Blog Archives - B'nai B'rith International

B'nai B'rith Disaster Relief Fund Opened For Victims Of Texas Floods

5/29/2015

Responding to this week's heavy flooding in central Texas that killed at least 19 and caused millions of dollars in damage, B'nai B'rith International opened it's Flood, Tornado and Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund to assist the victims and rebuild.

News of the announcement was covered by JNS.org and the Baltimore Jewish Times. Read highlights from the news coverage, below:

Baltimore Jewish Times:

Franco said the Jewish communities in the Meyerland, Bellaire, and Willow Meadows neighborhoods were some of the hardest hit due to their proximity to the Brays Bayou.

She added that they are working to locate apartments that are willing to house displaced residents on a temporary basis.

[...]

Rhonda Love, vice president of programming at B’nai B’rith International, said on Wednesday the organization opened its disaster relief funding page at donatenow.networkforgood.org/bbi-disaster-relief.

She said it was too early to tell how much money had been raised.

Love added that two B’nai B’rith leaders from the Houston area were in the process of making connections for aid.

“Right now there’s that on the ground response for cleanup,” she said.

JNS.org:

Jewish organizations are raising disaster-relief funds following the devastating flooding in Texas earlier this week, during which Houston’s Jewish community sat at the center of the damage experienced by that city.

Countless Jewish homes and multiple synagogues were among the structures damaged following rain that exceeded 11 inches in some areas from May 25-26.

[...]

B’nai B’rith International opened its Flood, Tornado and Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund—hosted here—following the Houston flood.

“Whether it’s on the other side of the planet or in our own backyard, we’re both quick to respond and always eyeing how to help the long-term recovery effort,” Daniel S. Mariaschin, executive vice president of B’nai B’rith, said in a statement. “It’s no different with the flooding in Texas. I’m eager to learn from agencies on the ground and from our local members on how we can be involved in assisting these people.”

Baltimore Jewish Times

San Diego Jewish World

El Pais: "Vemos Con Alarma Este Brote Antisemita" (Español)

5/28/2015

Introducción de Española:

Director for Latin America of B'nai B'rith denounced the alarming rise of anti-Semitism that is occurring in Western countries.

via El Pais :

English Introduction:

B'nai B'rith International Director of Latin American Affairs Eduardo Kohn did an extensive interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais on the alarming rise of anti-Semitism that is occurring in Western countries.

While only the major occurrences of violence have made headlines, Kohn warns that the smaller, systemic forms of anti-Semitism are causing many Jews in European countries to emigrate to Israel

Read highlights in Spanish, below::

—¿Y qué dijeron los imanes musulmanes invitados a propósito de estos temas?

—Cuando hablaron los imanes, de Francia o Inglaterra, nos encontramos con un miedo diferente, pero no es un miedo menos vergonzoso para lo que es la democracia que debería tener a esta altura mucho más claro cómo defenderse de las agresiones. Los imanes hablan de una religión de paz, pero ellos no tienen mayoría en sus mezquitas, las mayorías los agreden y ellos también tienen miedo. ¿De quién tienen miedo ellos, de los antisemitas? No, de ellos solo tienen miedo los judíos, tienen miedo de su propia gente que los consideran traidores por su prédica, y bueno, la discriminación contra la mujer que predica el antisemitismo. Con lo cual, cualquier elección que haya hoy en Europa, parlamentaria o presidencial, la miramos como muy trascendente como se la miró a la de Inglaterra hace poco y se va a mirar a la de España y ni que hablar a la de Francia, para ver de qué manera los gobiernos son capaces de enfrentar algo que Europa no debería tener después de lo que Europa vivió no solo en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, antes y por muchos años después con los países del este, del comunismo, y años después con los países de la ex Yugoslavia.

—En estas latitudes, ha habido algunos episodios de antisemitismo, incluso en países muy cercanos. En Argentina en torno a hechos trágicos como la muerte del fiscal Alberto Nisman que dio lugar a diversas reacciones antisemitas, ¿cómo se evaluó esto?

