bubble and protect my status.’”
This full episode is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
This episode of the Lake Forest Podcast features Pete addressing expectations of civic leadership in Lake Forest following the Charlie Kirk assassination. The discussion explores whether leaders should stay silent or speak out, touching on issues of elitism, voting, and public responsibility. The hosts also cover topics such as rising property taxes, Pepper Construction’s disputed donation to Lake Forest High School, and local media coverage, including Dan Proft airing an Aaron Del Mar clip.
The Lake Forest podcast is hosted by Pete Jansons, an entrepreneur with a background in neuroscience; Rick Lesser, an attorney and former village trustee; and Joe Weiss, who has experience in multiple government and public service positions. The podcast covers topics and politics impacting the area around the city of Lake Forest, according to the Lake Forest podcast website.
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