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(Washington, D.C., Feb. 27, 2020)--On the latest episode of the B’nai B’rith podcast, CEO Daniel. S. Mariaschin talks with Dara Jeffries, representative of the Jewish community of Oporto, Portugal. The community recently created a film entitled “Sefarad,” a sweeping history of Oporto’s Jews.
The movie is “personal in the sense that it tells the story from the perspective of Oporto, as opposed to all of Portugal or all of Iberia, because that’s where we’re from and that’s what we knew,” Jeffries said. “And we think that Oporto’s a very unique place. In Oporto, we’ve done a lot of work with the local Catholic community and the Muslim community as well...It’s always had a very unique dynamic with other religions and is [a] very ecumenical community.” Oporto’s history of religious tolerance has not always made it safe for Jews. “Sefarad” opens in 1492 with an exodus of Jewish refugees fleeing Castile, from where they have just been expelled, for Portugal. Their stay is short-lived; soon after their arrival, the Portuguese king expels them, and cross-wielding mobs drive Jews out of the country. The narrative then skips to 1923, when the Jewish community of Oporto has been rebuilt under the leadership of military officer Barros Basto. Basto famously revived Oporto’s Jewish community, building the largest synagogue in the Iberian Peninsula in 1938. He was eventually expelled from the military for conduct unbecoming an officer, though many believe he was unjustly accused. “[Barros Basto] had a vision that he would go and find all these descendants of the hidden Jews and that they would want to come back and become part of mainstream Judaism, but that didn’t happen for a lot of reasons, some of which are told in the movie,” Jeffries said. “But he built this enormous synagogue because he thought that that is what would happen, that he would be able to fill it. So it’s a very large space.” Click here for Episode 64 of the B’nai B’rith Podcast. 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 Podcast: Author Joe Posnanski Explores the Life and Influence of the Celebrated Magician and Escape Artist
(Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2019)--Harry Houdini died nearly a century ago, but he continues to fascinate legions of fans around the world and inspire contemporary magicians with his feats. On the B’nai B’rith Podcast, author Joe Posnanski, author of “The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini” delves into the illusionist’s background and legacy. He talks with podcast host and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin about the book as well as the individuals who were inspired by Houdini years later to create their own magic. Posnanski, a sports writer by background, found parallels between Houdini and the athletes he normally writes about. “I think of [Houdini] even more as an athlete than a pure magician,” said Posnanski. “He was someone who did great feats of strength…he was a boxer, he was a swimmer, he was a runner. The things that he did – escaping from handcuffs, escaping from boxes, jumping into rivers off of bridges – these were athletic feats. What really drove Houdini was this sort of athletic, I-can-beat-you. It was a contest. You were trying to lock him up and he was trying to get out and everything that drove him in his profession was built around that athletic ‘I can win, I will win…’” Posnanski is a senior writer at The Athletic and has written five books, including the #1 New York Times national bestseller “Paterno.” Posnanski was named National Sportswriter of the Year by the Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 2012. 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 B’nai B’rith Podcast: Author James Kaplan Explores a Rarely-Discussed Side of the Jewish American Composer
(Washington, D.C., Nov. 26, 2019)--Some of the 20th century’s most enduring popular music, including classics like “God Bless America” and “White Christmas,” were written by Irving Berlin, a Jewish immigrant who grew up on the Lower East Side of New York City. Joining CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin on the B’nai B’rith International Podcast, distinguished biographer and journalist James Kaplan discusses his latest book, “Irving Berlin: New York Genius,” and navigates Berlin’s legacy and connection to New York City. Berlin lived in a New York City that was a myriad of ethnic neighborhoods. Kaplan theorizes that New York’s diverse character influenced the songwriter’s work. “The term melting pot was very popular in the early 20th century, but in fact I always think of New York City and the country as a whole then, and to this day really, as an unmelted melting pot. There were Jewish neighborhoods, there were Italian neighborhoods, there were Irish neighborhoods.” Some of Berlin’s songs were targeted at specific ethnic groups, and he was adept at targeting audiences that did not fit his own demographic profile. In addition to his most recent work, Kaplan is the author of the two-volume biography of Frank Sinatra, “Frank: The Voice and Sinatra: The Chairman.” He has also profiled a wide range of public figures including playwright Arthur Miller and comedian and writer Larry David. 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 Preeminent Jewish Studies Scholar Jonathan Sarna Joins the B’nai B’rith International Podcast to Discuss a Heretofore Unknown Jewish Novelist
