AMERICAN JEWISH AND AMERICAN HELLENIC ORGANIZATIONS WELCOME RECENT U.S., ISRAEL, GREECE, CYPRUS ENGAGEMENT
 
(Washington, D.C., July 29, 2019)--The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA), American Hellenic Institute (AHI), B’nai B’rith International, and Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued the following joint statement:
 
“We welcome the continued development of the Israel, Greece, and Cyprus trilateral partnership with news of the ‘First Economic Dialogue held between the United States and Trilateral Partners Republic of Cyprus, Greece, and Israel’ on July 25 in Washington, D.C.  We applaud the United States’ ongoing engagement following March’s Sixth Trilateral Summit where the United States participated for the first time. 
 
“Separately, we welcome as another positive indicator that bilateral relations between Greece and Israel have not lost a step with a newly elected government in Greece as evidenced by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias’s visit to Israel early in the new government’s tenure.  The July 28 visit included meetings with President of Israel Rivlin, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Katz to discuss matters pertaining to the tripartite and developments in the eastern Mediterranean, which we view as vital and timely.
 
“We applaud the commitment to fostering peace, security, stability, and shared democratic values and ideals, in the region by all parties.  We are pleased the relationship continues to progress across all sectors. We will continue to lend our broad diaspora support and encouragement for advancing the trilateral partnership and the United States’ commitment to it.”
 
Background
In August 2011 and December 2012 AHEPA, AHI, B’nai B’rith International, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations co-organized roundtable discussions in New York City between leaders of the American Hellenic and American Jewish communities.
 
In January 2018, the four organizations completed their third Leadership Mission to Israel, Cyprus and Greece and are planning a fourth mission in 2020.  The groundbreaking inaugural mission to the three countries took place January 2014 and led to diaspora support for the tripartite, greater understanding between our communities, and the greater recognition of our common values, intents, and aspirations.
 
In December 2018, the organizations co-sponsored an international conference held in Jerusalem titled, “New Realities in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
 
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
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B’nai B’rith Podcast: New Episode on Dangers of Losing the Narrative on Middle East Conflict
 
(Washington, D.C., July 24, 2019)--Author and attorney Lee Bender notes: “Words have tremendous meaning. And if they are maligned, or misunderstood and mischaracterized, that can cause tremendous problems, issues and concerns.”
 
Bender joined B’nai B’rith CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin on the B’nai B’rith Podcast to talk about the pervasiveness and dangers of anti-Israel bias in the media.  He co-wrote “Pressing Israel: Media Bias from A-Z” with Jerome Verlin and runs the website FactsonIsrael.com.
 
On the podcast, Bender and Mariaschin discuss how anti-Israel activists continue to poison the discourse around Israel and Zionism by injecting biased words into the discussions.
 
For example, many media outlets now differentiate between “East Jerusalem” and “West Jerusalem,” even though Jerusalem has been an undivided city for the vast majority of its history. Bender says that deceptive language like this – what he calls “Toxic Terms” – hurts efforts to reach people who occupy a middle ground between anti-Zionism and pro-Israel advocacy; these people could become pro-Israel if they learn about the issue, but only from unbiased sources that use honest language.
 
While it might be tempting to minimize the importance of precision in language, Bender cautions against this: “Our motto is: if you forfeit the language, you forfeit our heritage and our history.”
 
Listen to the podcast here.
 
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
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(Washington, D.C., July 23, 2019)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:

We commend the U.S. House of Representative for its unequivocal and bipartisan support of three measures that reaffirm Israel’s place as a critical U.S. ally and partner.

B’nai B’rith strongly supported all three measures: H. Res. 246, a resolution introduced in the House which repudiates the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement; H.R. 1850, the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act of 2019; and H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. The measures affirm that the House opposes the BDS movement, which seeks the delegitimization of Israel; impose sanctions on groups affiliated with Hamas or Islamic Jihad; promote American investment in Israel; and reaffirm the United States’ strategic partnership with Israel.

It is vital that bipartisan support for Israel continues. The BDS movement, which advocates for the boycott of Israeli goods and services, is counterproductive to achieving peace. Allowing violent terrorist groups to be financed fuels the Hamas and Islamic Jihad declared goal of eliminating Israel.
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The votes this evening send a strong signal to the world that the House, on behalf of the American people, stands with Israel.