—Nos tocó a nosotros, justamente, hacer la presentación de América Latina sobre una visión general para después ir país por país, y evidentemente no es lo mismo que nosotros podíamos exponer hace diez años. En este momento, lo que ha sucedido en los últimos meses en Argentina prende las alarmas en muchos sentidos. Que un gobierno democrático, como el gobierno argentino, diga por parte de algunos de sus voceros en forma pública y acuse a la comunidad judía o a autoridades de sus instituciones de conspirar contra el Estado argentino es un lenguaje que, evidentemente, si siempre fue peligroso y fue preludio de cosas trágicas, hoy es muy peligroso especialmente cuando estamos hablando de un país que sufrió dos atentados y que nunca pudo poner a los culpables, porque saber quiénes son se sabe pero nunca se pudo llevar a los culpables ante la justicia. Dos atentados, además de muchísimos muertos, el de la AMIA fue además de muchísimos muertos en relación con los atentados gravísimos en el resto del mundo y en un momento en que además de shock porque el fiscal que lleva la causa aparece muerto. Y además se genera una situación conflictiva pública donde aparece el antisemitismo, porque la causa que seguía el fiscal ha ido cayendo en una escalera donde se archivan cosas, donde se cambian veredictos, ya hay un dictamen de que fue suicidio.

—A diferencia de Europa los integrantes de las comunidades no han tenido que migrar hacia Israel para buscar refugio, ¿esa es la diferencia actual de América Latina?

—No se ha llegado a tonos de violencia, es cierto. Lo que sí es alarmante en Latinoamérica es que no todos los gobiernos actúan de la misma manera frente al antisemitismo y eso es muy grave porque deja desprotegida no solo a la comunidad judía sino a toda la sociedad. Cuando en Chile mataron hace dos años a una persona por ser homosexual y la sociedad salió a la calle y el Congreso se dio cuenta de que tenían que hacer una legislación antidiscriminatoria, eso habla de una reacción positiva. Pero cuando se dice que la comunidad judía es "conspiradora", bueno, nos acordamos de los Protocolos de los Sabios de Sión y de lo que pasó después.

Leer Más El Pais

Coverage: B'nai B'rith Partners With Hebrew Union College

5/27/2015

UPDATED June 9, 2015, 10:30 a.m.

B’nai B’rith International and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) announced a partnership to acquire, preserve and display the art and artifacts of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum at HUC-JIR’s Skirball Museum.

The Skirball Museum provides a vital cultural and educational outreach venue of its historic campus in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Significantly augmenting the Skirball’s holdings, the Klutznick’s sacred and secular fine and decorative arts and social documents will be exhibited in designated galleries as the “B’nai B’rith Klutznick Collection.”

Learn more about the partnership via media coverage from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, JBS and more:

B'nai B'rith International Press Release

Hebrew Union College Press Release

Cleveland Jewish News:

JBS News Update:

Joseph B. Horwitz, who spent most of his life in Greater Cleveland, amassed a world-famous collection of Judaic art, much of it housed at the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

On May 18, it was announced that the art and artifacts donated to this museum by Horwitz and his wife, Olyn – longtime members of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood – will be exhibited in galleries at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Skirball Museum in Cincinnati as part of what will be called “the B’nai B’rith Klutznick Collection.”

The establishment of a new home for this art collection is due to a partnership between Washington-based B’nai B’rith International and HUC-JIR. A select group of Klutznick artifacts will also be loaned to the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington to be displayed in its new building, scheduled to open in 2020.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to display a collection that has not been available to the public for some time,” said Abby Schwartz, director of the Skirball Museum.

“Working closely with our colleagues in Washington, we hope to serve as a model for how communities can learn from a shared cultural and educational legacy.”

[...]

“For an outstanding art collection to be housed at Hebrew Union College is absolutely appropriate,” she said. “I think Hebrew Union College has some of the finest scholars in all areas of Judaic thought probably in the world. There’s a synergy there that’s very exciting.”

Schwartz said HUC-JIR’s Cincinnati campus is “a national institution with global impact in terms of preservation and outreach.”

