More than 200 mayors convened in Beverly Hills, California, while over 100 local leaders met in Vienna, Austria, last week to address the surge in antisemitism and develop concrete strategies to protect Jewish communities, as reported by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
The CAM Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, the organization's largest such gathering to date, culminated in the launch of the Municipal Antisemitism Action Index, a pioneering tool that evaluates how effectively cities combat antisemitism and protect Jewish residents.
"Antisemitism is at an all-time high, and with Jews around the world feeling unsafe in their communities, we felt that those who are most likely to effect change for the better are local leaders," CAM Chief Executive Officer Sacha Roytman Dratwa told the organization. "The unprecedented attendance at these emergency summits reflects the urgency of our mission."
The Beverly Hills location carried particular significance given Southern California's challenges with antisemitism, especially on college campuses. At the nearby University of California, Los Angeles, pro-Hamas demonstrations have created what Jewish students describe as a hostile environment, including allegations of discriminatory hiring practices and students being prevented from entering classes.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria emphasized the crucial role of municipal leadership. "Mayors are the most accessible and visible leaders in people's lives. When acts of hate occur in your city, it threatens and undermines stability, and they must be addressed with decisive action," Gloria said. "Rising antisemitism is a local issue where local action can have a profound impact."
The summit's urgency was underscored by a CAM survey released Oct. 7, revealing that approximately 3.5 million of America's 6 million Jews experienced antisemitic incidents last year.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis reflected on recent events: "The horror of October 7, and the challenges that followed, have left an indelible mark on our lives. If it starts with antisemitism, when and where will it end? We must remain steadfast, protect those in need – and educate."
In Vienna, the United Against Antisemitism summit, organized in partnership with the European Leadership Network (ELNET), brought together leaders from politics, academia, and civil society to discuss strategies against antisemitism in education, culture, sports, and digital spaces.
"Antisemitism is a global challenge without national borders. Since October 7, we have seen a resurgence of antisemitism related to Israel in the streets of Europe," said Executive Director of ELNET-Germany Carsten Ovens. "The Vienna conference provides a central platform for deepening dialogue, developing new approaches, and formulating concrete actions and steps against Jew-hatred."
