Looks Forward To Continued Friendship Between Catholics and Jews

B’nai B’rith International welcomes Pope Francis, who was elected at the Vatican on March 13 by the 115 Catholic cardinals eligible to vote.

The new pope, the former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is the first pope from Latin America. He will lead a Catholic church with 1.2 billion followers.

In November, then-Cardinal Bergoglio was the keynote speaker at B’nai B’rith’s Kristallnacht commemoration in Buenos Aires, where he helped light a candle in commemoration of the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust.

“We welcome Pope Francis to his new role as leader of the Catholic Church,” B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs said. “Catholic-Jewish relations had remained a focus of Pope Benedict XVI and we look forward to continuing the solid foundation that already exists for interfaith dialogue.”  

Pope Benedict resigned last month. Pope Francis is the 266th pope.

“We have been encouraged by the historic progress in Catholic-Jewish relations,” said B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin. “Interfaith dialogue, stressing tolerance and mutual respect, is increasingly important in today’s world.”

B’nai B’rith leaders met with Pope Benedict, as with a line of his predecessors, on multiple occasions and looks forward to establishing a similar relationship with Pope Francis.

On March 11, 2011, Japan was pounded by a powerful 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that brought tremendous destruction and significant loss of life. We remember the 19,000 lives that were lost and those injured or displaced by this tragedy.

B’nai B’rith immediately opened its Disaster Relief Fund, which helped bring IsraAID’s (The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid) emergency teams quickly to Japan (B’nai B’rith is a founding member of IsraAID). These specialists were able to assist in much needed relief efforts in the devastated areas and assessed what would be needed for long-term recovery. B’nai B’rith also contributed funds to create child friendly spaces in the temporary relief centers housing displaced survivors. We provided school supplies, computers and printers for the shelters, educational equipment for teachers, games and musical instruments.

Six months after the disaster, B’nai B’rith was privileged to meet with Shachar Zahavi, IsraAID’s director, and Raiko Watanabe, director of the Watari-cho Choujido Center in Japan. The two were in New York to deservedly receive an award from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Watanabe shared her experiences saying, “A lot of relief and equipment came from all over the world and people also sent beautiful letters of hope and support, but IsraAID is the only organization that supported our heart.” 

B’nai B’rith continued to respond to unmet needs and provided additional funds to assist IsraAID with the establishment of the Voices of Tohoku, a program to support teachers and members of the community dealing with the loss of their students, family and community members. IsraAID remains in Japan to assist with the physical and emotional needs of the communities still affected by the disaster.

This tragic anniversary reminds us that we can only respond quickly to disasters around the world when funds are readily available to do so. The ongoing financial support of the B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Fund makes this possible. Please help by making a donation today and sharing this request with your family and friends.


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B’nai B’rith Takes Part in Commemorations in Sofia

B’nai B’rith International marks the 70th anniversary of an incredible story of courage—the rescue of the Jews of Bulgaria.
In 1943, Bulgarians from every segment of society united to prevent 48,000 Bulgarian Jews from being deported to Nazi death camps by the Nazi-allied regime in Sofia. It was the broad involvement of the Bulgarian population—politicians, church leaders, every day citizens—that ensured the continuation of the Jewish community in Bulgaria.

This inspiring story serves as a reminder that courage and determination know no limits and can have an immeasurable impact.

Tragically, Bulgarians had already seen 11,300 Macedonian and Thracian Jews, living under Bulgarian military occupation, deported to concentration camps, on trains that traveled through Bulgarian territory. Witnessing that horror spurred citizens to rise up to prevent more carnage.

B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin is in Bulgaria to participate in commemoration ceremonies. “We must pause to reflect on this collective act of defiance and bravery,” he said from Sofia, Bulgaria. “The story of the rescue of the Jews of Bulgaria is truly living proof that intolerance and hatred can be stopped.”

While in Bulgaria, Mariaschin also met with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, outgoing Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov, Bulgarian Socialist party leader Sergei Stanishev, U.S. Ambassador Marcie Ries and the Israeli Ambassador Shaul Camisa Raz. Mariaschin also observed the 20th anniversary of the re-established B’nai B’rith lodge, which was originally founded in the late 19th century.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International is disappointed to learn the European Union will not yet designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization in the wake of the Bulgarian government’s findings that the group was behind the attack that killed six people, five Israelis and one Bulgarian, in the resort town of Burgas in July 2012.

