B'nai B'rith International

B’nai B’rith is an international Jewish advocacy organization committed to the security and continuity of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Its declared mission is to unite persons of the Jewish faith and to enhance Jewish identity through strengthening Jewish family life and the education and training of youth, broad-based services for the benefit of senior citizens, and advocacy and action on behalf of Jews throughout the world. B'nai B'rith founded the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in the beginning of the 20th century and is currently the lesser known of the two when ranking prominent Jewish organizations.

Centers

According to its website:

The work of B'nai B'rith International is focused in its centers. These centers provide the framework for intensive study of issues and thoughtful responses through the combined efforts of dedicated volunteer leaders and professional staff.

• Center for Human Rights and Public Policy (CHRPP)
• Center for Senior Services (CSS
• Center for Community Action (CCA)
• Center for Jewish Culture (CJC)
• World Center in Jerusalem

History

According to the B’nai B’rith website:

Founded in 1843, B'nai B'rith International is universally recognized as one of the world's largest and oldest Jewish human rights, community action, and humanitarian organizations. A constant source of innovation and charity for populations around the world, B'nai B'rith has founded hospitals, orphanages, senior housing communities, disaster relief campaigns, libraries, anti-hatred programs, and countless other initiatives in the public interest. B'nai B'rith is also a tireless advocate for Israel and the Diaspora in a variety of governmental and political arenas. With more than 180,000 members and affiliates in more than 50 countries, B'nai B'rith truly spans the globe in its efforts to make Jewish communities better for all their inhabitants.

Financials

For FYE 06/2009, B'nai B'rith took $24,420,357 total revenue, with $324,795 going to executive vice president of the DC branch, Daniel Mariaschin.

Activities

Lobbying

B'nai B'rith International Policy Conference 2010

Held in Washington, D.C. from November 13-16, this year's focus areas included Iran, the "delegitimization" of Israel, and anti-semitism.

Participants of Note

Chair: Benton Mirman, Chair, World Zionist organization/JAFI and representative, American Zionist Movement | Presenter: Alan Schneider, Director, B’nai B’rith World Center in Jerusalem | Howard Rothman, International Policy Conference Chair | Jorge Loeff, President, B’nai B’rith Uruguay and Paraguay | Stuart Rothenberg, Editor, The Rothenberg Political Report, | David J. Michaels, Director of United Nations Affairs and Interfaith Relations | Pamela Nadell, Ph.D., Professor of History, American University, Washington, D.C. | Jamila Wignot, Producer and Director of Triangle Fire | Steve Fraser, Ph.D., Professor of History, New York University | Steven Emerson, Executive Director The Investigative Project on Terrorism | Dean Baker, Ph.D., Co-Director Center for Economic and Policy Research | Paul A. Shapiro, Director, Advanced Holocaust Studies, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum | Hannah Rosenthal, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, U.S. Department of State | Melody C. Barnes, Assistant to the President and Director, Domestic Policy Council | Denis R. McDonough, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Staff Chief of Staff | Haim Katz, Ph.D., Chair, B’nai B’rith World Center | Meron Reuben, Ambassador of Israel to the United Nations

Canada Palestine Film Festival

In October 2005 B'nai B'rith denounced the Canada Palestine Film Festival, which was organized by a group of Canadian Jews as well as other ethnicities, on the grounds that it was "about propaganda not art."

People

Leadership

Accessed January 2009:

• Moishe Smith, President
• Dennis W. Glick, Chairman of the Executive
• John Rofel, Senior Vice President
• Seymour Saideman, Senior Vice President
• Harold "Hesch" Steinberg, Senior Vice President
• Jacobo Wolkowicz, Senior Vice President
• Harold Shulman, Treasurer

Past leaders

• Kent E. Schiner - president (1990-1992)
• Seymour D. Reich - president (1986-1990)

Visiting Speakers

Accessed December 2007:

• Shlomo Avineri - April 2008
• Michael Bar-Zohar - Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 -
• Adam Ferziger - January 27 – February 10, 2008
• Daniel Gordis - March and May 2008
• David Grossman - November 2008
• Yossi Klein Halevi - January 10-27, 2008
• David Horovitz - Fall 2007 and May 2008

Contact

Web: http://www.bnaibrith.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/bnaibrith
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bnai-Brith-International/8016549779?ref=ts
Linked in: http://www.linkedin.com/companies/b'nai-b'rith-international

Address:

2020 K Street, NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-857-6600
Toll-free Phone: (888) 388-4224

Affiliations

• Anti-Defamation League - Founded by B'nai B'rith in 1913 | Realite EU, front group allegedly based in London but actually run from BBI HQ | The Israel Project, shares an office with BBI in Washington DC

Related articles

• Former International President, Tommy Baer
• Raymond Tanter
• Gary Ackerman
• Philip M. Klutznick
• Claudio M. Grossman
• B'nai B'rith Australia
• B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission
• Anti-Defamation League
• Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations
• Foundation for Middle East Peace
• Save Darfur Coalition