Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian was recently invited to join the inaugural Mayor’s Advisory Board formed by the Combat Antisemitism Movement. She will join other mayors in providing guidance on actionable city policies.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) was founded in 2019 and consists of more than 850 interfaith organizations, decision-makers, content creators and activists with the goal of leading “a united front against Jew hatred.”
Nazarian told the Courier she feels a deep responsibility to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.
“We are living in a moment where silence is not an option. It is more important than ever to stand up to hate, discrimination and antisemitism in all its forms,” said Nazarian. “This board provides a platform for municipal leaders to lead with moral clarity, to be that voice when it matters the most.”
The board, chaired by Mayor Brett Smiley from Providence, Rhode Island, brings together nine mayors across the country representing a variety of regions and constituencies. The mayors met for the first time in September and will play a central role in the upcoming 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, which will take place at the end of the year in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Nazarian said her years of experience as a public servant, psychologist, mother and immigrant have helped her understand the power of resilience, which she hopes to bring to the board.
More than 300 mayors and municipal leaders from across North America will convene in New Orleans for the summit, where they will talk strategies, create coalition-building strategies, and share resources to implement tangible strategies toward combating antisemitism in their own cities.
Former Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman chaired the 2024 summit, which was held in Beverly Hills. The 2024 summit also unveiled CAM’s Municipal Antisemitism Action Index—a critical framework that the board aims to advance ahead of the 2025 conference.
Nazarian told the Courier that she hopes Beverly Hills can continue to be a model for other cities in combating antisemitism, pointing to enhanced public safety measures and increased community partnerships and education as tangible actions the city has taken toward combating hate and antisemitism.
“On the board, I intend to share tangible strategies from Beverly Hills that can be adapted and scaled nationally. Beverly Hills has always been a model of excellence, and we will continue to lead with strength, courage and kindness,” said Nazarian.
“Never Again Is Now” is an initiative the mayor has championed throughout her term, which aims to highlight the diversity of the Jewish experience through events like speaker series and book discussions. Recently, the city began its effort in constructing a permanent memorial commemorating the victims of Hamas’ attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023—the first of its kind in the entire world.
“This site will serve as a place of remembrance, reflection and education. By honoring victims and educating our community, we foster a more united, tolerant and compassionate city that leads with kindness and courage,” said Nazarian.
But the mayor doesn’t think her advocacy should stop there—which is part of why she’s decided to join the board. “Hate does not recognize borders,” said Nazarian. “Antisemitism is not a local issue, it’s a global challenge. While I am deeply committed to protecting and uplifting our Beverly Hills community, leadership means looking beyond our city limits … When any group is targeted, our entire society is at risk. Combating antisemitism everywhere helps make our own communities safer and stronger.”
She also believes mayors are put in a unique position to create change and shape their communities because of their direct connection to their residents, businesses, schools and faith institutions.
“We see the impact of antisemitism not as an abstract concept, but as something that affects real people in real time,” said Nazarian. “That’s why local leadership is so critical. We can mobilize resources, foster partnerships and create a culture of unity and respect from the ground up.”
With the nine other mayors on the board, Nazarian seeks to strengthen and build coalitions that go beyond the city limits of Beverly Hills and last far beyond a single conference.
