Summer Issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine Spotlights Experiences of French Jewish Immigrants to Israel6/24/2019
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 International has issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith International condemns the latest act of the terror that unfolded in eastern Paris today, where a terrorist suspected of killing a police officer yesterday, shot and killed four people, wounded many more and held at least five hostages inside a kosher market. Police recently stormed the market, freeing the surviving hostages and killing the gunman. The terrorist is reported to be Amedy Coulibaly who is being linked to the men who stormed the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and killed 12 people. Those assailants were killed in a simultaneous raid on a printing business where they also held a hostage who was eventually freed. Today’s terrorizing of a kosher market is not just an attack on Jews, but a reprehensible assault on free societies everywhere. We applaud French authorities for acting swiftly and decisively, avoiding further innocent bloodshed when neutralizing the attacker. At the same time, our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the victims.  B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith strongly condemns the terror attack that left at least 12 dead and 10 wounded in the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Three masked gunmen stormed the building seeking out those who worked at the paper. They escaped after hijacking a car. A city-wide manhunt is underway. In the letter to French Ambassador Gérard Araud, B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin extend their thoughts and prayers to all those affected: “During this difficult time, we would also like to convey our deepest condolences to the families of all the innocent victims of these despicable attacks and express our sympathy and support to the city of Paris. “For over 170 years, B’nai B’rith International has condemned all senseless acts of violence. Today we recognize global terror as one of the world’s greatest challenges, and we have remained steadfast in our efforts to combat it.” It is being reported that the paper has been the recipient of threats following the publication of a Muslim-related cartoon. Read the full letter here.  Eastern Paris suburb of Creteil B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith International is horrified over the suspected anti-Semitic attack on a young Jewish couple in the eastern Paris suburb of Creteil. This incident is another on the list of anti-Semitic attacks that have been on the rise in Europe, and especially in France. Earlier this week three armed assailants broke into the home of the Jewish couple. The assailants restrained them, ransacked the home, raped the woman and withdrew money from their bank accounts. During the terrifying ordeal, the attackers reportedly shouted anti-Semitic insults at the couple, demanding to know where they hid their money because they were Jewish. B’nai B’rith International commends the police for acting swiftly and arresting two suspects and charging a third in this case. We hope that those guilty of this heinous crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This attack points to, once again, the need for European governmental and law enforcement officials to engage in proactive efforts to counter what has become an alarming spike in wanton attacks on Jews. B’nai B’rith International has released the following statement:
B’nai B’rith International praises the Canadian Supreme Court for upholding a lower court’s extradition order to France of suspected terrorist Hassan Diab. Diab is accused of being involved in the 1980 attack on a Paris synagogue as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine that carried it out. Four people were killed and 40 were injured when explosives strapped to the sides of a motorcycle in front of the Copernic Synagogue detonated as service goers filed onto the street. Diab was arrested in 2008 in Canada at the request of France, and he was committed to extradition by a judge in 2011. After a series of appeals in the Canadian judicial system, Diab will now be surrendered to French authorities in the next 45 days. B’nai B’rith International has repeatedly called on authorities to track down those responsible for this act of terror. We are pleased that some justice will be carried out in resolving this decades-old case of terrorism. |
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