On Wednesday May 20, B’nai B’rith was honored to host the Honorable Roberta Jacobson, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, for a rare on-the-record address about United States policy toward the Americas in 2015 and beyond. 

Jacobson—who, it was announced by the White House just days after her visit to B’nai B’rith headquarters, will be nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to Mexico—is a key figure in strengthening U.S. cooperation in the hemisphere. The assistant secretary has built a distinguished career in public diplomacy and has made the rare transformation from career civil servant to senior diplomat and is the top State Department official for Latin America. 

B’nai B’rith follows developments in the region with great concern. In early May, B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin traveled to the region, visiting Buenos Aires with a leadership delegation of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The delegation held successful meetings with local branches of the organization and congressional officials, in discussions of the harrowing death of Argentine-Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building case prosecutor Alberto Nisman. 

We have also keenly followed developments in U.S. rapprochement with Cuba over the past few months, and the geopolitical impact of these negotiations—led on the U.S. side by Assistant Secretary Jacobson. 

Jacobson began her remarks by highlighting the significant impact of the election of Pope Francis on the region: “For those of us who’ve spent any time in Argentina and are interested in the issue of the Jewish community or religious life in the Hemisphere or the role of religious communities in political and economic development, this election of Pope Francis was electric.” She explained how Pope Francis was a key figure in U.S rapprochement with Cuba, and for interreligious affairs broadly.

Throughout her address, Jacobson focused on three key areas of interest: Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba. Certainly, the unresolved cases of the bombing attacks on the Israeli Embassy and the AMIA building in Buenos Aires remain a very sober reminder of our shared difficulties in the region. 

Jacobson told attendees that the “Memorandum of Understanding with Iran has done nothing—done nothing—to support justice for the AMIA victims.” 

As a major focal point of B’nai B’rith’s engagement on issues related to Argentina over the years, we certainly agree there needs to be a transparent investigation into these outstanding cases, and into the mysterious death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman. 

Jacobson noted the administration’s efforts to “try to motivate and encourage the rest of the international community, and especially those in this hemisphere, to work with us to that end.”

Growth of anti-Semitism in the region was underscored by an emphasis on such developments in the hemisphere, particularly following Israel’s conflict with Hamas in and around Gaza in 2014. Jacobson suggested, “There were a number of instances in which religious intolerance masqueraded as political protest”—a very fine point that B’nai B’rith has long highlighted amidst our engagement with partners in the region. 

She noted vandalism and other attacks on the Jewish community in Venezuela, and that government’s comparison of Israel to Nazi Germany as prime examples. Jacobson lamented that there remain very real challenges to democracy in Venezuela.

Finally, Jacobson spoke to the primary source of her demanding schedule, negotiations with Cuba. With the return of Alan Gross to the United States in December 2014, in which she played an important role, Jacobson outlined the platform on which the U.S. government hopes to engage moving Cuba to a more open system. 

While interaction at the Summit of the Americas in April between President Obama and Raúl Castro serves to further the relationship and continue momentum for the normalization process, Jacobson emphasized that this engagement with Cuba will not deter the United States from speaking out on human rights violations. The administration’s view is that the human rights situation in Cuba is inadequate. 

Jacobson reiterated the need to respect international norms of human rights and that the United States continues to raise its concerns regarding democracy, human rights and freedom of expression to move the country forward. “It is changing,” she explained during the question and answer session, “but it’s still going to be a long haul until we’ve got a democratic Cuba.”

The importance of U.S. relations with our neighbors in the region today is unquestionable—to B’nai B’rith and the world. The Americas face many pressing challenges together, including the global economic crisis, the fight against drug trafficking and drug consumption, and the rise of transnational terrorism. 

B’nai B’rith has long advocated for the promotion of trade liberalization, a more humane immigration policy and more extensive cooperation in the fields of security and development. We are particularly grateful to have hosted Assistant Secretary of State Jacobson during this historic moment in history, and we pledge our continued support to build upon our relationship to confront these issues of mutual concern together.

The Diplomatic Encounter Series is made possible through a generous grant from the B’nai B’rith Jess and Mildred Fisher Memorial Endowment. 

