Category: B'nai B'rith Magazine

B’nai B'rith Magazine: How Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto Hid an Astonishing Archive of Jewish Life During the Holocaust

12/7/2020

Winter Issue Also Spotlights the Effort to Restore the Run-Down Jewish Cemeteries in Europe

(Washington, D.C., Dec. 7, 2020)—“Oyneg Shabes” — or “Sabbath delight” — is usually associated with a joyful social gathering. But, from 1940 to 1943, the phrase also served as the name for a brave group of Polish Jews who clandestinely gathered materials to chronicle the life of Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland, in the hopes that it would reflect their true history. In the winter issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine, Beryl Lieff Benderly tells the story of this daring group and how its wish – to preserve the record of the persecution of the Jews of Warsaw– was fulfilled, in her cover story, “Secret Shabes: How the “Sabbath Delight” Hid an Astonishing Archive.”

Also in this issue: Scattered across Eastern Europe are Jewish cemeteries that, for decades, were ravaged and forgotten. Read about the individuals and organizations working tirelessly to locate and restore these cemeteries in the feature story, “Unfinished Business: Restoring Eastern Europe’s Desecrated Jewish Cemeteries.”

Before and after World War II, American diplomats visited Poland following reports of targeted attacks on Polish Jews, only to dismiss or explain away the violence. Hugh Gibson in 1919 and Arthur Bliss Lane in 1946 both saw their primary role to be supporting Poland and ignored the suffering of Polish Jews. In his feature, Kenneth D. Ackerman exemplifies the challenge of recognizing what is legitimate public discourse and what is just a convenient excuse for anti-Semitism.

In his President’s Column, Charles O. Kaufman shares his vivid memories from his first visit to Israel in 1980 and reflects on how Israel has grown and developed from the 1948 declaration of independence, to his first visit to today.

B’nai B’rith International CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin marks the upcoming 125th anniversary of the seminal pamphlet Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State), written by Theodor Herzl, through an exploration of B’nai B’rith’s long history of contributions and dedication to a strong, united Jewish State.

Read those stories and so much more in the winter issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine, available 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.

B’nai B’rith Magazine: Jewish German Fashion Industry Flourished, Then Perished Under Nazi Rule

12/10/2019

Winter Issue Also Spotlights: The Tiny Cuban Jewish Community, African Immigrants to Israel, Oil in Chanukah Cooking, And More

(Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 2019)-- In pre-World War II Berlin, Jewish fashion designers were key to Germany’s golden age of fashion. The Holocaust terminated their participation in the industry, and their contributions and influence have been all but forgotten. Our cover story, “German Jewish Fashion Industry Flourished, then Perished Under Nazi Rule,” focuses on this neglected history.

Two Jewish sisters from Ethiopia, made aliyah with the help of a determined West Bank resident. Read about the obstacles they faced on their challenging journey, in this feature story.

How should oil be used for Chanukah cooking? Which types of cooking oils are healthiest? Can you fry food in olive oil? Our article on Chanukah cooking has the answers to these questions, plus several recipes you can use in your Chanukah kitchen.

Cuba’s Jews have confronted religious and political repression, economic hardship and declining religious observance. Many younger Jews, seeing few opportunities in Cuba, make aliyah. Still, the 1,500-strong Cuban Jewish community works hard to preserve its vibrant culture and heritage. Our photo-essay on the community gives a glimpse into this fight.

B’nai B’rith International CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin gives a glowing review of the off-Broadway Yiddish revival of “Fiddler on the Roof,” which has been wildly successful, in his column. Although most of the audience members do not speak Yiddish and rely on subtitles during the production, the music and plot transcend language.

In his President’s Column, Charles O. Kaufman delves into modern anti-Semitism, which comes from the left and right. Kaufman also debunks common anti-Semitic and anti-Israel myths like “Israel seeks to be a colonial power” and “Israel keeps Palestinians in refugee camps.” We also look at the loss of civility in society in our About Seniors column.

Read those stories and so much more in the winter issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine, available here.

Israeli Runner and Racecar Driver are Both in the Spotlight in New Issue of B'nai B'rith Magazine

9/17/2019

Fall issue also focuses on Torah-Themed Quilts and the revival of the Ladino language

(Washington, D.C., Sept. 17, 2019)-- Israeli Olympic hopeful Beatie Deutsch, also known as “Speedy Beatie,” isn’t your typical runner – and not only because she has five children. Deutsch, 29, is also the first ultra-Orthodox woman to become a competitive marathon runner. In the fall issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine, “‘Speedy Beatie,’ Ultra-Orthodox Runner, is Off to the Races,” readers will learn about this extraordinary woman’s extraordinary achievements.

