U.S. Presidential Candidates Invited to Address Gathering Via Conference Call 

An international gathering of B'nai B'rith members will convene on Friday, June 27, in Ottawa to attend B'nai B'rith International's Board of Governors meeting and B'nai B'rith Canada's Annual Leadership Policy Conference. This gathering of the international B'nai B'rith family will address pressing issues such as the safety and security of the State of Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Topping the list of dignitaries will be the Right Hon. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who will be awarded B'nai B'rith International's highest honor, the Presidential Gold Medallion for Humanitarianism.

Canada's prime minister will join the ranks of the past recipients of this award who include David Ben Gurion, the founding prime minister of the State of Israel; Golda Meir, the first woman prime minister of Israel; U.S. President Harry S Truman; U.S. President John F. Kennedy; and Malcolm Fraser, former prime minister of Australia.

United States presidential hopefuls Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) have been invited to address the B'nai B'rith meeting via separate conference calls. The B'nai B'rith International Board of Governors meeting will present the Julius Bisno Award for Professional Excellence to longtime B'nai B'rith Vice President of Field Services Alan L. Lessack. The Board will also confer the Moe and Berdie Kudler Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to renowned housing expert Marvin Siflinger, the chair of B'nai B'rith Senior Housing Network, and president of B'nai B'rith Housing New England. 

At the B'nai B'rith Canada Annual Leadership Policy Conference a new slate of officers will be confirmed, representing the Jewish community from coast to coast. Joe Bogoroch, one of Canada's premier communal leaders, will be inaugurated as the organization's national president.

B'nai B'rith president and Ottawa businessman Moishe Smith will preside over the four days of meetings and seminars and will serve as host and tour guide of his native Ottawa.