“We look forward to making this supremely important collection of Judaica accessible to a broad audience through programs, exhibitions and a digital archive,” she said.

Cleveland Jewish News

New York Jewish Week:

The Skirball was America’s first officially established Jewish museum, originally named the Union Museum.

The museum will collaborate with B’nai B’rith through online exhibitions and links disseminating information about the collection with other organizations, and the sponsoring of special programs and lectures.

B’nai B’rith transferred its archives to the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, also located on the Cincinnati campus of HUC-JIR.

New York Jewish Week

Jewish Telegraphic Agency:

The art and artifacts from the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum will have a new home at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Klutznick’s sacred and secular fine and decorative arts and social documents will be exhibited in galleries at HUC’s Skirball Museum designated as the B’nai B’rith Klutznick Collection, according to a statement issued Monday by HUC and B’nai B’rith.

In addition, a select group of Klutznick artifacts will be lent to the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington to be displayed in its new building, slated for opening in 2020.

The Skirball will collaborate with B’nai B’rith through online exhibitions and links disseminating information about the collection with other organizations, and the sponsoring of special programs and lectures.

“The acquisition of this historic collection creates unprecedented opportunities for community engagement on local, regional, national and international platforms,” Skirball director Abby Schwartz said in a statement. “Integrating this collection and making it accessible through digital technology will be a priority, as the Skirball positions itself as a center of Jewish art and culture.”

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Cincinnati Public Radio:

Over the next few weeks and months the staff at Hebrew Union College's Skirball Museum will be unboxing its newly acquired art collection. It contains 1,500 items including Rembrandt etchings, baseball memorabilia, and contemporary Israeli silver jewelry.

Many of the items originally came from the collection of a Cleveland man, Joseph Horvitz, who owned a steel company.

Eventually Skirball Museum Director Abby Schwartz would like to digitize the collection so more people can see it.

Cincinnati Public Radio

Council of American Jewish Museums Newsletter

WCPO Cincinnati

BRINGING TWO GREAT COLLECTIONS TOGETHER

B'nai B'rith International and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) have announced an important partnership that will make available the collections of the B'nai B'rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum (BBKNJM) at HUC-JIR's Skirball Museum in Cincinnati.

Fine and decorative art and artifacts, both sacred and secular, will be exhibited in designated galleries at the Skirball, as well as in online exhibitions. Since the BBKNJM closed its doors in 2002, these materials have been largely unavailable to the public.

Rabbi Aaron D. Panken, HUC-JIR President, said, "This wonderful partnership with B'nai B'rith International ... reinforces our commitment to the many ways in which the visual arts, illuminating Jewish history, identity, values and experience, can serve as a vital educational and cultural resource for our students, faculty, and the larger public."

In addition, a select group of Klutznick artifacts with a DC focus will be loaned to the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington to be displayed in its new building, slated to open in 2020.

Museum staff will spend the next few years unpacking, photographing, cataloging and deciding how to display the collection’s 1,500 items.

The donation, from Washington, D.C.-based B’nai B’rith International, is triple the size of the Skirball’s existing collection of Jewish memorabilia, or Judaica, said Skirball director Abby Schwartz.

“This is a tipping point for us,” she said. “It will propel the museum to think about new ways to display the works we already have and integrate them with the new collection.”

She declined to say how much the collection is worth, saying it wouldn’t be appropriate. But Gila Naveh, head of the Judaic Studies Department at the University of Cincinnati, called it priceless.

“It’s a gem,” Naveh said. “It’s a world-famous collection.”

Once the new collection goes on public display – which isn’t expected to happen for a few years – Cincinnati will have one of the largest collections of Judaica in the Midwest.

WCPO Cincinnati

Additional Resources:

B’nai B’rith and HUC-Skirball Museum Partner

WATCH: A Look Inside the B'nai B'rith Archives

Visit Skirball Museum

B'nai B'rith Attend's President Obama's Address To Adas Israel

5/26/2015

B'nai B'rith International staff and leadership attended Friday's presidential address to Adas Israel in commemoration of National Jewish Heritage Month in the United States.