And from one type of racetrack to another, we also focus on an Israeli racecar driver. When 27-year-old Alon Day was growing up, motorsports were illegal in Israel. Day defied the odds to participate in racecar competitions around the world. In 2017, he became the first-ever Israeli to participate in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Ladino, the language of the Sephardic Diaspora, is undergoing an academic and cultural revival. Modern Ladino enthusiasts are promoting the language with Ladino-language newspapers, digital versions of musical recordings and even a newly established International Ladino Day in New York City.

Anita Rabinoff-Goldman spent a year studying every Torah portion and accompanying commentaries to create a 54-piece contemporary quilt collection, “Seeing Torah.” You can view some of the intricate quilt illustrations in our cover story, “Seeing Torah: A Visual Exploration.”

In his President’s Column, Charles O. Kaufman details some of the mitzvot that members and supporters of B’nai B’rith perform around the world every day. At the International Council conference in Portugal, attendees learned about locals who performed righteous deeds, including Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a Portuguese diplomat responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Jews fleeing the Holocaust.

B’nai B’rith International CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin devotes this issue’s column to the modern fight against anti-Semitism in all its forms. Mariaschin showcases B’nai B’rith’s successful call for the appointment of a U.S. State Department envoy for monitoring and combatting anti-Semitism and its participation in the “Summit on Combatting Anti-Semitism” convened by the Justice Department.

In our About Seniors column, we focus on the bricks, mortar, volunteers and professionals – a combination vital to ensuring safe and affordable housing.

Read those stories and so much more in the fall issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine, available 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

Summer Issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine Spotlights Experiences of French Jewish Immigrants to Israel

6/24/2019

Summer 2019 issue also focuses on the legacy of visa forger Joseph Rubinsky, whose exploits allowed Jewish refugees to escape the Holocaust, and the newly uncovered history of the Kitchener Camp, which rescued thousands of Jewish men from Certain Death in Germany

(Washington, D.C., June 24, 2019)--Prompted by a surge in anti-Semitic incidents and hate crimes, almost 50,000 French Jews have made aliyah to Israel in the last five years. However, although French immigrants to Israel are commonly assumed to be well-educated and easily able to assimilate, they face new challenges once they reach the Jewish state. In Au Revoir, France. Bienvenue, Israel: French Immigrants Making Aliyah, we see what awaits arrivals from France in Israel.

Joseph Rubinsky saved thousands of Jews from a grim fate in Europe by providing them with false visas to escape. His fake visas did not come cheaply; he charged desperate refugees high fees for his services, and repeatedly ran into trouble with the law. Was Rubinsky a hero or a villain?

For more than 80 years, the Kitchener Camp, which allowed thousands of German Jewish men to find refuge in England, was almost unknown. Today, descendants of those saved, known as “Kitchener Kids,” are trying to change that by unearthing historical records and publicizing them.

Also in this issue, the incredible tales of derring-do of the Jews accompanying Admiral Richard Byrd on his expeditions to the Poles.

B’nai B’rith International CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin devotes this issue’s column, Friends in Deed, to real friends of the Jewish people – those allies who choose to make a difference for the Jewish people, even if that choice is difficult or unpopular.

In his President’s Column, Charles O. Kaufman also writes about friends of the Jewish people – this time, nations that ally with or otherwise support the State of Israel. He details how, even within the hostile environments that Israel must deal with at international bodies like the United Nations there are signs of hope.

Read those stories and so much more in the summer issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine, available 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

B’nai B'rith Magazine Details Evolution of American-Jewish Theater

6/15/2015

Summer 2015 Issue Also Examines Integrated Jewish-Arab Schools in Israel

The roots of American-Jewish theater spring from Yiddish immigrant culture. Recent headlines, however, have focused on controversies in the Washington, D.C. scene.

But there is much more to the story. Today, the art form is thriving and evolving into new forms. Increasingly, efforts like the Jewish Plays Project competition search for emerging artists and plays seek to engage the Jewish community. Writer Barbara Blank explores the past, present and future of American-Jewish theater.

State-supported Hand in Hand operates five Israeli schools with 1,100 Jewish and Arab students learning together. Writer Michele Chabin examines the challenges the schools face as they continue their mission of creating a more inclusive society.
B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs explains the organization’s ongoing role at the United Nations to counter the U.N.’s blatant bias against Israel.

Through the use of personal stories, B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin reminds us to honor Holocaust survivors and to keep alive the memories of those we’ve lost.

Joined by a similar love for country, Christian and Jewish Zionists in Israel seem to find a common bond. While some Christians in Israel seek to convert Jews, most see their mission as one of religious purpose and cultural understanding. Writer Hillel Kuttler tells the stories of these Christian Zionists living in Israel, shining a light on their incredible journeys.

