Contact B'nai B'rith

1120 20th Street NW, Suite 300N Washington, D.C. 20036

info@bnaibrith.org

202-857-6600

Join us for the Meeting of the International Council of B’nai B’rith (ICBB)

​June 23-25, 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal

You and your family are invited to join the B’nai B’rith International family in Lisbon, Portugal, June 23-25, 2019.

Open to all B’nai B’rith members, this inclusive B’nai B’rith International Council of B’nai B’rith (ICBB) gathering gives our family a chance to meet on European soil to discuss not only B’nai B’rith business, but to learn about the Portuguese history and heritage that had an enormous impact on the Jewish faith, dating back to even before the Inquisition. Additionally, meeting outside the United States highlights our global membership and emphasizes the internationality of our 175-year-old organization. For those who wish to add more time to this informative and enjoyable event, the three-day conference also offers plenty of flexibility. 

Although the global gathering is meeting under the guise of the ICBB, expect all levels of leadership, from the Executive Board of Directors to the Board of Governors, to convene over the course of the three days. 

The meeting will begin on Sunday morning on June 23 and continue Monday, June 24. Tuesday, June 25 will be a tour of Jewish Heritage sites. There will also be an off-site dinner included. Please see the information listed below for hotel information and to register for the meeting. In order to make your plans, a tentative schedule is listed below as well. 

You can register at this link. For any questions, please contact ICBB Leadership Meeting Staff at leadership@bnaibrith.org.
 
We look forward to seeing you in Lisbon in June.

Charles “Chuck” Kaufman, President
Daniel S. Mariaschin, CEO

Questions?  Please contact ICBB Leadership Meeting Staff at leadership@bnaibrith.org. ​

International Council of B’nai B’rith Meeting
Tentative Schedule – June 23-25, 2019
Lisbon, Portugal

Members will participate in sessions with government officials, Jewish community leaders and academics on the fascinating history of the Jews in Portugal, and on more contemporary issues, including Portuguese-Israeli relations and Portuguese-American ties, in addition to our meeting of the International Council of B’nai B’rith.
Sunday, June 23
10:00 am                     Registration 
10:30 am                     Opening Session
11:45 am                      Lunch 
1:00 pm                       International Council of B’nai B’rith (ICBB) Meeting – Open to All Participants
3:00 pm                      Free Time
6:30 pm     
                 Welcome Dinner

Monday, June 24
9:00 am                      Sessions
                                               State of the Organization
                                               Historical Perspective – Remarks and Q&A
                                               Sousa Mendes Foundation – Presentation and Q&A
12:15 pm                     Diplomatic Encounter Series Luncheon
2:15 pm                      Sessions
                                               Sefarad Film Screening & Discussion with Members of the Oporto Jewish Community
6:00 pm                     Reception and Wine Tasting

​Tuesday, June 25
8:00 am                    Jewish Heritage Tour
                                              Lunch 
                                              Mayor’s Reception

Introductory Remarks by Gabriel Szary Steinhardt, President of Comunidade Israelita de Lisbo on Sunday, June 23

Screening of the Film Sefarad on Monday, June 24 – Details

Join the group for a screening of the film Sefarad, a historical drama that traces the history of the Jews of Portugal from 1496, when King D. Manuel forbade Judaism. Watch the film’s trailer here. The event will include a guided discussion with members of the Oporto community.

Jewish Heritage Tour on Tuesday, June 25 – Details


Picture

Castelo de Vide
On Tuesday, June 25, the group will tour Jewish heritage sites in the Alentejo region, an approximately  two (2) hour trip from Lisbon.  The Alentejo is an area of rolling hills, vineyards and historic towns with castle fortresses. It is also the largest producer of cork in the world. Learn how this part of Portugal fits into the history of the Crypto-Jews or Conversos.  We will visit Castelo de Vide, a town near the Spanish border, where many Jewish refugees fleeing the Spanish Expulsion in 1492 eventually settled.  On the tour we will walk through the old Jewish Quarter and visit the medieval Synagogue that now serves as a Jewish museum, followed by lunch.  At the next stop we visit the nearby Old Roman Bridge, where the Jewish refugees crossed the border into Portugal to reach Castelo de Vide during the Spanish Expulsion.  The last stop will be a short walking tour of Marvao, another historic town with a rich Jewish history.  We expect to return to Lisbon by 6pm. 

Transportation and lunch are included in the registration fee.  Although transportation will be provided to the sites, the tour will include walking through historic sites and some steep hills.  Please wear appropriate shoes. The temperature should be comfortable, with an average high that time of year of approximately 80 F or 26 C.  

You can read more about Castelo de Vide on the municipality’s tourism website here.
 
You can read more about the Alentejo and its Jewish history here.

Hotel Information – Iberostar Lisboa

The meeting will take place at the Iberostar Lisboa. The special room rate is 185€ (currently $207) single and 205€ (currently $230) double. Room rate includes buffet breakfast in the main restaurant, and rate includes VAT. Taxes are not included in the rate, currently a city tax of 2€ per night per person.  Please use this form to reserve your room reservation. Link to hotel reservation form here.

The brand new Iberostar Lisboa is the key to unlocking all that the Portuguese capital has to offer. Located a block and half from Avenida da Liberdade, this 5-star hotel is located in the center of Lisbon.

  • 5-star rooms. Included in every room: complimentary wi-fi, smart phone, 43” flat screen tv, minibar, air conditioning, coffee maker, safe, hair dryer, bathroom with shower, iron & ironing board, yoga mat, complimentary bottled water on a daily basis.
  • Exquisite flavors. Local and international cuisine, buffet breakfast, à la carte restaurant, the best cocktails… The dining options at this hotel are so varied that you’ll barely have enough time to try them all!
  • Infinite relaxation. There is an outdoor pool with a bar on the terrace and a sun terrace to get a tan without even leaving the hotel. Sip on your favorite drink while stretching out on a sun lounger, catch some rays and take a refreshing dip whenever you like.
  • Spectacular spa. Mingling with the scent of the oils during a relaxing massage or enjoying a steam bath are just some of the pleasures you can experience in the wellness and spa centre of this Lisbon hotel. 
  • Vertical gardens. You may well have seen many types of garden, but quite possibly none as impressive as those at this luxury hotel in Lisbon. You’ll find them on the terrace of the outdoor pool.

Discover Iberostar Lisboa:

Information: Traveling to Portugal


Sorry, no compatible source and playback technology were found for this video. Try using another browser like Chrome or download the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Play
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration Time 0:00
Remaining Time -0:00
Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
00:00
Fullscreen
00:00
Mute
Video Credit: Copyright Turismo de Lisboa