(Washington, D.C., Nov. 1, 2019)--For more than 150 years, Jewish author Cora Wilburn’s work went largely unnoticed. Jewish Studies scholar Jonathan Sarna published her coming-of-age novel “Cosella Wayne: Or, Will and Destiny” after re-discovering the novelist in the course of his research. The book explores the lives of American Jews in the 19th century. Sarna joined B’nai B’rith CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin on the B’nai B’rith Podcast to talk about the unique significance of Wilburn’s work. “Cosella Wayne: Or, Will and Destiny” is “a very early American Jewish novel full of interest and it teaches us about poor Jews; we often hear about rich Jews…Cora Wilburn teaches us about the other side of the economic spectrum.” The book is an “early novel dealing with Central European Jews,” as opposed to later novels that dealt primarily with Eastern European Jews. “And of course, this is a novel by a woman about a woman, and those are few and far between in the middle of the 19th century, and that makes this novel especially interesting and important.” 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 85-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor and Author Erica Miller Joins the B’nai B’rith Podcast With Her Tips for Living Well (Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2019)--There are more centenarians in the U.S. and around the world than ever before. However, according to psychologist and author Erica Miller, while these people may be living long lives, they are not necessarily enjoying their lives and living well. Miller’s latest work, “Chronologically Gifted: Aging with Gusto: A Practical Guide for Healthy Living to Age 123,” focuses on the question: “What does it take to live long and well?” Miller joined B’nai B’rith CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin on the B’nai B’rith Podcast to talk about her tips for aging well: “If I can do it, you can do it.” Miller believes that, even more than genes, healthy eating and exercise, a key to aging well is remaining “involved and engaged.” She also emphasizes: “What it takes to grow old and well is being part of a community…[isolated seniors] are hopefully not the majority.” Miller is an expert on making the most of life. Born in Romania in 1933, she spent several years in a Nazi concentration camp with her family as a child. After a stint in the Israeli Air Force, she moved to Los Angeles and earned a Ph.D. in psychology. She is the author of three books. Aging is a topic that is close to our hearts here at B’nai B’rith, with our long-standing focus on seniors issues. We are the largest national Jewish sponsor of non-sectarian, affordable senior housing in the United States, and we advocate for seniors on Capitol Hill, where we fight for legislation that protects various social safety net. You can find out more about that and the other work we do for seniors on our Center for Senior Services section of our website. 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 Progressive and Zionist: Not Mutually Exclusive B’nai B’rith Podcast with Amanda Berman of Zioness8/19/2019
(Washington, D.C., August 19, 2019)--When progressive Zionists found themselves shut out of many conversations on the left, Amanda Berman took action. She’s the founder and executive director of the Zioness Movement, which calls itself “progressive, Zionist, and proud,” standing as Jews, for social justice and fighting oppression.
Berman joined B’nai B’rith CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin on the B’nai B’rith Podcast to talk about the coalition she has built for Zionists who hold progressive values and ideals to have a seat at a united table fighting for the rights of oppressed minority groups. “The American Jewish community is overwhelmingly committed to the political left, to the advancement of social justice and to progress for all of the different issues that we care about - and we are also Zionists,” says Berman. As a civil rights attorney, she has fought anti-Semitism through the courts, challenging businesses and universities in the face of anti-Semitic policies. Berman and Mariaschin discuss the work of Zioness at a time when the political environment is becoming increasingly hostile to the Jewish state. According to Berman, “There is a weaponization of anti-Semitism and of support for Israel that is becoming a major political force in terms of this litmus test…where progressive credibility is often connected to one’s willingness to bash Israel.” Click here for Episode 54 of the B’nai B’rith Podcast. 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 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 (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., May 29, 2019)--Aviva Kempner, the award-winning director best-known for documentaries about baseball player Hank Greenberg and radio and television star Gertrude Berg, joined B’nai B’rith CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin for a discussion on her latest film project, “The Spy Behind Home Plate.” The movie focuses on the life of Moe Berg, a Princeton and Columbia-educated professional baseball player who spoke 10 languages and spied for the U.S. during World War II. Berg’s role during the war was especially notable because he was a Jew who gathered intelligence to use against Germany. According to Kempner, Berg was a “perfect pick” to serve in the American intelligence apparatus: “The type of people [that] you had to put in [undercover missions] were cool under pressure,” “were very bright,” “could speak a lot of languages” and “knew the customs of Europe.” As someone who was “called the brainiest man in baseball,” Berg was well-suited for his espionage role.
Berg played for five teams throughout his time in professional baseball, including stints of several years with the Chicago White Sox, the Washington Senators and the Boston Red Sox. While still a player, he is said to have begun his espionage career while gathering intelligence on a trip to Japan, where he traveled with other MLB players including Babe Ruth, in the 1930s. Years after his trip to Japan, Berg became involved with the brand-new Office of Strategic Services (OSS), an American intelligence service that predates the CIA. In this role, he served his country by gathering information about the German nuclear program. Kempner and Mariaschin discuss Kempner’s personal connection to Berg’s story and her underlying mission as a filmmaker focused on documentaries about Jews who defy stereotypes and make history. Kempner’s parents raised her with a strong Jewish identity, and it frustrated her that so many popular culture portrayals of people who saved Jews during the war only portrayed non-Jewish saviors. Partially to counter this troubling cultural trend, Kempner has devoted her film career to documenting the lives of “Jewish heroes that break the stereotypes and fought -isms.” Berg, a good-looking, athletic spy who used his skills to fight back against Nazism, certainly fits the bill. To listen to the full discussion on our podcast, click here. To watch a trailer for “The Spy Behind Home Plate,” 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 |
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