​Fourteen journalists from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil and Panama traveled to Israel with B’nai B’rith from Sept. 20th to Sept. 27th to gain a better understanding of the Jewish state and the most pressing issues in the region. From politics to economics to high tech, the trip included a robust and complete picture of Israel for journalists who may previously had limited knowledge of Israel.
 
The journalists met with key political figures, attended journalism lectures, visited Israel’s contentious border areas, learned about the Israeli tech industry and went sightseeing in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Tiberias and Haifa. Participants posted on their social media accounts, with more than 300,000 combined followers, throughout the trip. They appeared live on television in Brazil and Panama and wrote stories for daily newspapers in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. In the next few weeks, they are scheduled to speak about their experiences on several radio and television programs and will produce more written pieces.
 
The journalists met with Moshe Ya’alon, former minister of defense; Modi Ephraim, director of the Latin America division of the Foreign Ministry; Reuven Azar, political advisor to the prime minister; and Haim Jelin, a former member of the Knesset. The meeting with Jelin took place in his kibbutz, which is very close to the Gaza border.
 
Participants heard lectures from journalists Jana Beris and Sal Emergui about conflicts in the Middle East. Economist Danny Ben Simon gave a talk about Israel’s status as a start-up nation. Gabriel Ben Tasgal, who coordinated and guided the program, spoke about Israel’s political panorama and gave helpful explanations at every place included on the itinerary.
 
The schedule included visits to Christian sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Galilee, the Jordan River, Capernaum, Magdala and Jericho, as well as several politically contentious areas. In the Golan Heights, a captain in the Israel Defense Forces spoke to the group. Participants learned about the Jordanian border in Paduel and visited the borders with Gaza and Lebanon.
 
Journalists learned about Israel’s tech industry with visits to several important companies. In Herzliya, they interviewed the owner and founder of Watergen, which develops water-from-air solutions to combat water scarcity. They interviewed the owner of web development platform WIX.Com in Tel Aviv and interviewed the creator of a special wheelchair for children during a visit to Taglit. They also visited the enormous Sodastream factory, which is near Gaza, and interviewed the Jewish and Arab workers there.
 
In Jerusalem, journalists visited Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, and the Mamila neighborhood, which houses many boutiques. While in Tel Aviv, they received a briefing on Jaffa and visited several places there. Their visit also included the Bahai Gardens in Haifa and the Dead Sea in Tiberias. 

Recognition to be presented at annual B’nai B’rith World Center Award for Journalism ceremony. Winners: Antonia Yamin (KAN - Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation), and Zvika Klein (Makor Rishon and NRG360); Certificate of Merit: Attila Somfalvi (ynet news)

Emory University Professor Deborah E. Lipstadt to deliver keynote address

(Jerusalem, June 20, 2019)--The B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem announced today that singer, actor and Israel Prize laureate for Hebrew Song for 2004 Yehoram Gaon will be the next recipient of its Special Citation for Fostering Israel-Diaspora Relations through the Arts. The certificate will be presented during the 27th annual B’nai B’rith World Center Award for Journalism ceremony on Wednesday, July 3rd at 7:30 p.m.at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, 6 Sh. A. Nahon Street, Jerusalem. The citation was established in 2014. Former winners are Nurit Hersh, David D’Or, Idan Raichel and David Broza.     

Gaon, 2004 Israel Prize winner for Hebrew song, is an iconic Israeli singer, actor, producer, TV and radio host and public figure. Throughout a career that has spanned six decades, Gaon has been responsible for countless hit songs, plays and movies that have become woven into the common culture of Israel and Diaspora Jewry. The son of an educator and historian, Gaon has taken profound interest in promoting Jewish historical themes and in engaging with Jewish audiences around the world. Gaon’s civic career also shows a profound dedication to Sephardic and Ladino heritage.  B’nai B’rith World Center Chairman Haim Katz said that the citation is a fitting recognition in advance of Gaon’s 80th birthday.

