Join B'nai B'rith at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue for the monthly trivia night on Tuesday, December 11. From sports to pop culture, geography to politics, we’ll test your knowledge of it all.

$15 in advance, $18 day of the event and includes a kosher dinner and two free drinks. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

> Register online

Join EntrypointDC, B'nai B'rith Young Professional Network, other Jewish organizations and hundreds of Jewish young adults from around the DC area for the biggest party of the year-- Hanukkah Happy Hour on the Hill!

Monday, December 10 (Third Night of Hannukah)
6:00 - 9:00 pm

We'll be at the Pour House and Capitol Lounge on Capitol Hill to celebrate the Miracle of the Lights, enjoy drink specials and hang out with new and old friends.

Be sure to bring winter gloves, socks, scarves, hats, shampoo, lotion and hand sanitizer (travel sizes)! All items will be donated to the December 25th Day of Service at the Washington DCJCC and given as holiday gifts to the DC Homeless Community.

> Learn more and register today

At a session of the Organization of American States Permanent Council, B’nai B’rith warned the organization that anti-Semitism is on the rise, necessitating increased governmental focus on the problem.

At the organization’s headquarters on Dec. 8, B’nai B’rith engaged in dialogue and reflection with other organizations and member states on the workings of the Inter-American Human Rights System. B’nai B’rith also examined proposals from an ongoing report on the IAHRS and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The goal of the meeting and the overall review process is to strengthen the OAS’ promotion of democracy, human rights, security and development.

Eric Fusfield, director of legislative affairs, represented B’nai B’rith at the session with combating anti-Semitism at the top of his agenda. He urged the OAS to increase its focus on anti-Semitism in the Western Hemisphere, as the problem is on the rise throughout the region.  

Fusfield had three specific suggestions to deal with anti-Semitism: First, he called for the adoption of the draft Convention Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination, which has been under discussion since 2004 and includes a specific reference to anti-Semitism. He also recommended that the OAS widely circulate a comprehensive working definition of anti-Semitism among public officials, educators and journalists in order to promote awareness of contemporary manifestations of the problem.  

Additionally, Fusfield conveyed the importance of monitoring and collecting data in documenting the phenomenon and the need for public figures to condemn and stigmatize hate speech in order to elevate the public discourse around Jews and other minorities.

November 8, 2012, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
B'nai B'rith International Headquarters
2020 K St NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006

Support those affected in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast from Hurricane Sandy.  Join B’nai B’rith at our international headquarters for an evening reception benefiting the B'nai B'rith Center for Community Action (CCA).  B’nai B’rith has been supporting victims of disasters since 1868, when it responded to the devastating flood that crippled Baltimore. 

The program will include a special exhibit and viewing featuring the works of local artists Lisa K. Rosenstein and Lauren Kotkin, who will be here to meet you and discuss their works. “Life is chaotic, complex, noisy, and at times painfully full” says Rosenstein.  Her work uses nothing but white paint and found objects to create a Zen-like space for contemplation.  Kotkin is an artist and exhibits and volunteers for Artomatic, an annual month-long art festival in DC.

Also on view will be highlights from B'nai B'rith's collection of Judaica.

Cost:  YPN Members: $15
           Non-Members: $20

> Register Online

Background

Washington artists Lisa K. Rosenstein and Lauren Kotkin have exhibited locally and throughout the United States. Rosenstein’s serene multi-media works are intended to induce a quiet, Zen-like state in the viewer. Lauren Kotkin’s photographs of Prague’s mosaic sidewalks inspired her new series of collages, which reveals what is “underfoot... yet unnoticed.”

Artwork will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting CCA. Your registration fee will also support the B’nai B’rith International Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Fund.

The B’nai B’rith Center for Community Action produces and supports national programs such as B’nai B’rith Cares for Kids and the B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Program, as well as community programs such as local volunteer activities at shelters, hospitals, and more.

Join the B'nai B'rith Young Professional Network and Sixth & I Historic Synagogue's 6th in the City for our monthly trivia night for those in their 20s and 30s.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 7:00 P.M.
Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
600 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

Due to overwhelming interest in this event advanced registration is required to guarantee your spot.

Advance registration: $15
Day of registration:    $18

> Register Now

Registration covers dinner and two drink tickets for wine and beer. Unlimited soft drinks will be available.

