Joe Lombardo has our back

Since Oct. 7, it has not been an easy time for me or most of Nevada’s Jewish community. Many of you have seen this from my social media posts, which have transformed into a constant delude of memorials and calling people out for antisemitism or hypocrisy, among other things. I have been showcasing my immense anger and pain, emotions I have worn on my sleeves for five months, so you can see how, we in the Jewish community feel.

I wrote about how we were not OK immediately after Hamas’ attack on Israel, a day that made the Nazis no longer the most recent perpetrators of genocide of Jews.

That distinction is now held by Hamas, which acted with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, Jews and Israelis, as a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, through acts such as but not limited to: the slaughter, rape and hostage-taking of innocent people simply for who they are.

Immediately after the attack, the Jewish community came together to host a vigil in Las Vegas — and Gov. Joe Lombardo was there alongside Sens. Cortez Masto and Rosen and Reps. Titus and Lee. Other elected leaders joined us, including Assemblywomen Cohen and Thomas, and Regent Byron Brooks.

Governor Lombardo and I don’t have a very long friendship; we only recently met just a few short years ago. But, on that October evening in Las Vegas, I saw him look at me, call me over and pull me to the side away from the crowd of people, just to ask me how I was doing, telling me that he was there for me, and my community. He didn’t do this because of the role he serves, but because of the person he is.

The governor looked at me as a friend in need and showed me more empathy than I have seen from most people.

Fast-forward to a few weeks ago. I saw him for the first time since that evening, and what did Lombardo do? He did it again.

Governor Lombardo again pulled me aside away from a crowd of people to ask me how I was doing, to check in as a friend, not as a politician. After the event we were at, he sat with me for 15 minutes just to talk and continue the conversation — seeing what I needed as a person, a Nevadan, and a friend.

I showed Lombardo some of the antisemitic and hate-filled messages I’ve received; we talked about the incessant bomb threats against Jewish institutions in December; we talked about safety for Nevada’s Jewish community. But not just our Jewish community, but also the safety of our Muslim friends and neighbors, and all communities that have seen hateful threats made against them.

In true Joe Lombardo fashion, he immediately sought a solution, asking what we can do to keep Nevadans safe.

And again, what did he do? He listened. He listened to me ask for a nonprofit security grant program that would help communities that receive these threats secure their facilities, keeping them safe, and reducing the risk of mass casualty events.

We, as Nevadans, are lucky to have a governor that is willing sit with Nevadans in pain, ask them how they are, how he can help, and not just be their governor, but also their friend.

I’m proud to call Joe a friend. I’m proud to have him as our governor. I am thankful for him in pulling me away from the crowds to simply ask the question: “How are you?” And him knowing that I was not OK.

Elliot Malin is chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust and a board member for Jewish Nevada.