NEVADA VIEWS: Combatting the rise in antisemitism

May is recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month in Nevada and throughout the United States. The month is meant to honor contributions by the Jewish community and to focus on the history of Jewish Americans.

Given the worldwide events since Oct. 7, 2023, it seems not only appropriate but more important that the various educational institutions from kindergarten through universities observe this month with relevant programming.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, there has been a 344 percent increase in antisemitism. There were more than 9,300 antisemitic events documented in 2024. Over the past decade, there has been an almost 900 percent increase in antisemitism demonstrated by overt anti-Jewish incidents. This last point is very important.

While pre-planned anti-Israel demonstrations popped up on U.S. college and university campuses, similarly, planned demonstrations occurred in cities around the globe. But the anti-Israel demonstrations in America were more telling about the anti-Jewish nature of these protests. Students who were identified as Jewish were physically attacked, spat upon and physically prevented from crossing campuses to attend class. The anti-Israel fervor was an opportunity, an excuse to be able to express Jewish hatred. Universities were often lax on protecting these Jewish students. This came out during congressional hearings at which university presidents mumbled and fumbled for excuses as to why they didn’t adequately come to the defense of the Jewish students who were experiencing immoral and unlawful behavior. Some of those university presidents resigned in shame.

So what have Jews contributed to society? One in five Nobel Prize winners has been Jewish. Jewish innovators have been responsible for impacting our daily lives when it comes to technology and medicine. Jews have created the ballpoint pen, the instant camera, blue jeans, the polio vaccine, the pacemaker, word processors, drip irrigation, USB flash drives and more.

Jews have been in the forefront of American entertainment. There have been many outstanding achievements by Jewish individuals in film, television, theater and music.

Gov. Joe Lombardo recognized the need to address the increase in antisemitism in the United States and in Nevada in particular. That motivated him to create the Governor’s Working Group on Antisemitism. The group was tasked with developing strategic policy recommendations regarding ways to combat hate, increase education and enhance safety measures for the Jewish community in response to global antisemitic incidents. While the group did come up with a few suggestions, there’s much more to be done in the future. Various members of the group even suggested an ongoing task force to address hateful anti-Jewish actions. Gov. Lombardo has to be congratulated for taking this initiative.

But, again, there is more that has to be done.

During Jewish American Heritage Month, it would be incumbent on the media to identify the positive contributions that have come from the Jewish community at large and the Nevada Jewish community in particular. Jewish individuals, prominent and maybe not so prominent, should be highlighted in stories that emphasize their contributions to the Jewish community and society as a whole. Stories and news reports should point out events that are occurring to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month. There should be stories that not only address antisemitism, but stories that focus on how the various religious and ethnic communities are coming together to address bigotry and hate toward Jews and all minorities.

Education about countering bigotry and hatred must begin in the home. Children must be taught at a very young age. But the greater community has got to take a step forward to make sure we put a major dent in the numbers of anti-Jewish incidents that we’ve seen in the past decade and especially since the Oct. 7 attack.

Gov. Lombardo’s Working Group on Antisemitism is a good start. But it’s going to take the community as a whole to make a real difference.

Alan Stock, a radio talk show host on KXNT in Las Vegas, served on the Governor’s Working Group on Antisemitism.