The B'nai B'rith delegation was seated near the front with special guests Judy Gross, wife of released Cuban prisoner Alan Gross; Ira Forman, special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism; and U.S. Congressman Sander Levin.

See coverage from social media and photos from the event, below:

JTA: Will Vatican’s 'Palestine' Reference Impact Jewish-Catholic Ties?

5/21/2015

B'nai B'rith International joined a chorus of Jewish organizations that voiced displeasure at a recent Vatican's move on the recognition of a "State of Palestine.”

In follow-up analysis, B'nai B'rith Director of United Nations Affairs David Michaels examined the history of the terminology, noting that the Vatican has made prior references to the "State of Palestine," and concluding that the move, while disappointing, is unlikely to affect Israelis or Palestinians.

Read media coverage from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on B'nai B'rith's statement on the Vatican:

A May 13 announcement on an agreement regarding the functioning of the church in areas under Palestinian control raised eyebrows in its reference to the “State of Palestine.”

The upset was compounded by confusion over whether Pope Francis, in a meeting over the weekend with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, praised him as an “angel of peace” or urged him to attain that vaunted status. On Tuesday, a Vatican spokesman said it was “very clear” that the pope was “encouraging a commitment to peace.”

But the Vatican’s shift from terming its Palestinian partner as the Palestine Liberation Organization — the designation Israel accepts — to calling it Palestine comports with a shift in Europe toward accommodating Palestinian statehood aspirations, the Jewish officials said.

[...]

Daniel Mariaschin, the director of B’nai B’rith International, said the recognition of Palestine raised concerns, but they must be seen in the context of an increased willingness in Europe to recognize Palestinian statehood and not of Jewish-Catholic relations.

He likened it to the French and British parliaments recent nonbinding recognition of Palestine and Sweden’s decision to recognize Palestinian statehood.

“It’s important, I won’t dismiss it, but it shouldn't be seen outside that broader context,” Mariaschin said. “It raises the expectations of Palestinians to un-meetable levels and frustrates the Israelis who say we can’t get a fair deal in the international community.”

'Taste Of Cuba' Shabbat Dinner Offers Unique Perspective In L.A.

5/18/2015

On Friday, May 15, the B'nai B'rith Young Leadership Network of Los Angeles hosted Cuban Jewish Cultural Night at the Bess P. Maltz Center at the Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Calif.

The event was an introduction for many to the B'nai B'rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project, and featured keynote speaker Sienna Girgenti, who serves as the head of the project, which has been in place since 1995.

In addition to the information, the evening also highlighted Cuban food, culture, dancing, and rum.

See a full gallery from the event and learn more, below:

Cuban Shabbat! @TempleEmanuelBH @BnaiBrith #emanuelgirlssupportemanuel #tasteofcuba pic.twitter.com/UZAR12fLwD
— Lizzie Weiss (@LizzieWSings) May 16, 2015

Inaugural B'nai B'rith Apartment Senior Prom A Big Hit For Residents

5/12/2015

"Senior Prom" was a huge hit for residents of South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House and Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation in South Orange, N.J.

The inaugural event mimics similar programs at B'nai B'rith senior facilities around the country, and is just one of many popular social events hosted in each location throughout the year. The Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey put out a press release, covering the experience of the senior citizens, as well as the Seton Hall students who helped organize and host the event.

Read an excerpt of the press release below and enjoy the photos, courtesy of the Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation Facebook page:

There were refreshments, dancing and musical entertainment by singer Peri Smilow and husband Budd Mishkin, a NY1 television personality; the couple performed classic rock songs, followed by more music and dancing courtesy of a DJ who played tunes specially selected by Mark Pressel, a former Broadway musical director and resident of Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation. Admission was free with the donation of a can of non-perishable food for the Our Lady of Sorrows food bank, which is supported by Seton Hall University.

“We found that older people really wanted a social activity and without question, the South Orange Senior Prom filled a need in the community,” said co-coordinator, Nan Samens. “It was spectacular and everyone walked out with a smile on their face. People already want to sign up for next year.”