In a press conference Thursday with Israeli President Shimon Peres, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barros said the EU does not have sufficient evidence of Hezbollah’s activities in Europe, but did not rule out taking action in a few months’ time. The Bulgarian government said it is still finalizing its investigation and according to reports is expected to formally ask the EU to place the group on its list of terrorist organizations next month.

By tabling this decision, the EU is sending the wrong message when the evidence is quite clear, and when in fact this attack occurred on European soil. Bulgaria spent six months investigating the suicide bombing, finding the names of the perpetrators, fake documents and a money trail leading back to Lebanon. Not designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization will only empower and embolden the group. We urge the EU to act quickly to cut off Hezbollah’s resources and to take the information provided in the Burgas report seriously. 

Spring 2013 Issue Also Looks at “The American Shtetl” and Efforts to Preserve the Yiddish Language

Before Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the Jewish creators of Superman, had even conceived of their legendary superhero, there was Siegmund “Zisha” Breitbert, a Jewish strongman who could bend iron bars into the shape of braided challahs with his bare hands. While Superman had his iconic “S” affixed to his costume, Breitbart often had his performing garb emblazoned with a large Jewish star.

Along with Breitbart, Sidney Frankel (a matador) and Lena Bernstein (an aviatrix) were three well-known early 20th century Jewish daredevils. Though better known for their steely nerves than their Judaism, their public achievements helped to debunk negative anti-Semitic stereotypes. In the spring 2013 issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine, writer Cheryl Kempler delves into the lives of these Jewish icons whose names have slipped into obscurity since their days of celebrity. (This article is available for reprinting. Contact us for more information.)

Elsewhere in the issue, the self-contained Hasidic communities located primarily in New York state are the subject of “The American Shtetl.” Yiddish is their daily language and they keep the secular world at a distance. Writer Uriel Heilman reports on these modern incarnations of old-country shtetl life.

While the American shtetls are helping to perpetuate the Yiddish language, the mamaloshen (mother tongue) has been reinvigorated in other ways. Writer Dara Kahn details the various organizations and institutions committed to its preservation and promotion, including the Yiddish Book Center, an organization devoted to the dissemination of Yiddish books.

In his regular column, B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin gives his take on the state of the mamaloshen after attending and speaking at the “Permanence of Yiddish” conference in Paris. 

With Passover less than a month away, the spring 2013 issue also examines the delicious potential of gourmet Passover food. Restaurant chefs around the country are revitalizing Passover recipes by spicing up traditional dishes with their own unique culinary flare.  

All this and more can be found in the current issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine.

And for exclusive digital content, visit the magazine website.

B’nai B’rith is extremely disappointed that the ill-advised, across the board cuts known as  sequestration have come to pass, especially because of the major ramifications they could have for older adults as time goes on.  Low-income seniors across the country could soon face problems getting to doctors appointments and could lose vital personal care services when the sequester budget cuts go into effect at midnight.

B’nai B’rith sponsored housing facilities are bracing for these spending reductions and senior residents are preparing to face the myriad of complications and harsh realities these budget cuts may bring. While the full impact of the cuts will be felt over time, the uncertainty has already frightened and unsettled residents and staff.  No one knows how quickly residents and other seniors will feel the impact of the cuts.  

Our facilities provide affordable housing for low-income seniors. They also save seniors and the government money by avoiding expensive health care and nursing home stays, and they allow people to age independently, where they can be active participants in their communities. With the looming sequestration those goals will become harder to achieve, especially if the cuts are imposed long term.  

B'nai B'rith is the largest Jewish sponsor of federally subsidized housing for the elderly in the United States with 42 buildings in 26 communities. Through our partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), our facilities provide safe, affordable housing for low-income seniors.  

Over time, the sequestration will create a litany of problems, especially because this 5 percent cut to the Fiscal Year 2013 annual budget comes so late in the current fiscal  year that  many programs will have to cut 9 percent to achieve the savings necessary to meet that target.  This is an enormous blow to programs already unable to meet the needs of low-income seniors and other at risk populations.  