The winners of the 2019 B’nai B’rith World Center Award for Journalism Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportage in memory of Wolf and Hilda Matsdorf, are Antonia Yamin, chief Europe correspondent for KAN - Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation (for broadcast media), and Zvika Klein, Jewish World correspondent for Makor Rishon and NRG360 (for print media). A certificate of merit in memory of Luis and Trudi Schydlowsky will be conferred on Attila Somfalvi, lead anchor of ynet news.

Deborah E. Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, Atlanta, will deliver the keynote address on "Old Wine in New Bottles: Antisemitism in the Contemporary World."  

Since its establishment in 1992, the B’nai B’rith World Center Award for Journalism has recognized excellence in reporting on contemporary Diaspora Jewish communities and on the state of Israel-Diaspora relations in the Israeli print, broadcast and online media. The award is widely recognized as the most prestigious prize in the Israeli media industry for Diaspora reportage and was established to help strengthen the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora. The award highlights the important contributions the media can make toward strengthening the relationship between Israel and world Jewry by encouraging quality reporting on Diaspora communities and Israel-Diaspora relations.

The B’nai B’rith World Center Award for Journalism Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportage is named for the late Wolf Matsdorf and his wife, Hilda. Wolf Matsdorf was an editor of the World Center-Jerusalem’s journal “Leadership Briefing” and a journalist in Israel and Australia. Hilda Matsdorf was a pioneer in social work in both Australia and Israel. The award is made possible through donations from the Matsdorf family and B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem board member Daniel Schydlowsky.
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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

After careful study, B’nai B’rith International has concluded that the Iran nuclear agreement is unlikely to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. We therefore call on Congress to reject the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

As we noted when the deal was announced on July 14, it is impossible to look at Iran’s track record and trust the regime to adhere to the terms of this pact.

The JCPOA requires an unprecedented suspension of disbelief that Iran has only peaceful intentions for its nuclear program. Given its decades of dissembling, it is infeasible to conclude that Tehran will honor its obligations under this agreement.

To be sure, the P5+1 (the United States plus China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany) worked hard during the long negotiating period to secure a deal. The goal of preventing an Iran with nuclear weapons is one shared by much of the world. But this deal is unlikely to fulfill that ambition.

B’nai B’rith appreciates the opportunities given us to meet with administration officials, to hear their explanation of the plan's details and to understand the reasoning behind some of the provisions of the agreement.

How to respond to Iran's nuclear weapons program is one of the most significant national security questions to face the United States in the past decade. It is unsurprising, therefore, that the issue has aroused such passion among so many. We respect that both Democrats and Republicans have approached this issue with great seriousness and have reached varying conclusions that sometimes cut across party lines. We further acknowledge that those who share the goal of blocking Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons may differ about the policy most likely to achieve that outcome.

Still, our reading of the agreement and our understanding of the political and historical context in which the JCPOA would be implemented have heavily influenced our decision to oppose it. 

“We listened, we read, we analyzed and we have concluded that we cannot support this deal with Iran,” B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs said. “We have doubts about elevating the international status of Iran, which has done nothing to prove it will keep its word.”

Even in the days leading up to the agreement, on “al-Quds Day,” government supported crowds shouted, “death to America” and "death to Israel," as U.S. and Israeli flags were burned across the country. These are not the actions of a nation ready to find common ground with the world’s democracies.

Our concerns about the lifting of sanctions also have not been adequately resolved. Iran is the largest state-sponsor of global terror with its proxies such as Hezbollah the world over. Tehran is likely to use the cash that will flow from the absence of sanctions to fund the regime's ongoing terrorist ambitions. The specter of "snapback sanctions" provides little comfort, as measures that took the international community years to coalesce around are unlikely to be rejuvenated once they have been dismantled.

Nor are our questions about the verification process satisfied by the JCPOA. Verification remained a sticking point throughout the labored negotiating process and, in the final document, is still not addressed to our comfort. In light of the deal's significant verification loopholes and Iran’s history of concealing its nuclear program and turning away inspectors, it is logical to conclude that inspectors will never obtain the unmanaged, unfettered or spontaneous access necessary to monitor Iran’s nuclear sites.

“There is no middle ground here. Iran’s credibility is illusory. The stakes are far too high to ignore Tehran’s history of deception by accepting this deal,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said.

