Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse Attends Antisemitism Summit

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse joined leaders from 53 cities across the globe at the 2022 Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism starting Wednesday.

The second annual summit, hosted by the Combat Antisemitism Movement and Center for Jewish Impact, began Wednesday and runs through Thursday in Athens, Greece. The event features municipal leaders from 23 countries, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams and leaders from Vienna, Austria and Paris, France.

Bosse, the daughter of an Auschwitz survivor, has long been an advocate for Jewish Americans, especially as the city has seen a number of antisemitic displays in recent years.

"My mom's book, 'Destiny,' told her story of her survival from Auschwitz and her destiny to live, have a daughter who would never forget, make sure her story will always be told and ensure such hatred would never happen again," Bosse said on Instagram. "Yet, here I am, flew to the other side of the world to Athens, Greece, to bear witness, and stand side by side with Mayors from all over the world. Destiny yet again."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was set to speak at Wednesday's opening dinner, along with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Enes Kanter Freedom, who played for five NBA teams from 2011-22.

Tanaz Golshan, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's liaison to the Jewish and Iranian communities, is set to speak Thursday during a session titled "Intercommunal Challenges and Opportunities to Ensure Diversity."

The first annual mayor's summit was held virtually in 2021. At this year's meeting, leaders will discuss "challenges and solutions to counter hatred, bigotry, and antisemitism within their cities," according to the Combat Antisemitism Movement.

“Mayors and other local and regional decision-makers are the closest officials to the ground in towns and cities around the world,” Combat Antisemitism Movement CEO Sacha Roytman Dratwa said in a news release. “They have the best understanding of the challenges and the solutions to combat all forms of hate, including antisemitism. They are the ones charged with issues that take place on their streets and neighborhoods, so they are closest to the pulse of their communities. This is why we strongly believe that mayors and other municipal leaders are best placed to track, to understand and to help combat antisemitism, and share strategies and policies with their colleagues from both near and far.”

City News Service contributed to this report.