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Last week, the City of Beverly Hills, California, held the “Never Again Is Now” event marking Jewish American Heritage Month.
Led by Mayor Sharona Nazarian, the panel discussion — titled “Diversity of the Jewish Experience: Standing Up to Hate, Discrimination, and Antisemitism” — spotlighted the richness of Jewish identity, the threats facing Jewish communities today, and the urgent need for civic leadership in confronting bigotry,
Panelists included: Dr. Evelyn Markus, daughter of Holocaust survivors and co-host of the “Never Again Is Now” podcast; Dr. Sheila Nazarian, plastic surgeon and Jewish advocate; Matthew Nouriel, Iranian Jewish LGBTQ+ activist and director of community engagement at Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa (JIMENA); and Elisheva Rishon, founder of the BJZ Squad and a leading voice for Black Jewish American Zionists.
The forum was moderated by Emmy-nominated multimedia journalist Jacki Karsh.
“We live in a complicated world,” Mayor Nazarian said. “There are many things that divide us. But tonight is about showcasing what we have in common and our shared humanity. It’s about listening to diverse voices within the Jewish community — voices that are often unheard, misrepresented or misunderstood. And most of all, it’s about unity.”
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) was represented at the event by Chief Government Affairs Officer Lisa Katz.
“It was a privilege to join the City of Beverly Hills at their ‘Never Again Is Now’ event — a city that not only celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month with intention and pride, but also led with conviction by hosting the Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism this past December,” Katz said.
“As we gathered to honor Jewish American Heritage Month, we were reminded of the extraordinary diversity within the Jewish community — diversity of background, of experience, of voice,” she added. “But we were also reminded that celebrating heritage must go hand in hand with defending it. Antisemitism is not a relic of the past — it’s a challenge of the present. And the phrase ‘Never Again’ is not a historical slogan — it’s a call to action.”
Beverly Hills has emerged as a national model for how cities can respond to antisemitism — not only with symbolic gestures, but with sustained leadership and action. Last December, the city hosted the 2024 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, organized in partnership with CAM. More than 200 mayors and municipal officials gathered to share strategies and commit to concrete steps for combating antisemitism at the local level, and the summit was highlighted by the unveiling of CAM’s Municipal Antisemitism Action Index.
More than 200 U.S. municipalities officially proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) this year, with CAM actively promoting JAHM recognitions and celebrations in cities across the country.
