AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: January 28, 2025
Item Number:
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Mandy Jiang, Senior Management Analyst
Magdalena Davis, Community Outreach Manager
Subject: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS ACKNOWLEDGING JANUARY 27 AS INTERNATIONAL
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
Attachments: 1. Draft Resolution
2. List of City Council Actions Taken against Antisemitism
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution acknowledging January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
DISCUSSION
On January 15, 2025, Mayor Friedman requested a resolution (Attachment 1) to be placed on the January 28 Formal City Council meeting agenda to acknowledge January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005, designating January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which coincides with the date the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was liberated. This year marks a milestone of 80 years since the liberation.
The Beverly Hills City Council has a long-standing history of combating antisemitism and condemning all forms of hate. Attachment 2 lists formal Council actions taken against antisemitism, including a proclamation issued last November recognizing Mizrahi and Sephardic Heritage Month, adoption of the working definition of antisemitism established by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), and many more throughout the years.
By adopting this proposed resolution, the City Council commemorates the six million Jewish lives lost along with millions of other persecuted victims during the Holocaust, Meeting Date: January 28, 2025
while reaffirming the City’s ongoing commitment to building a more tolerant and compassionate society.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with adopting the proposed resolution.
Keith Sterling
Deputy City Manager
Approved By
Attachment 1
B0785-0001\3067664v2.doc
RESOLUTION NO. 25-R-______
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEVERLY
HILLS ACKNOWLEDGING JANUARY 27 AS INTERNATIONAL
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
WHEREAS, January 27 marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp; and
WHEREAS, today and every day, we remember and honor the memory of the six million Jews who were systematically murdered by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Regime, along with millions of other innocent victims, including people with disabilities, political dissidents, and many others targeted for persecution; and WHEREAS, International Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as a solemn reminder of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, and antisemitism, and underscores the importance of education, vigilance, and action to prevent such atrocities from occurring again; and
WHEREAS, the City of Beverly Hills reaffirms its commitment to promoting tolerance, understanding, and human dignity, while standing against all forms of hatred and discrimination; and
WHEREAS, remembering the Holocaust safeguards the voices and memories of survivors, their vibrant communities, cherished traditions, hopes, dreams, and loved ones who did not survive; and
Docusign Envelope ID: 78DD41AB-C557-4E87-931E-75AF68A1A1F2 B0785-0001\3067664v2.doc
WHEREAS, it is our duty to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust remain a cornerstone of our collective memory and to honor the resilience and courage of those who survived and rebuilt their lives.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Beverly Hills does resolve as follows:
Section 1. The City Council hereby acknowledge January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day and reaffirm our commitment to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and commit to building a more tolerant and compassionate society.
Section 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause this resolution and her certification to be entered into the Book of Resolutions of the Council of this City.
Adopted:
LESTER J. FRIEDMAN
Mayor of the City of Beverly Hills,
California
ATTEST:
(SEAL)
HUMA AHMED
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
LAURENCE S. WIENER NANCY HUNT-COFFEY
City Attorney City Manager
Docusign Envelope ID: 78DD41AB-C557-4E87-931E-75AF68A1A1F2 Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: 78DD41AB-C557-4E87-931E-75AF68A1A1F2 Status: Sent Subject: Complete with Docusign: Attachment 1- Holocaust Remembrance Day Resolution (2025).DOC Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 2 Signatures: 1 Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 0 Mandy Jiang
AutoNav: Enabled
EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled
Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
455 N. Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
[email protected]
IP Address: 198.245.189.166
Record Tracking
Status: Original
1/21/2025 3:17:45 PM
Holder: Mandy Jiang
[email protected]
Location: DocuSign
Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Laurence Wiener
[email protected]
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address: 69.75.7.194
Sent: 1/21/2025 3:24:09 PM
Resent: 1/22/2025 1:31:59 PM
Viewed: 1/22/2025 1:54:22 PM
Signed: 1/22/2025 1:54:44 PM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
Mandy Jiang
[email protected]
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Sent: 1/22/2025 1:54:45 PM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
Nancy Hunt-Coffey
[email protected]
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
Lester J. Friedman
[email protected]
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
Huma Ahmed
[email protected]
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
In Person Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Editor Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Agent Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Intermediary Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Certified Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Carbon Copy Events Status Timestamp
