(Washington, D.C., Oct. 15, 2021)--B'nai B’rith International is pleased to have taken part in the historic Malmö Remember-React International Forum, to promote Holocaust Remembrance and combat anti-Semitism.
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Twenty years after the Stockholm Declaration that founded the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), the Forum brought together Heads of State and government representatives from nearly 50 countries, researchers, experts, civil society and social media companies.

Among participating dignitaries—virtually and in-person—were the Royal Court of Sweden, U.N. Secretary- General António Guterres; President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog; French President Emmanuel Macron; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; European Council President Charles Michel; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Ahead of the Forum, delegations were encouraged to submit concrete pledges.

The event addressed themes such as fighting distortion and trivialization, expanding educational reach to new target groups, fighting anti-Semitism and hate speech online and implementing national and international strategies.

B’nai B’rith CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin participated virtually and conveyed B'nai B’rith's pledge: sponsorship of the None Shall Be Afraid program, which provides a way for individuals and local communities to foster tolerance and responsibility. President Charles O. Kaufman and Deputy Director of the B’nai B’rith International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy Eric Fusfield also took part virtually, along with EU Affairs Officer Caterina Cognini.

Director of EU Affairs Alina Bricman represented B'nai B'rith at the Forum in Malmö and met on the sidelines with key partners in the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the OSCE/ODIHR (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe/ Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights), and the IHRA.

We welcome important commitments made by states, international organizations and technology platforms, increased financial assistance for Holocaust museums and the protection of sites, support for civil society, the drafting and implementation of national action plans and adoption of the IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism among others.

Herzog acknowledged accomplishments since the establishment of the IHRA, drew attention to the growing threat of anti-Semitism stemming from hatred and demonization of Israel, encouraged all states to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism and made an impassioned call on government representatives to take legislative action against the proliferation of hate online.

High Representative for the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Moratinos announced the U.N. will develop an action plan on anti-Semitism, insisting that the body must eradicate anti-Semitism both externally and internally—within the U.N. itself—including in the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Blinken announced the allocation in the coming year of $1 million to counter hate speech online in the Middle East and North Africa and an additional $1 million allocated, together with the U.S. Congress to Central Europe, in support of efforts against denial and distortion of the Holocaust.

Michel and von der Leyen committed to the thorough implementation of the new EU Strategy on Combating anti-Semitism and Fostering Jewish Life, developed by Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Coordinator Katharina von Schnurbein.

Trudeau announced that the role of Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating anti-Semitism will be made permanent and supplemented by increased resources.

Macron stressed the need for collective action on an international level. He announced a new national strategy for combating anti-Semitism by the end of the year as well as an increase in budget for memorial institutions and noted national legislation against hate speech.

We are encouraged by these and other pledges by governments as well as companies.

We are grateful to Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for convening this event. As the Forum concludes, we must work together to move the pledges into effect. Sweden will resume the IHRA chairmanship in March of 2022—an important moment to take stock of progress made.

B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org.

(Washington, D.C., Oct. 5, 2021)--B’nai B’rith President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
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B’nai B’rith International welcomes the ambitious first-ever European Union Strategy on Combating Anti-Semitism and Fostering Jewish Life, for the 2021-2030 period. 

On the heels of mounting concerns faced by Europe’s Jewish communities—from physical attacks to online harassment, hurdles placed on religious practice and dwindling knowledge about the Holocaust—the document is a comprehensive response to a multifaceted challenge and recognizes the invaluable contributions of Jewish Europeans to the continent’s fabric. 

The strategy promotes the adoption by member states of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, the appointment of national coordinators and the preparedness of national equality bodies to address anti-Jewish hatred. Of critical importance is the recognition that anti-Semitism can “hide behind anti-Zionism” and that its manifestations can include Israel-related anti-Semitism. 

We are pleased that the strategy puts due focus on external action, committing to promote the fight against anti-Semitism in the EU’s cooperation with partner countries outside the Union and to ensure no EU funds are misused for activities that promote hatred and incitement. 

Especially relevant following the recent ruling by the Constitutional Court of Belgium to uphold a ban on kosher slaughter is the call on member states to put in place legal safeguards to enable Jewish communities to practice our traditions. 

We are equally encouraged by stepped-up efforts to address anti-Semitism online, including strengthening cooperation with platforms to remove Nazi memorabilia, symbols and literature.

Finally, as we welcome this milestone document, we are grateful for the collaborative and consultative approach by the European Commission, and especially its coordinator for combating anti-Semitism and fostering Jewish life, Katharina von Schnurbein, as well as the will and commitment of European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

Von der Leyen channeled this commitment to B’nai B’rith on International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021, saying, “anti-Semitism strikes at the heart of our values: humanity, religious freedom, equality. Anti-Semitism is a poison for our society. It is up to all of us to fight it. To prevent it. And to eradicate it.” We are encouraged that these words are the opening, guiding motto of the strategy and we look forward to being continued partners in its implementation process. ​

B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit bnaibrith.org.

(Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2021)--B’nai B’rith leaders, led by President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin, have concluded meetings with dozens of world leaders on the sidelines of the opening of the United Nations General Assembly session.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, B’nai B’rith has continued its longtime leadership of Jewish communal engagement at the U.N., arranging direct discussions with heads of state and government, foreign ministers and other senior officials from countries including Greece, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Russia, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Austria, Colombia, Italy, Spain and Romania, among an array of others.

In the consultations, organized by B’nai B’rith’s Office of United Nations Affairs, among the issues discussed were Iran’s destabilizing policies, Arab-Israeli ties, U.N. treatment of Israel, transatlantic relations and global anti-Semitism. Countries were urged to decline participation in the U.N.’s commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the notorious Durban conference on racism—held on Sept. 22—or commended for doing so.

B’nai B’rith has been exceptionally active at the U.N. since the body’s very founding in 1945, holding official status at multiple U.N. arms since soon after then.

​B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit bnaibrith.org.

(Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2021)--B’nai B’rith condemns the resolution adopted on the occasion of the “high-level meeting” of the United Nations General Assembly commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA). The DDPA, which was the official outcome document of the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa—notorious for its scenes of shocking anti-Israel and anti-Semitic hate—singled out only Palestinians for mention as supposed victims of “racism,” by Israel.

The resolution predictably claimed that the DDPA offered “a comprehensive United Nations framework and solid foundation for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,” and reaffirmed commitment to its “full and effective implementation.”

After a year of advocacy by B’nai B’rith and others, we salute at least 35 countries that declined to participate in the Durban commemoration. They are Albania, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay. Additionally, Spain’s foreign minister informed B’nai B’rith that he too instructed his diplomats not to attend.

Most of the countries announced their non-participation in advance, citing Durban’s anti-Jewish bigotry. This public disassociation by a substantial moral minority at the U.N. represents a meaningful victory against efforts to hijack the world body and the critical fight against racism—specifically racism against people of African descent—for the purposes of delegitimizing Israel by obscenely equating only it and Jews’ national liberation movement, Zionism, with racism.

Over recent weeks, B’nai B’rith has organized televised programming in partnership with the Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBS) on Durban, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism featuring luminaries including onetime Soviet prisoner of conscience Natan Sharansky, New York Times columnist Bret Stephens, former United States national security advisor John Bolton, former Maldivian foreign minister Ahmed Shaheed, Canadian human rights icon Irwin Cotler, British Baroness Ruth Deech and French public intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy.

The series—with a special message by B’nai B’rith President Charles O. Kaufman, and moderation by our CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin and Director of U.N. and Intercommunal Affairs David Michaels--culminated in an hourlong interview Sept. 22, at the conclusion of the U.N. Durban commemoration, with B’nai B’rith Honorary President Richard D. Heideman, who led the Jewish delegation at Durban, and his wife, International March of the Living President Phyllis G. Heideman.

B’nai B’rith mobilized the largest Jewish delegation at the 2001 conference and at the 2009 Durban Review Conference.

B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org.

(Washington, D.C., Sept. 10, 2021)--B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:   
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We commend the government of Slovakia for its statement apologizing for its World War II-era anti-Jewish laws that stripped Jews of numerous rights, adopted 80 years ago.  

The laws, also known as the “Jewish Code,” denied Jews their economic, social, political and cultural rights. Slovakia, which became a Nazi puppet state during World War II, deported Jewish citizens to Nazi death camps. 68,000-71,000 Slovak Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. 

Slovakia’s declaration is an important step toward making amends for crimes of its wartime government and honoring the memory of Slovak Jews who suffered greatly under the laws.  

B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit bnaibrith.org.

(Washington, D.C., August 30, 2021)--B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International is opening its Disaster and Emergency Relief Fund to support those affected by Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in southeastern Louisiana on August 29. B’nai B’rith will be allocating $5,000 to support emergency relief efforts, as well as accepting donations. We will match donations up to $15,000.

The Category 4 storm, with high-speed winds and rising sea levels, caused significant flooding, and widespread power outages. As the storm continues to move inland, it threatens to bring more flooding in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

Hurricane Ida struck the Gulf Coast on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which resulted in more than 1,800 deaths and over $100 billion in damages in the region. Following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, B'nai B'rith distributed $1.1 million in funds that supported an emergency response and rebuilding and recovery efforts.

Our longstanding tradition of helping communities in distress began in 1865 in pre-state Israel when we raised funds to aid victims of a cholera outbreak. Since then, B’nai B’rith has helped countless people across the globe who have faced adversity after natural and man-made disasters. Recent donations to our Disaster and Emergency Relief Fund will be used to help victims of the August earthquake in Haiti. Earlier this year, we raised funds to help vulnerable communities around the world stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

To help us help those in need, donate to our Disaster and Emergency Relief Fund here.

Donors can also call 800-573-9057 to make a credit card contribution over the phone. Or, you can send a check payable to the B’nai B’rith Disaster and Emergency Relief Fund to:

B’nai B’rith International Disaster and Emergency Relief Fund 
1120 20th Street NW, Suite 300N 
Washington, D.C. 20036 ​