(Washington, D.C., July 22, 2019)--Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has announced that the B’nai B’rith Senior Residences at the Machon development is a recipient of the 2019 annual affordable housing rental awards in the state.  
 
The residences will be developed as an adaptive re-use of the former Machon School, which is now vacant. Residents will enjoy amenities including a library and fitness center, as well as the presence of an on-site resident service coordinator.
 
“We hope that the senior housing development that was just funded can be one of the models we can use in many of the future proposed B’nai B’rith housing developments we are planning to create around the country,” said Marvin Siflinger, chair of B’nai B’rith International’s Center for Senior Services.
 
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
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(Washington, D.C., July 18, 2019)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:  
 
We are outraged by Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn.) introduction of a pro-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) resolution in the House of Representatives. The resolution purports to merely affirm the right of American citizens to participate in both domestic and international boycotts. However, Omar’s history of anti-Israel rhetoric, including her assertion that pro-Israel Americans’ political beliefs are motivated by money, betrays the resolution’s true purpose.
 
Outrageously, the resolution also includes language alluding to Americans’ boycott of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union and implicitly compares these boycotts to the discriminatory BDS movement. It is deeply offensive to compare Israel to either of those totalitarian regimes.
 
We call on every member of Congress to repudiate this resolution, which demonizes Israel while purporting to support human rights, and vote against it.
 
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
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(Washington, D.C., July 15, 2019)--In the 25 years since the deadly terror attack on the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires – the heart of the Jewish community in Argentina – no one has ever been brought to justice. In the latest B’nai B’rith International podcast, Special Advisor on Latin American Affairs Adriana Camisar joins CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin for a conversation on the attack that killed 85 and wounded more than 300.

Camisar and Mariaschin discuss the repeated miscarriages of justice that have pervaded the decades-long investigation into the bombing, which was perpetrated by terrorists linked to the government of Iran and Hezbollah.

They also discuss the murder of AMIA case Prosecutor Alberto Nisman in 2015, who became regarded as the last victim of the terrorist attack.

In addition to the history of the case, Mariaschin and Camisar discuss the current state of affairs: whether achieving justice for the bombing’s victims is a realistic possibility, how the media continue to cover the case, how the United States can assist diplomatically and other pressing issues.

To listen to the podcast, click here. ​

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., July 11, 2019)--The B’nai B’rith Disaster and Emergency Relief Fund presented a $1,500 check to leaders in Germantown, Tennessee, which has experienced severe flooding this summer.
 
City Administrator Patrick Lawton, Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo, Vice Mayor and Alderman Mary Anne Gibson and Fire Chief John Selberg attended the check presentation. Harold (Hesch) Steinberg was there to represent the B’nai B’rith Disaster and Emergency Relief Fund.
 
Joel Turetzky and the leadership of B’nai B’rith’s Sam Schloss Lodge #35 in Tennessee raised the money that made this possible.
 
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
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(Washington, D.C., July 8, 2019)--Antonia Yamin, chief Europe correspondent for KAN-Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, and Zvika Klein, Jewish world correspondent for Makor Rishon and NRG360, were honored at the 27th annual B’nai B’rith World Center Awards for Journalism on July 3rd. You can watch the ceremony here. Photos from the event can be viewed here.
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Deborah Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, Atlanta, delivered the keynote address on “Old Wine in New Bottles: Antisemitism in the Contemporary World.”

Yamin and Klein each received the 2019 Award for Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportage, in memory of Wolf and Hilda Matsdorf. Yamin’s award was for broadcast media for a series of reports on Jewish life in Great Britain and Austria and on anti-Semitism in Germany, while Klein received the print media award for his series Distant Relatives that explored Israel and Jewish American relations. A certificate of merit in memory of Luis and Trudi Schydlowsky was conferred on Attila Somfalvi, the lead anchor of ynet news, for a series of reports and commentaries on the relationship between Israel and American Jewry. Actor and Israel Prize laureate Yehoram Gaon was honored with a special citation for fostering Israel-Diaspora relations through the arts.
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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