Teams: You can sign up and pay individually however please enter your team name in order to sign up with a specific team.

Every member of your team must be signed up in order to guarantee their spots.

Individuals: We'll create a team for you!

Registration will close on October 24, 2012 at 5 p.m. However we can sell out before then.

All sales are final.

B’nai B’rith Begins the Celebration of our 170th Anniversary this year.  What Will Be The STATE OF THE JEWISH WORLD When B’nai B’rith Celebrates 175 Years?

• Will Iran still constitute a mortal threat to Israel?
• Will global anti-Semitism be contained?
• Will efforts to delegitimize Israel still be rampant?
• Will the Social Security “safety net” be weakened?
• Will Iran continue to make dangerous inroads into Latin America?

Learn more about our 2012 conference below.

PRESS RELEASES
Policy Conference Wrap-Up
> Sen. Joe Lieberman and Ambassador Michael Oren Highlight 2012 B'nai B'rith Policy Conference; Allan J. Jacobs Re-Elected President

Re-Elected President
> Allan J. Jacobs of Lake Forest, Ill., Re-Elected President of B'nai B'rith International

Re-Appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee
> Gary P. Saltzman of Centennial, Colo., Re-Appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee of B'nai B'rith International

Notable Speakers
> Michael Oren, Israeli Ambassador to U.S., Outlines Threats Facing Israel at B'nai B'rith Policy Conference
> Sen. Joe Lieberman Calls for Bipartisanship in Washington; if Sanctions Don't Work, U.S. Should Lead Global Coalition

Elected Senior Vice Presidents
> Ira Bartfield of Arlington, Va., Elected B'nai B'rith International Senior Vice President
> Leon Birbragher of Bogota, Colombia, Elected B'nai B'rith International Senior Vice President
> Daniel Citone of Rome Elected B'nai B'rith International Senior Vice President
> Haim Katz of Jerusalem Elected B'nai B'rith International Senior Vice President
> Charles Kaufman of Austin, Texas, Elected B'nai B'rith International Senior Vice President
> Rosalind Klein of Northridge, Calif., Elected B'nai B'rith International Senior Vice President

Re-Elected Treasurer
> Seth J. Riklin of Sugar Land, Texas Re-Elected Treasurer of B'nai B'rith International 

Re-Elected Chief Justice
> William K. Peirez of Great Neck, N.Y., Re-Elected Chief Justice of B'nai B'rith International

Moe and Berdie Kudler Award
> Jerry Magel of Los Angeles Recognized for Efforts to Feed the Hungry

Label A. Katz Award Winners
> Eduardo Weinstein of Santiago, Chile, Wins 2012 B'nai B'rith Outstanding Young Leader Award
> Stephen Stern of Annapolis, Md., Wins 2012 B'nai B'rith Outstanding Young Leader Award
> Jorge Silberberg of Montevideo, Uruguay, Wins 2012 B'nai B'rith Outstanding Young Leader Award
> Rebecca Saltzman of Denver Wins 2012 B'nai B'rith Outstanding Young Leader Award
> Edwige Ouaknine of Lev, France, Wins 2012 B'nai B'rith Outstanding Young Leader Award
> Ralph Attie of Panama City, Panama, Wins 2012 B'nai B'rith Outstanding Young Leader Award

> B'nai B'rith Argentina

> B'nai B'rith Chile

> B'nai B'rith Latin America and the Caribbean (Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela)

> B'nai B'rith Uruguay and Paraguay

> B'nai B'rith World Center in Israel

OVERVIEW
The 2012 B’nai B’rith International Policy Conference has brought together young adults, seniors and those in between to discuss the most important issues facing global Jewry today.

From the moment the 2012 Policy Conference opened until the concluding session that will be spent on Capitol Hill visiting congressional representatives and their staffs, attendees had the chance to get the most reliable information available anywhere, ask questions and dialogue on the most critical issues on the contemporary Jewish agenda.