Read Magazine Articles

B’nai B’rith Welcomes Spanish Vote to Grant Citizenship to Jews Expelled During Inquisition

6/12/2015

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith welcomes a new Spanish law that would allow descendants of Sephardic Jews to apply for citizenship.

This is an important gesture acknowledging not only the expulsion of Jews from 15th Century Spain, but also the importance of Jewish heritage to the country’s history.

In recent years, the Spanish foreign ministry has established Casa Sefarad to promote Sephardic Jewish culture worldwide. The organization describes itself as “a bridge between Spain and the Jewish world,” and has run important cross-cultural programs.

Citizenship will not be awarded automatically. Applicants will have to certify their Sephardic ancestry during the online application process, and will have to pass language and history proficiency tests. The law will allow applicants to retain their current country of citizenship.

We are pleased that Spain’s Jewish community will be involved in the process of vetting applications, as their participation can be helpful in optimizing the law’s implementation.

Click here to read B’nai B’rith’s analysis of this topic from May:
http://www.bnaibrith.org/expert-analysis/five-centuries-later-spain-making-amends-with-jewish-community

Click here to read “The Jews of Spain” from the winter 2014 issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine: http://www.bnaibrith.org/magazine-articles/the-jews-of-spain-once-many-now-few-and-under-the-radar

B’nai B’rith Magazine Honored With Two Rockower Awards

6/4/2015

The Simon Rockower Jewish Journalism Awards, presented annually by the American Jewish Press Association, recognize the best in Jewish journalism. This year, B’nai B’rith Magazine was honored to win two awards.

To view and read the award-winning entries, please click the links below:

Trendy, Yet Traditional: Jerusalem Market Becoming One of Israel’s Hot Spots

First Place Award for Excellence in Photography: Debbie Zimelman

View B'nai B'rith Magazine Article

My Great-Aunt Itel and the Rise and Fall of the Maidenform Bra Company

Second Place Award for Award for Excellence in Writing About Women: David Laskin

View B'nai B'rith Magazine Article

B’nai B'rith Magazine Features Jews Of Color: A Growing Minority Within A Minority

3/23/2015

Spring 2015 Issue Also Highlights the Fast-Growing Metropolis of Beersheba, Ben Gurion University and Louis Armstrong

Jews of color are a growing segment of the American-Jewish community. A 2011 survey by the UJA-Federation of New York found that 12 percent of Jewish households identified themselves as non-white. Angela Warnick Buchdahl, who became the senior rabbi of the Central Synagogue in midtown Manhattan last July, was the first ordained Asian-American rabbi in 2001.

The increasing diversity of Jewish culture is also reflected in popular culture by people like Grammy-award winning rapper Drake and Fox News reporter Geraldo Rivera. While the reality may be changing, perceptions of “what a Jew looks like” have not yet caught up. Writer Miranda S. Spivack looks into the reality of being a Jew of color.

In the spirit of Passover, B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs reviews B’nai B’rith International’s role in attaining freedoms for Israel and Jewish people around the world.

Over the last decade, Ben-Gurion University has done revolutionary research on neurological conditions like, dementia, concussions and autism. Despite the fact that its student population has tripled to more than 20,000, it is ranked number one in Israel for ambience and individual attention. Writer Maayan Jaffe highlights the country’s fastest growing institution of higher learning.

50 years ago, Beersheba, a city in southern Israel, was not considered to be a substantial part of Israel. Today, it features a booming business district, the Soroka University Medical Center, a cyber-security industry and Ben-Gurion University. Writer Hillel Kuttler explores the transformation of Beersheba from a modest city into a burgeoning metropolitan area.

With spring upon us, B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin’s column turns to baseball. As a life-long fan, Mariaschin examines Jewish Americans’ cultural connection to the sport—and his own.

Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong is undoubtedly one of the most influential jazz musicians in history. As a child, he was part of an impoverished New Orleans family and was forced to work at a young age. But a Jewish family helped him along the way, cementing a lifelong bond with the Jewish people. Writer Sam Seifman details the story of Armstrong and the Karnofsky family.

Read Full Magazine

Feature Stories:

> Passover — A Time for Reflecting

> Jews and Baseball: An American
Tradition Continues

> Jews of Color

> Satchmo and the Karnofskys

> Ben-Gurion University

> Beersheba

> Passover Wine

Download Magazine

Israeli Hospitals Treating Syrian, Palestinian Patients: B’nai B’rith Magazine’s Latest Cover Story

12/2/2014

Comments

Winter 2014 Issue Also Highlights the Jews of Spain and the Kosher Food Boom

In the face of seemingly endless conflict, Israeli hospitals continue to provide Syrian and Palestinian patients with high-quality, low-cost medical care. Writer Michele Chabin speaks with many of the medical professionals and patients. She reports that the patients, many of them children, receive high-quality, affordable care.