The Senior Prom provided an opportunity for older adults to socialize with their peers as well as foster a stronger connection with Seton Hall University. SOS coordinators worked with Michelle Peterson from DOVE to arrange the dance. This winter, student volunteers from DOVE shoveled out residents’ cars at the two South Orange senior residences. Seton Hall offers senior discounts on its regular courses and also offers classes specifically for area seniors.

“We are thrilled to be working with the dynamic leaders of the South Orange Seniors, who are filled with energy and vision,” said Michelle Peterson, director of Seton Hall’s Division of Volunteer Efforts. “DOVE aims to serve our community through love and outreach. Our collaboration with SOS has been a wonderful experience for the seniors and Seton Hall students alike.”

Continue Reading

B'nai B'rith Leaders Meet In Argentina About Nisman Death (Spanish)

5/8/2015

B'nai B'rith leadership joined the rest of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations of the United States on a mission to Buenos Aires to express solidarity in their concerns over the ongoing AMIA bombing investigation, particularly the unresolved death of former prosecutor Alberto Nisman.

The delegation met with Congresswomen Patricia Bullrich and Laura Alonso, authorities from DAIA on AMIA, Eduardo Elztain, Rabbi Sergio Bergman, Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Marcos Aguinis, among others.

B'nai B'rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin and Mario Wilhelm, president of B'nai B'rith Argentina, represented the organization in those meetings.

The visit was covered by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Buenos Aires Herald as well as Spanish newspapers Iton Gadol, La Nacion, Infobae, Cronista, Clar ín highlights of which can be found below:

Jewish Telegraphic Agency:

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in an article published last month linked Jewish leaders to an international conspiracy against the government and railed against the late AMIA prosecutor Alberto Nisman on Twitter to her more than 3.7 million followers. Nisman had charged that Argentina’s government covered up Iran’s role in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish center, which killed 85 and injured 300. Argentina’s courts have dismissed Nisman’s accusations.

On her tweet, Kirchner accused Nisman of saying during meetings with Jewish community leaders that Paul Singer, a Jewish-American billionaire who heads a U.S. hedge fund, would provide billions of dollars to prevent Argentina from signing a memorandum of understanding with Iran on jointly investigating the AMIA bombing. The memorandum, which has received international criticism, was signed in January 2013.

Last week, a lawsuit alleging treason against Argentine Jewish leaders and Singer was sent to a prosecutor, who said he will investigate.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

La Nacion (Spanish):

En su encuentro con la prensa, y sin perder los modos diplomáticos, Hoenlein y los dirigentes que lo acompañaron a reuniones y encuentros se mostraron "preocupados" por la ofensiva contra la comunidad organizada, así como por la falta de esclarecimiento de los atentados a la embajada de Israel y la AMIA y por la misteriosa muerte del fiscal que denunció por encubrimiento a la presidenta Cristina Kirchner, el canciller Héctor Timerman y referentes del kirchnerismo.

"La justicia por Nisman no debería ser un tema político, el esclarecimiento del atentado a la AMIA, tampoco. Es un tema de justicia, de la calidad de la democracia, del ejemplo que les dan a sus hijos", dijo Hoenlein. La agenda de la delegación fue nutrida: a las reuniones con la dirigencia comunitaria se sumaron encuentros con familiares de las víctimas nucleados en Memoria Activa; con las diputadas Laura Alonso y Patricia Bullrich (ambas incluidas en la denuncia presentada por al abogado Juan Gabriel Labaké, aceptada por el fiscal Carlos Stornelli), y con el rabino y diputado de Pro, Sergio Bergman. ¿Y el Gobierno? "No pedimos ni obtuvimos ninguna reunión con ellos", contestó Hoenlein.

Infobae (Spanish):

Sobre su visita al país, aclararon que "sólo nos reunimos con Memoria Activa, de hecho, no estamos acá para involucrarnos, sino para mostrar solidaridad. Intentamos reunirnos con la jueza Sandra Arroyo Salgado, pero por cuestiones de agenda no pudo suceder". Sin embargo, se mostraron dispuestos a volver a reunirse en el país en momentos en que un nuevo Gobierno llegue, a fines de este año.

