Mara Liasson, National Public Radio national political correspondent, kicked off the event with luncheon remarks on U.S. politics and policies.

Seven exceptional men and women earned the 2009 Label A. Katz Outstanding Young Leadership Award, named for the youngest person to achieve the office of international president of B’nai B’rith. The award goes to B’nai B’rith members under 45 who have demonstrated outstanding service to the totality of the organization and have worked to achieve the goals of the B'nai B'rith Young Leadership program.

The 2009 winners: Eric Engelmayer of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Nathalie Gamain of La Colle sur Loup, France; David Geller of Weston, Fla.; David Mizrachi Fidanque of Panama City, Panama; Jacob Reckess of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Victor Salomon of Montevideo, Uruguay; and Matthew Waas of Arlington, Va.

The first panel of the conference focused on past, present, and future issues threatening the Jewish community worldwide. It began with the presentation of an award to J. Christian Kennedy, special envoy for Holocaust Issues, U.S. Department of State, for his work preserving the legacy of the Holocaust.

B’nai B’rith played a key role in drafting a Senate resolution that passed in May acknowledging the tragedy of the M.S. St. Louis. The landmark resolution represents the U.S. government’s first formal acknowledgment of the St. Louis tragedy. One of the survivors of that voyage, Ursula Lowenstein, enthralled the audience as she described her experience on the ship and during the ensuing years.

Charles Small, director of the Yale Initiative for the Interdisciplinary Study of Anti-Semitism, discussed the danger that Hamas and a nuclear Iran pose to Israel, as well as the rest of the world. And Rabbi Bruce Kahn, Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Md., concluded the panel with a few words focusing on “What is a Jewish Issue?”

The Washington premiere of “Eddie” – a one-act play about B’nai B’rith member Eddie Jacobson, Harry Truman, their unique bond, and the behind the scenes efforts of B’nai B’rith that helped determine the future of the Jewish state, was a special treat, capping off the first day.

At a Dec. 7 session on stopping the Iranian nuclear threat, B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin called Iran “the main cause of instability in the world today.” Mariaschin introduced guest speaker Ambassador Jackie Wolcott, an advisory board member of United Against Nuclear Iran, who noted that engagement is not working and that there needs to be a concerted effort to apply meaningful pressure on Iran. “We need to torque up pressure not by increments but by orders of magnitude,” she said.

Wolcott said that the Iranian regime has systematically proven it has no intention of abiding by international obligations. And she noted that a big weapon we can use to influence Iran is economic pressure – urging private companies to end business dealings with Iran, which relies on international corporations that do business there to prop up its economy.

The White House point of view on Latin America was discussed by Dan Restrepo, special assistant to the president and senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council.

The keynote speaker, John Brennan, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism and deputy national security advisor, spoke about global terror threats.

A lively discussion on healthcare reform was led by Lauren Aronson, policy director for the White House Office of Health Reform.

Professional blogger Rob Yunich discussed the power of social networking in the Jewish communal world. Yunich, communications manager at USA Rice Federation, talked about Facebook and Twitter, among other social media outlets.

At a panel on energy independence, experts pointed out that the United States and Israel are intrinsically connected by their dependence on oil produced from some of their most hostile enemies. It is time to put an end to this addiction and end the geopolitical influence these enemies hold because of their monopoly on oil, agreed Neil Goldstein, executive vice president and CEO of the Israel Energy Partnership, and Asaf Vitman, minister of economic affairs for the Embassy of Israel.

Dan Shapiro, senior director for the Middle East and North Africa at the National Security Council, concluded the conference with an in-depth discussion of prospects for peace in the Middle East.

At the Policy Conference, BBI members also welcomed a new president. Dennis W. Glick of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., was elected to lead the 166-year-old organization in a contested election.

A CPA in his professional life, Glick has more than four decades of B’nai B’rith involvement.

The B’nai B’rith Board of Governors also elected the following new officers: New Senior Vice Presidents: Bruce Pascal, North Potomac, Md.; Gary P. Saltzman, Centennial, Colo.; Stephen B. Zorn, West Bloomfield, Mich.; Yves-Victor Kamami, Paris, France; Roberto M. Nul, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Ted Greenfield, Montreal, Canada. Treasurer: Seth. J. Riklin, Sugar Land, Texas. Chief Justice, B’nai B’rith International Court of Appeals: William K. Peirez, Great Neck, N.Y.

Allan J. Jacobs was appointed chairman of the executive, the number two volunteer leadership position in the international organization. The Board of Governors approved the appointment by unanimous vote.

At the conference, several B’nai B’rith leaders and staff members were honored with special awards: Moe and Berdie Kudler Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, Bruce Pascal of Washington, D.C.; Julius Bisno Award for Professional Excellence, Eduardo Kohn of Montevideo, Uruguay; Jack Smith Memorial Keter Shem Tov (Crown of a Good Name) Award, Ted Greenfield of Montreal, Canada; B’nai B’rith Silver Medallion Award for Lifetime Service, Kent Schiner of Hunt Valley, Md.