The Israeli institutions do this as an expression of “tikkun olam”—the Jewish commitment to repair the world. Medical personnel treat many patients with life-threatening conditions, transcending politics and national boundaries.

Elsewhere in the issue, writer Miranda Spivack explores why Spain has been largely immune to the anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Israel protests that spread across Europe this year. There is even talk of granting citizenship to Sephardic Jews who can prove ancestral links to Spain, thereby recognizing and making amends for its historic persecution dating back to the Inquisition and expulsion order of 1492.

The kosher food business in the United States—valued at more than $12.5 billion annually—is booming, according to writer Uriel Heilman, who reports that most of the customers for kosher food today are non-Jews looking for healthier, higher quality products.

B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs devotes his column to Chanukah’s rich history and reviews the many accomplishments of B’nai B’rith this calendar year.

In his regular column, B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin discusses B’nai B’rith’s recent Policy Forum in Panama and the organization’s fight against anti-Semitism in Latin America.

Rachel Goldberg, B’nai B’rith’s director of aging policy, in her “About Seniors” section advises readers on how to prepare financially for retirement and discusses the growing issue of a retirement deficit.

All this and more can be found in the current issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine.

And for exclusive digital content, visit the magazine website: www.bnaibrith.org/magazines

Comments

The Rise and Fall of Maidenform Detailed In B'nai B'rith Magazine

9/3/2014

Comments

Fall 2014 Issue Also Tells the Story of Twin Brothers During WWI

Writer David Laskin’s Great-Aunt Itel was a Jewish immigrant from Belarus without a college education. Her story, featured in the fall issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine, is that of a rebellious, headstrong and fiercely intelligent woman who arrived in the United States nearly penniless and started the wildly successful Maidenform Bra Company.

Laskin chronicles his great-aunt’s remarkable life and the company’s rise under her stewardship. Itel’s company revolutionized the women’s apparel industry and created a highly-visible brand during the 1940s and 1950s.

In a similar vein, we follow the story of B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin’s immigrant parents who arrived in the United States with very little to their name. After years of working and raising a family in the New York area, they moved to a small town in New Hampshire and operated a women’s clothing store.

The fall issue then takes a look at ancestry through a different lens. In the spirit of L’Dor V’Dor (from generation to generation), B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs relays the story of the honeymooning grandson of former B’nai B’rith President Frank Goldman, connecting the trip to his grandfather’s role in the founding of Israel.

A century ago, France entered World War I. Writer Gerard Leval, an American Jew of French descent, recalls his family’s sacrifices during what was first known as the Great War. Leval’s grandfather suffered serious injuries and the loss of his twin brother André in the fighting.

Elsewhere in the magazine, George Johnson details his journey to Israel—discovering the story of his ancestor Reuven Lehrer, who founded the town of Ness Ziona in the late 19th century. The investigation led Johnson to a treasure trove of family history connecting him with his Israeli roots.

Beryl Benderly tells the story of Copenhagen’s Danish Jewish Museum, which recounts the country’s long history of tolerant relations with its Jewish citizens. Designed by famed architect Daniel Libeskind, it depicts, among other things, the daring rescue of 7,220 Jewish Danes by their fellow citizens who organized a nighttime boatlift to Sweden—saving them from deportation to the Nazi death camps.

Comments

B’nai B'rith Magazine: How Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto Hid an Astonishing Archive of Jewish Life During the Holocaust

B’nai B’rith Magazine: Jewish German Fashion Industry Flourished, Then Perished Under Nazi Rule

Israeli Runner and Racecar Driver are Both in the Spotlight in New Issue of B'nai B'rith Magazine

Summer Issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine Spotlights Experiences of French Jewish Immigrants to Israel

B’nai B'rith Magazine Details Evolution of American-Jewish Theater

B’nai B’rith Welcomes Spanish Vote to Grant Citizenship to Jews Expelled During Inquisition

B’nai B’rith Magazine Honored With Two Rockower Awards

B’nai B'rith Magazine Features Jews Of Color: A Growing Minority Within A Minority

Feature Stories:

Israeli Hospitals Treating Syrian, Palestinian Patients: B’nai B’rith Magazine’s Latest Cover Story

The Rise and Fall of Maidenform Detailed In B'nai B'rith Magazine

Press Releases:

Archives

Categories

Connect With Us

About B'nai B'rith

Support Our Work

Subscribe