B’nai B’rith Podcast: Authors Peter Jennings and Tom Sandler Discuss the Life and Career of Songwriter Ruth Lowe

(Washington, D.C., Jan. 11, 2021)--Ruth Lowe became one of the first Jewish women to break into the male-dominated music industry of the 1940s when she wrote Frank Sinatra’s first big hit, “I’ll Never Smile Again,” which launched the singer’s rise to fame. Lowe’s son, photographer Tom Sandler, and author Peter Jennings, join CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin on the B’nai B’rith International Podcast to discuss their biography on Lowe’s life and career, “Until I Smile at You.”  
 
Lowe wrote “I’ll Never Smile Again” out of grief after losing her husband just a year into their marriage. The song was an instant hit, charting on Billboard for 12 weeks, and sending Sinatra’s career to new heights. It has endured to this day, with more than 150 artists recording their own versions.   

“What she did was so outstanding and was so enormous that I think I felt for quite a while that the story has to be shared and has to be known,” Sandler said. “This was a groundbreaking accomplishment that she did as a woman and as a Jewish woman in the late 1930s, and the tragedies she had to overcome and the way in which she overcame them were so incredible that it was important to have this story as an inspiration and as a role model for people.”  

Lowe was a prolific songwriter. In addition to “I’ll Never Smile Again,” she wrote Sinatra’s theme song, “Put Your Dreams Away”—which was played at his funeral—and 50 other songs for Hollywood and Broadway. Through her work, she became known as “the architect of the American ballad.”  

“I was very honored to write about Ruth—her story is a very stirring account of tremendous courage,” Jennings said.   

Along with this most recent work, Jennings has written several books, including the widely acclaimed “Shark Assault: An Amazing Story of Survival.”  

Sandler is a Toronto-based photographer who regularly photographs celebrities and politicians such as Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, Prince Edward and more.   
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 bnaibrith.org.

(Washington, D.C., April 28, 2020)--In response to the implementation of social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders, B’nai B’rith has increased our production of online content, including podcasts, webinars and one-on-one interviews with experts in a variety of fields. We have talked about how anti-Semitism has spread along with the spread of the coronavirus; the challenges facing older adults in subsidized housing; the latest medical information about the coronavirus; and resilience, among many other topics.

Together, we can navigate this crisis and combat feelings of social isolation. Please find some of our offerings below.

We held a webinar to discuss the explosion in anti-Semitism in the EU during the coronavirus pandemic, with special guest Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism The webinar, hosted by CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin can be viewed here.

The Jerusalem Post’s Op-Ed editor and Middle East affairs analyst, Seth Frantzman joined Mariaschin on the B’nai B’rith podcast to discuss his new book, how his experiences reporting in the Middle East have shaped his analysis of recent events on the ground, Iranian hegemony and coronavirus’ impact in the region. The full podcast is here. We also welcomed from the Jerusalem Post Omri Nahmias, along with our World Center-Jerusalem Director Alan Schneider for a discussion on Israel’s coalition government.

In partnership with Yad Vashem, B'nai B'rith commemorated the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust, including one and a half million children. As part of the North American Unto Every Person There is a Name program, we read names of Holocaust victims, ensuring these people would always be remembered. Due to COVID-19, this was a virtual ceremony broadcast live on Yom Hashoah.
 
Eric Fusfield, director of legislative affairs and deputy director of the B’nai B’rith International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy spoke with Mariaschin as part of our One-On-One interview series about “The Plot Against America,” HBO's miniseries adaptation of Philip Roth’s 2004 novel of the same name and explored what the series says about Jewish identity in America, both in the 1940s and today. The six-part limited series imagines that Charles Lindbergh became president in 1940, leading to the widespread persecution of Jews in the United States. Watch here.

Mariaschin spoke with MEP Sergey Lagodinsky. A Member of the European Parliament for Germany since 2019, Lagodinsky is a lawyer and member of the German Green Party. They spoke about European Union's efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, how the parliament approaches anti-Semitism and what role the Working Group on Anti-Semitism plays in setting the parliament’s agenda. They also talked about threats to the Jewish community and the rule of law in Europe during this crisis. Watch here.

Israel's Minister of Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi joined Mariaschin for our One-On-One series to discuss the coronavirus' impact on Israel and its economy, regional cooperation during the crisis, and how Israel's relationship with the rest of the world has changed in the midst of a global pandemic. Hanegbi also provided updates on the formation of the new Israeli government. Their full conversation is here.
 
Eduardo Kohn, B’nai B’rith’s director of Latin American Affairs, visited our One-On-One program to talk about how Latin America is responding to the coronavirus pandemic, how the Jewish community is handling the outbreak, and what B’nai B’rith is doing to help Jews across Latin America during this time. See the conversation here.

We held a webinar with members of B'nai B'rith’s Center for Senior Services team to discuss how they are guiding our senior housing communities through the coronavirus crisis, emergency and disaster training for B’nai B’rith housing staff, and its efforts on Capitol Hill advocating for seniors during the coronavirus crisis. Panelists from the Center for Senior Services included Director Mark D. Olshan, Associate Director Janel Doughten and Legislative Director for Aging Policy Evan Carmen. Watch the webinar here. What are the special challenges frontline staff are facing at these buildings? This conversation addresses that question.

Mariaschin spoke to David Michaels, B’nai B’rith’s director of United Nations and Intercommunal Affairs, about how the coronavirus has affected B’nai B’rith’s U.N. initiatives, how the virus has changed the U.N.’s priorities and deliberations, and what impact this crisis has had on relations between member states. They also talked about the World Health Organization’s role as this crisis continues to worsen. Watch here.

​​​​Israel is at the forefront of innovative research and treatment when it comes to coronavirus. Yoel HarEven, the director of the international division and resource development at Sheba Medical Center in Israel, joined Mariaschin on the B’nai B’rith International Podcast for a discussion on the coronavirus response at his hospital, in Israel more broadly and the sharing of best practices around the world. Listen here.

B’nai B’rith is committed to providing insightful and enlightening content during this difficult time. Visit our Extra Page to see what programs are coming up and what you may have missed.
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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
 

(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
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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
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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
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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
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(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
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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 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