The sequestration also means a total $18 million cut from HUD’s Section 202—housing for low-income elderly— for the rest of the year. This cut would most likely be felt in reduced apartment unit maintenance and supportive services for 114,000 households—services that are crucial in enabling seniors to remain in an independent living situation.

Additionally, the sequestration cuts Health and Human Services programs under the Older Americans Act, including a $285 million reduction to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), potentially cutting off home heating assistance to 290,000 senior households. Even the ability to get meals delivered to the elderly could be jeopardized. The number of grants Senior Nutrition Services provides to states supporting home-delivered meals programs such as Meals on Wheels will likely be cut, resulting in an estimated 17 million meals that will not be delivered to those seniors who need them most during the rest of the year.

The kinds of maintenance and supportive services that seniors rely on affect all aspects of daily life. Losing them will not only hamper seniors’ independence, but could also have serious consequences. Among the things the sequester threatens are rides for seniors to medical appointments and the grocery store; access to the homemaker services that help them with basic daily housekeeping needs; personal care services such as in-home assistance with bathing, toileting and dressing; adult day care programs that give seniors health care, socialization and nutrition they need; and legal services to avoid abuse and fraud, or help them fight back if they are victims of abuse and fraud.  

B’nai B’rith calls for a bipartisan effort to immediately address the nation’s fiscal issues.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International is deeply disappointed that United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)—one of the largest labor unions in Los Angeles, representing more than 35,000 teachers—has endorsed Ron Gochez for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

Gochez is known for spreading hate, including making anti-Semitic and anti-Israel statements. 

In 2002, Gochez wrote a letter to the San Diego State University student newspaper asserting, “The Jewish-owned media continue to blind the masses with propaganda to keep them in fear.” He has also lamented that no current city council members are “pro-Palestine.” Gochez has used his Facebook page to demonize and delegitimize the Jewish state by comparing it to apartheid South Africa, encouraging divestment from Israel’s economy and referring to the country as “occupied Palestine (AKA Israel).”

UTLA’s decision to endorse a purveyor of hate speech for public office threatens to stoke ethnic tensions in Los Angeles and legitimize his extremist and hateful views. We call on the UTLA to withdraw its endorsement of Gochez and hope voters will consider his record of inciteful statements when voting for city council. 

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International commends Congress for reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with a strong bipartisan majority. The legislation sets aside as much as $660 million annually over the next five years for programs to help women who are victims of crime, abuse and sexual assault.

The law was initially enacted in 1994, but lapsed in 2011. The updated VAWA now includes protections for the LGBT community as well as Native American women.

B’nai B’rith hails today’s vote as a breakthrough for millions of vulnerable Americans of varying backgrounds who are victims of domestic violence. This victory is long overdue.

We urge President Obama to swiftly sign VAWA into law.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

At a United Nations “Alliance of Civilizations” summit, convened to focus on global tolerance, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan engaged in a deplorable act by calling Zionism “a crime against humanity.”

B’nai B’rith International strongly condemns Erdoğan’s effort to revive inflammatory language equating Zionism with racism. This insidious canard was introduced at the United Nations in 1975 and rightly revoked in 1991. Erdoğan has reintroduced this odious charge to the U.N. environment.

Zionism is the embodiment of the millennia-old Jewish longing for self-determination and a return to the Jewish homeland.

Erdoğan made his pronouncement before an audience of senior-international leaders in Vienna, including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

This is not the first time Erdoğan has made inciteful remarks about Israel or Jews. In November, he called Israel a “terrorist state,” during the Hamas-instigated fighting in Gaza.

B’nai B’rith calls on Erdoğan to apologize for his remarks and urges the United Nations to condemn these sentiments. 

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International is greatly disappointed that during last night’s Academy Awards on ABC, host Seth MacFarlane used his role in the ceremonies as a platform for jokes which perpetuated Jewish stereotypes. 

During one segment, the McFarlane-voiced character “Ted” appeared onstage and told jokes based on the anti-Semitic stereotype about Jews controlling Hollywood. 

McFarlane’s jokes were tasteless and perpetuate an ugly and dangerous stereotype. The Academy Awards show has one of the largest global audiences of any television event. The offensive stereotyping perpetuates decades-old canards, offering validation to those seeking any justification for anti-Semitism.