At no point during the nearly two years of negotiations has Iran lessened its support for terrorist organizations, its goals of hegemony in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East or its continued abuse of human rights.

Just days after the deal was announced, Iran again invoked its practice of deception. News reports indicate that Qassem Soleimani, the leader of the secretive, terror-orchestrating Iranian Quds Force, met with senior Russian leaders in Moscow, even though he was barred from leaving Iran by a U.N. Security Council resolution. The Quds Force reports directly to Iran’s supreme leader and has exported terror throughout the Middle East and beyond.

These are not the actions of a regime capable of demonstrating the transparency and cooperation required of it by the terms of this deal. 

We firmly reject the notion that the only alternative to this agreement is war. We have long advocated that the best means of ensuring Iran's compliance with international demands is pressure—in the form of ever-tightening sanctions, combined with diplomatic isolation and the credible threat of military force. The international community should respond to Iran's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons by increasing, rather than relieving, pressure on the regime until it has produced meaningful results.

 B’nai B’rith International urges Congress to vote next month to disapprove of the agreement. 

Join a leading Israeli tour guide as he escorts you to Mount Zion and its famous sites without leaving your home. 

During the previous two weeks B’nai B’rith International and its World Center in Jerusalem have enabled members, supporters and B’nai B’rith senior housing communities to experience the wonders of Israel live thanks to a new virtual touring program. B’nai B’rith invites you to join us for the third and final installment of this program.

The virtual tour will take place Wednesday, March 25, at 10 a.m. ET and will put you on the ground as you explore all the historic landmark Mount Zion has to offer, including King David's tomb, the grave of Oskar Schindler, a panoramic view of Hinnom Valley, the Chamber of the Holocaust and the Zion Gate.

The B’nai B’rith World Center in Jerusalem has been broadcasting tours for two weeks from Israel’s capital using breakthrough live streaming technology, allowing viewers thousands of miles away to experience the epic story and inspiring sites of Jerusalem. 

In the first tour residents at B’nai B’rith senior housing facilities, along with B’nai B’rith members and supporters around the world enjoyed an up-close and personal glimpse of the Old City of Jerusalem. History could be found at every turn, whether it was the Western Wall, the various markets around the city or even quiet alleyways.

Last week’s installment took viewers to Mount Herzl to visit its memorials, cemeteries, the National Garden and museums, as well as a trip to the Bible Lands Museum to explore the ancient cultures of the region.

The program will give viewers an unedited, live view of sites that people from all over the world flock to see. This provides a unique opportunity for those who have not yet visited Israel.

The streaming technology will also allow viewers to text questions to the hosts while the show is in progress for more in-depth explanations and a better understanding of the country.

This is a unique experience that is open to anyone who would like to participate.

To join the tour, click here. 

Check out part one of the first tour through the Old City of Jerusalem below and click here to view parts two and three.

The second installment will be available for on demand viewing soon.

B’nai B’rith LiveTourism is a project of the B’nai B’rith World Center and is produced by LiveGiving—a company that specializes in live streaming over the internet and provides an interactive platform allowing viewers to text questions during the tour.

B’nai B’rith International is the largest national Jewish sponsor of federally subsidized housing for the elderly in the United States with 42 buildings in 27 communities. B'nai B'rith has made rental apartments available for senior citizens with limited incomes since 1971.  

Image via Flickr

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

B’nai B’rith International condemns the attack on a busy light-rail station in eastern Jerusalem by a Palestinian man who plowed his car into six Israeli soldiers and a civilian bicyclist, injuring all seven.

After striking the crowd of people, the alleged assailant, identified by local media as Mohammed Salayma, exited the vehicle wielding a knife. He was shot by security forces and severely injured.

The attack was exactly like two previous attacks in the fall that killed a total of two people—including an infant—and wounded 21 others.

This is another example of the constant threat faced by Israel and Israelis from terrorist organizations and those indoctrinated with hate. The lack of outcry from the international community at a time of increasing focus on terrorist organizations, particularly in the Middle East, is alarming. 