Cuba has long been the understandably forbidden fruit of the American tourist. But the long isolated mystery of the Caribbean boasts more than just idyllic streetscapes and an enchanting mix of history, music and nature. For B’nai B’rith, Cuba presents a unique opportunity to fulfill our commitment to helping communities through “Tikkun Olam.”

While Cuba is busy making headlines—particularly for the thawing of relations with the U.S.—what you might not know is that the island maintains a surprising and vibrant Jewish life dating back centuries. At its peak, the community numbered 20,000, but today the passionate Jewish community counts maybe 1,000. 

The reality of life for Cuba’s Jews—and broader Cuban society—is the story failing to garner attention. Welcome to Cuba, home to miles of stunning white sand beaches, premium cigars, oak-aged rum, classic American cars from the 1950s—and where providing fundamental necessities proves a difficult challenge. 

Despite the fact that Cuba meets basic public health and education needs, there remain tremendous strains on resources and a lack of basic necessities including medicine, food and clothing. Even when resources may be available, many Cubans are priced out of the market. Cuba’s dual currency system severely complicates local purchasing power, and the average Cuban salary is the equivalent of only $20 U.S. dollars per month.

As B’nai B’rith International returns from its first mission of 2015, we reflect on the roots and impact of the Cuban Jewish Relief Project (CJRP). Indeed, B’nai B’rith International has a very large hand print in supporting the Cuba-Jewish community with longstanding ties to the island. The B’nai B’rith Maimonides Lodge even predates the 1959 revolution, having been founded in Havana in 1943.

Nearly 95 percent of Cuba’s Jewish population fled the revolution. Shortly following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Cuban government issued a 1992 constitutional amendment that provided for non-discrimination based on religious belief. When B’nai B’rith began the CJRP in the early 1990s the Jewish community was just emerging from decades of struggle to preserve its traditions and culture. With the easing of restriction on religious practice, B’nai B’rith was one of the first humanitarian organizations on the ground to spearhead the bright revival of Jewish life in Cuba.

Since 1995, B’nai B’rith has been providing humanitarian relief and hands-on support to the Cuban-Jewish community, with an emphasis on delivering material aid, Judaica and other necessities while empowering community revitalization efforts. Through our missions, the CJRP affords B’nai B’rith members an opportunity to share in joint religious activities and discussion groups about religious practices and life on the island, all the while enjoying Cuba’s vibrant Caribbean culture. Mission participants have carried down thousands of pounds of religious material contributions to enhance the ability of the Jewish population in Cuba to practice their religion, as well as medicines and other basic necessities. Our first mission of 2015 brought more than 500 pounds of much needed effects.

With aid efforts ranging from the individual level to full community engagement, our legacy of humanitarian support focuses on three primary areas, with an aim toward self-sustainability: 

Preservation: Providing material aid and Judaica to meet the challenges of daily life for the Cuban Jewish population. 

Revitalization: Partnering with communities to support local initiatives. 

Sustainability: Connecting Cuban Jews to the greater Diaspora to strengthen global partnerships and empower future generations. 

This three-pronged approach enables us to focus our aid efforts where they are most needed, and with full cooperation and participation with our partners on the ground. It is precisely through our program’s deep roots in Cuba that we can ensure much-needed aid gets to the right places.

Renewed interest in the Caribbean island nation was spurred by President Barack Obama’s historic announcement of the “normalization” of relations between the United States and Cuba in December 2014.  Many question what lasting changes we can expect following President Obama’s announcement of an opening toward Cuba, particularly for the future of American-Jewish relations with the community on the island. While it is yet to be seen how the changes will unfold, many are quite optimistic. More American Jewish groups will certainly travel to Cuba, and with the easing of travel and commercial restrictions perhaps inject some life into Cuba’s dismal economy.

Despite high optimism, the needs on the ground for the tiny Jewish population remain unchanged. Cuba’s Jewish population still faces challenges on many fronts.  Today, B’nai B’rith continues our tradition of cooperation with the Cuban-Jewish community, contributing vital assistance to ensure that the needs of our brothers and sisters in Cuba are met.

Over the years B’nai B’rith has stitched many threads in the fabric of Jewish life in Cuba. The mystery, intrigue, and even more important sense of “Tikkun Olam” that has drawn American Jews to Cuba for decades has only grown more pronounced, and it is certain our vital work will continue.