La delegación la lidera Malcolm Hoenlein, vicepresidente ejecutivo de la Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations y de la cual también participan Richard Stone, ex presidente de la Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Stephen Greenberg, próximo presidente de la Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Julio Messer, ex presidente de la American Friends of Likud, Nathanial Storch, miembro de la Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Daniel Mariaschin, vicepresidente ejecutivo de la B'nai B'rith International, Amir Shivav, vicepresidente ejecutivo de la JDC y Mario Wilhelm, Presidente de la B'nai B'rith Argentina.

Buenos Aires Herald:

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations also demanded that the investigation into the mysterious death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman “be pursued in a thorough, dedicated, and transparent way.”

Representatives from the NGO founded in 1956 vowed to help “in any way deemed appropriate.” “The leaders of the Jewish community in Argentina have deep concerns about recent events that raise the specter of anti-Semitism and, in particular, the serious charges leveled against leaders of the community,” the organization said in a press release.

Buenos Aires Herald

Iton Gadol (Spanish):

Las máximas autoridades de la Conferencia de Presidentes de las Principales Organizaciones Judías de los Estados Unidos están visitando Buenos Aires esta semana con el fin de expresar su solidaridad con la comunidad judía argentina con respecto a sus principales preocupaciones e inquietudes e informarse acerca de la situación actual.

“Queremos mostrar nuestro interés, estamos muy preocupados. Nuestra misión es ver en qué podemos ayudar en el caso Nisman, en el de la AMIA y en el de la Embajada de Israel”, expresó Malcolm Hoenlin, vicepresidente ejecutivo de la organización, en diálogo con la Agencia Judía de Noticias.

Los líderes americanos se reunieron con la diputada Patricia Bullrich, la diputada Laura Alonso, autoridades de la AMIA y la DAIA, Eduardo Elztain, el rabino Sergio Bergman, el rabino Abraham Skorka y Marcos Aguinis, entre otros.

“Vinimos a dar apoyo a las comunidades judías argentinas, que las sentimos muy fuertes. Nuestra intención es escuchar sus preocupaciones y ver qué es lo que éstas significan. Buscamos demostrar que las comunidades judías estadounidenses están unidas a la judeidad argentina”, agregó.

[...]

Visitaron Argentina Richard Stone, ex presidente, Stephen Greenberg, futuro presidente, y Samuel Schear, jefe de oficina, de la Conferencia de Presidentes de las Principales Organizaciones Judías de los Estados Unidos; Julio Messer, ex presidente de los Amigos Americanos de Likud; Amir Shivav, JDC; Mariaschin, vicepresidente ejecutivo de Bnai Brith Internacional; y Mario Wilhelm, presidente de Bnai Brith Argentina.

Clar ín (Spanish):

También creemos que es imperativo que las largas demoras en traer justicia a aquellos responsables por los atentados a la AMIA ya la embajada de Israel deben terminar.

También debe haber un urgente y comprensivo esfuerzo en cuanto a la muerte de Alberto Nisman. Los hechos debe ser establecidos en cuanto a como murió y después, determinar un seguimiento inmediato.Su investigación debe ser seguida con dedicación y en una forma transparente.

Cronista (Spanish):

Tras dos días en el país, los dirigentes estadounidenses escucharon los reproches desde DAIA y AMIA contra la Presidenta que incluyó a las entidades dentro de una "confabulación internacional" para boicotear el memorándum firmado entre Argentina e Irán, para avanzar en la causa por el atentado que mató a 85 personas en 1994.

B'nai B'rith Diaspora Journalism Awards Garner Media Attention

5/7/2015

The B'nai B'rith World Center Diaspora Journalism awards are among the most prestigious honors in the Israeli media. In late April, B'nai B'rith International announced this year's recipients of the various awards, and has received dozens of media mentions in the weeks since.

Read English and Hebrew highlights from the publications and news outlets below, including the Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Channel 10, Arutz Sheva, social media and more:

The Times of Israel (English):

Since its establishment in 1992, the B’nai B’rith World Center Award for Journalism has recognized excellence in reporting on contemporary Diaspora-Jewish communities and on the state of Israel-Diaspora relations in Israeli print and electronic media.