Residents at B’nai B’rith senior housing facilities, along with B’nai B’rith members and supporters around the world will experience the wonders of Israel live without leaving their homes thanks to a new virtual touring program launching March 11.

The B’nai B’rith World Center in Jerusalem will broadcast tours from Israel’s capital using breakthrough live streaming technology, allowing viewers thousands of miles away to experience the epic story and inspiring sites of Jerusalem.

The program launches March 11 at 10 a.m. ET with a three hour tour, hosted by a leading Israeli tour guide who will take viewers on an excursion to some of Jerusalem’s most historically and religiously significant sites.

The program will give viewers an unedited, live view of life in Israel's capital and the sense that they are right there with the guide. This provides a unique opportunity for those who have not yet visited Israel.

The streaming technology will also allow viewers to text questions to the hosts while the show is in progress for more in-depth explanations and a better understanding of the country.

This is a unique experience, offered only to members and affiliate-institutions of B'nai B'rith.

This broadcast will serve as a pilot for future broadcasts featuring other parts of Israel.  

To join the tour, visit: http://bnaibrith.livetourism.tv/live_events.php

B’nai B’rith International is the largest national Jewish sponsor of federally subsidized housing for the elderly in the United States with 42 buildings in 27 communities. B'nai B'rith has made rental apartments available for senior citizens with limited incomes since 1971.  

Palestinian Leadership Must End Incitement

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


B’nai B’rith is outraged by the latest terror attacks against Jews in Israel.

This time, gun and axe-toting terrorists murdered four Jews and seriously wounded at least six others praying at a synagogue in Jerusalem.

The issue of incitement is ever present as reports indicate public praise for the attackers and a celebratory atmosphere in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the Palestinians.

To attack people as they pray is the height of depravity.

These synagogue murders continue a string of terror attacks against Jews in recent weeks.

On Nov. 10, an Israel Defense Forces soldier was stabbed multiple times in Tel Aviv while returning to his military base. He later died of his wounds. Hours before, a woman was fatally stabbed and two more were injured in Alon Shvut. The attack was allegedly carried out by Maher Hamdi A-Shalmon, who was jailed from 2000 to 2005 for throwing fire bombs at Israeli troops. And those attacks followed two car-based terror attacks at Jerusalem light-rail stations.

Jews in Israel are the targets of a growing terrorist uprising that must be stopped. As we have repeatedly stated, the silence of the international community over these acts of terror is deeply troubling. The United Nations and global leaders must strongly condemn these attacks and urge the Palestinian Authority to end incitement.

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

In the second attack in less than two weeks, a Hamas member drove a car at pedestrians at a light-rail station in northern Jerusalem, killing one and wounding 13 others.

Taking place at midday Israeli-time, police reported Ibrahim al-Akari drove his car off the road and onto a light rail platform, striking waiting passengers, killing one person and sending several others to the hospital in critical condition. Al-Akari then abandoned his car up and took off on foot, attacking people on the street with a metal rod before he was fatally shot by police.

Al-Akari was recently released from an Israeli prison for security offenses.

Hamas praised the attack and encouraged further acts against Israelis.

Following the first car attack, there was minimal outcry from the international community—an alarming lack of reaction considering there is an increasing focus on terrorist organizations, particularly in the Middle East.

Once again this violent incident points to the constant threats faced by Israel and Israelis from terrorist organizations and their followers. 

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

B’nai B’rith International condemns the attack on a light-rail station in northern Jerusalem by a Palestinian man with Hamas ties that killed an infant and wounded eight others.

Yesterday, Abd al-Rahman al-Shaloudy drove his car off the road, across the light-rail tracks and toward the station into a crowd, striking waiting passengers and killing a 3-month-old baby. Shaloudy then took off on foot and was fatally shot by police.

According to a police spokesperson, surveillance footage indicates Shaloudy intended to strike the crowd waiting for a train. In the aftermath it was also widely reported Shaloudy is linked to Hamas and has a history of anti-Israel violence.

At a time when more attention is being paid to acts of terrorism, we are deeply concerned over the lack of international outcry following this incident.

This is yet another example of the constant threat faced by Israel and Israelis from terrorist organizations and their followers.