Witness Events Signature Timestamp
Notary Events Signature Timestamp
Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps
Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted 1/21/2025 3:24:09 PM
Payment Events Status Timestamps
Attachment 2
City of Beverly Hills – Formal Council Actions Taken Against Antisemitism April 18, 2006 – Proclamation designated April 23-April 30, 2006 as Days of Remembrance in the City of Beverly Hills in honor of those who lost their lives or whose lives were forever changed as a result of the Holocaust September 1, 2015 – Adoption of a joint declaration on joint innovation, exchanges, and cooperation between the City of Beverly Hills and the Consulate General of the State of Israel
May 17, 2016 – Adoption of a resolution in support of AB 2844, California combatting the boycott, divestments, and sanctions of Israel Act of 2016 (Res# 16-R-13078) October 18, 2016 – Adoption of a resolution opposing the United Nation’s resolution to deny Jewish historical and religious claims to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall (Res# 16-R-13114)
July 17, 2018 – Proclamation for Israel’s 70th Anniversary Event Committee at the City Council meeting
January 15, 2019 – City Council approved sending a letter of support for H.R. 6725, U.S.- Israel Directed Energy Cooperation Act of 2018
August 20, 2019 – Adopted a resolution condemning the antisemitic aspects of the State’s new ethnic studies model curriculum (Res# 19-R-13245)
November 19, 2019 – Adopted a resolution opposing the Court of Justice of the European Union’s ruling, which requires European Union countries to identify food products made in Israeli settlements on the product’s label (Res# 19-R-13260) January 28, 2020 – At Study Session discussed adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism January 28, 2020 – at Formal Session, the City Council recognized Grant Gochin’s efforts in the fight against Holocaust denial and revisionism perpetuated by the Lithuanian government
February 4, 2020 – Adopted a resolution which adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism (Res# 20-R-13271) February 18, 2020 – Adopted a resolution opposing the United Nations High Commissioner for publishing a list of 112 companies that conduct business in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and condemned the decision as a clear act of antisemitism Res# 20-R-13274)
May 19, 2020 – Adopted a resolution condemning any attempts by the Lithuanian Government to deny involvement in the Holocaust (Res# 20-R-13290) August 18, 2020 – Adopted a resolution calling upon colleges and universities to condemn the antisemitic behavior of their students and to take further action to prevent antisemitic behavior on their campuses (Res# 20-R-13306)
February 2, 2021 – An informational report was published as part of the Study Session Agenda on “Recognizing and Countering Holocaust Distortion: Recommendations for Policy and Decision Makers”
June 24, 2021 – City Council approved sending a letter of support for Senate Bill 693 that would establish the Governor’s Council on Genocide and Holocaust Education to, among other things, establish best practices for, and promote implementation of, education on genocide, including the Holocaust, and submit an annual report to the Legislature. The bill would strongly encourage school districts and charter schools with pupils in grades 4 to 12, inclusive, to integrate the best practices into instruction on genocide, including the Holocaust. (Bill died in the house of origin)
August 3, 2021 - City Council approved sending a letter of opposition to Assembly Bill 101 – which requires students to complete a one-semester course in ethnic studies to receive a high school diploma (Bill signed on October 8, 2021 by Governor Newsom). October 26, 2021 – City Council authorized the Mayor to send a letter of opposition addressed to Lithuania's Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte opposing Lithuania's authorization of the development of an international conference center on the Šnipiškes Jewish cemetery.
January 4, 2022 – At formal session the City Council discussed what could be done in response to the distribution of antisemitic flyers in the City May 24, 2022 – At a formal session, Mayor Bosse addresses the display of anti-Semitic signs and banners on several vehicles that entered the City on May 21, 2022 with people inside the vehicle making anti-Semitic statements. After consulting with the AntiDefamation League, the District Attorney, the US Attorney’s Office, and the City Attorney, it was determined that while the rhetoric is offensive, in and of itself, it is not a crime August 2, 2022 – Adoption of a resolution calling for the United Nations to disband the International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel due to the bias of the Commission against Israel; the antisemitic statements made by two of the assigned investigators to the Commission of Inquiry; and the questionability of the capacity of the Commission to remain impartial (Res# 22-R13420) September 20, 2022 – City Council commemorated and recognized the 50th anniversary of the Munich Olympics and the senseless slaying of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic Team
January 3, 2023 – Holocaust Memorial Ad Hoc established February 21, 2023 – Adopted the Legislative Platform with four new statements regarding the Holocaust, antisemitism, hate and extremism, and recognizing culturally significant holidays including Rosh Hashanah.
April 18, 2023 – Proclamation for the 75th Anniversary of Israeli independence October 17, 2023 – Resolution in support of the state of Israel as it defends itself against Hamas
June 27, 2024 – Created an Ad Hoc committee to explore creating a permanent memorial for those lives lost in Israel
November 19, 2024 – Proclamation recognizing November as Mizrahi and Sephardic Jewish Heritage Month