The award is widely recognized as a prestigious prize in the Israeli media industry and was established to help shore up the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora. It does this by highlighting the important contributions the media can make toward strengthening the relationship between Israel and world Jewry — so essential for the resilience of both — by encouraging quality reporting on Diaspora communities and Israel-Diaspora relations.

Times of Israel

Jerusalem Post (English):

Jerusalem Post correspondent Sam Sokol has won the B'nai B'rith World Center's annual award for excellence in Diaspora Reportage, the organization announced Sunday morning.

Sokol, who covers the Jewish World beat, won the award in he print categor for his ongoing series on Jewish communities displaced by the Ukrainian civil war. Just before Passover he returned ffrom yet another trip to eastern Ukraine during which he met with Jews in the city of Mariupol, which is widely considered to be one of the separatists' next targets should they renew their offensive.

"This is a great honor and I am incredibly thankful," said Sokol. "I hope that winning this award helps raise awareness of the issues facing Ukrainian Jewry during this incredibly difficult time."

JTA (English):

Eyal’s hourlong program “Hate,” broadcast on Oct. 7, 2014, dealt with rising anti-Semitism in Europe and was filmed on location in Germany, England and Greece. The broadcast also aired earlier in the year as a four-part miniseries on Channel 10.

The Voice of Israel’s “Searching for Relatives Bureau” program was inaugurated in 1945 to help Holocaust survivors track down missing relatives. The program was broadcast continuously until 1969, and was relaunched in 2000 in a new format that includes interviews and investigative reporting.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Arutz Sheva (English):

The winners of the "B'nai B'rith World Center Award for Journalist Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportage in Memory of Wolf and Hilda Matsdorf" were announced today in Jerusalem. The awards went to Sam Sokol, the Jewish World correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, and Nadav Eyal, the chief international correspondent for Channel 10.

The jury is also giving a "Lifetime Achievement Award in Memory of Luis and Trudi Schydlowsky" to Kol Israel, for its program "Searching for Relatives Bureau."

JP Updates (English):

In 1992, Bnai Brith established their World Center Award for Journalism Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportaģe. The award is widely acknowledged in the media industry as the most prestigious prize in its field in Israel.

[...]

The members of the award jury are: Chairman Asher Weill, publisher and editor of “ARIEL”– The Israel Review of Arts and Letters from 1981 to 2003; Yehudith Auerbach, professor in the School of Communication at Bar Ilan University; Eytan Bentsur, former Ministry of Foreign Affairs director general; Shalom Kital, former director general of News Company and Channel 2; Gabriela Shalev, professor and chair of the Higher Academic Council at Ono Academic College, as well as a former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations; and Bambi Sheleg, founder and editor-in-chief of Eretz Acheret, and a 2011 award winner.

Winners of Prestigious Bnai Brith Journalism Award Announced http://t.co/pie5pjiVZR #diaspora pic.twitter.com/jUfrEkBFWj
— JP Updates (@JewishPolitical) April 29, 2015

Congratulations to @Jerusalem_Post Sam Sokol who has won the B'nai B'rith World 2015 award excellence in diaspora pic.twitter.com/ymkcBny95L
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) April 26, 2015

ICE.co.il (Hebrew)

Globes.co.il (Hebrew)

Telavivi.net (Hebrew)

B.Walla.co.il (Hebrew)

I just won an award from @BnaiBrith for my work on Ukraine for the @Jerusalem_Post . I am so thankful right now. http://t.co/S3cMAT1FSA
— Sam Sokol (@SamuelSokol) April 26, 2015

#MazelTov @SamuelSokol for winning @BnaiBrith award for his Ukraine reporting for the @Jerusalem_Post! http://t.co/C5DGFYoxQe
— William Daroff (@Daroff) April 26, 2015

Journalists win B’nai B’rith awards for stories on Ukraine, anti-Semitism http://t.co/T0IXL68tRd
— JTA | Jewish news (@JTAnews) April 30, 2015

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