Topics included:

• Counter-terrorism: Keeping Israel and the rest of the Jewish world safe from terrorists.
• The relentless campaign to delegitimize Israel.
• The views of the U.S. presidential candidates on Israel and other key issues of Jewish communities around the world.
• The scourge of anti-Semitism in Europe, Latin America and elsewhere.
• The ongoing threat to Israel from Iran.
• Protecting the safety net for seniors: preserving and enhancing Social Security and Medicare.
• The United Nations: friend or foe for Israel?
• And other vital issues

It’s not enough to just learn about and discuss critical issues, to really make a difference you need to present your views to those who have the power to effect change.  Tuesday morning kicked off with a strategy breakfast on how to be an effective advocate and then members from across the country traveled to Capitol Hill where they had a chance to meet with congressional representatives and their staff on key domestic and international issues.

For additional information e-mail conference@bnaibrith.org.

300 young Jewish professionals sampled wine, beer and food provided by more than a dozen organizations that have come together to showcase the unity of our great community. Attendees discovered what the Greater Washington’s Jewish community has to offer for those in their 20s and 30s.

Sunday, July 22nd, 5pm-8pm
Eastern Market North Hall
225 7th Street SE
Washington, DC 20003

Sponsoring organizations: 2239, Adas Israel, American Jewish Committee, B'nai B'rith International, Embassy of Israel, GatherTheJews.com, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, Jews United for Justice, JSSA, J Street DC Metro, NOVA Tribe Series, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Sixth & I, Washington DCJCC, YACHAD

B’nai B’rith held a panel discussion on “Middle East Security and the Changing Trans-Atlantic Partnership” on June 28, 2012, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The event was co-sponsored by the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies' International Center for Terrorism Studies, the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies, and the International Law Institute’s Inter-University Center for Legal Studies.

Panelists included Professor Ruth Wedgewood, director of the international law and organizations programs at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies; Michael Eisenstadt, director of the military and security studies program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Derrick Busse, CDR USN (Ret.), research fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies; Miles Pomper, senior research associate at the Monterey Institute of International Studies’ James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies; Bruce Weinrod, senior fellow at the Potomac Foundation and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy; Jeremy Sharp, specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs at the Library of Congress’ Congressional Research Service; and Richard Weitz, Ph.D., senior fellow and director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Political-Military Analysis.

B'nai B'rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin, gave opening remarks. Professor Yonah Alexander, director of the Potomac Institute’s International Center for Terrorism Studies, moderated the discussion and colleague Brigadier General David G. Reist, USMC (Ret.), Vice President in the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies' Strategy and Planning Division, gave closing remarks.

The experts examined the unfolding security challenges in the Middle East, including uncertainties in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the recent elections in Egypt, the civil war in Syria, Iran's nuclear ambitions, and NATO’s role in Middle Eastern affairs.

Watch the event below or select clips to watch on the YouTube playlist.

For the B’nai B’rith Young Professional Network (BBYPN), February was Gift of Life month. BBYPN groups across the country held “Mitzvah Hour” events in cooperation with the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation. Events were held in Denver, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., with the goal of getting attendees to register as potential donors while they meet members of their local networks and learn about programs in their communities.

“Mitzvah Hours” are happy hours with a social action component. The network has been hosting “Mitzvah Hours” in several cities for causes such as the B’nai B’rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project and local food pantries. For these events BBYPN Denver, New York and Washington, D.C., all gathered at local bars, while BBYPN Chicago enjoyed “Mitzvah Dinner” at a popular deli.

Becoming a potential marrow donor is as easy as taking a swab of the inside of your mouth. Not only did nearly 100 people turn out across the country to learn about B’nai B’rith and Gift of Life, but 30 people were swabbed as potential donors!

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the B’nai B’rith Young Professionals throughout the month of February. Helping Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation raise awareness is a perfect example of BBI’s commitment to enhancing its programs with educational and meaningful experiences,” said Marti Freund, senior development associate for Gift of Life and B’nai B’rith’s contact for the partnership. “We are thankful to everyone who participated in the bone marrow recruitment drives and took the time to learn more about our mission to save lives.”

Gift of Life is an organization that maintains a public registry for bone marrow, blood stem cell and umbilical cord donors. Through its life-saving work, Gift of Life is a world leader in facilitating transplants for children and adults suffering from many life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia and lymphoma.

For more information, you can visit www.giftoflife.org.

For more information on the B’nai B’rith Young Professional Network, email us at ypn@bnaibrith.org.

And check out more photos from the "Mitzvah Hour" events by clicking here.