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(Washington, D.C., April 15, 2021)--B’nai B’rith leaders on multiple continents have concluded weeks of virtual meetings with United Nations ambassadors in which they advocated for equal and just treatment of Israel by the world body.
Meetings with dozens of senior diplomats from around the world were held during the main yearly session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the current Executive Board session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which continues through April 21. The B’nai B’rith representatives met with delegates from Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Senegal, Togo, the United Kingdom and Uruguay, among numerous other countries. We appreciate all those countries that continue to afford exceptional access to B’nai B’rith for constructive and candid discussions of geopolitical affairs, human rights and the core values and policy priorities of the Jewish community. B’nai B’rith—which pioneered Jewish engagement with the U.N. upon the body’s very founding in 1945, and which remains the only major Jewish organization with a dedicated Office of United Nations Affairs and representation at key U.N. forums worldwide—brings international Jewish activists to Geneva and Paris each year for vital advocacy. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has renewed its dynamic outreach using modern technology. In their meetings, the B’nai B’rith leaders urged ambassadors, during the era of the Abraham Accords and normalization treaties between Israel and an increasing number of countries, to promote peace and coexistence by rejecting rote bias against Israel in U.N. settings. The ambassadors were urged to help expand the widening circle of partnership between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors. At UNESCO, diplomats were particularly encouraged to continue recent progress in eschewing politicization of the body. At the UNHRC, beyond private bilateral meetings, B’nai B’rith delivered formal public interventions—defending Israel’s record of distributing COVID-19 vaccines, opposing the misuse of the International Criminal Court to stigmatize Israeli counterterrorism efforts, speaking out against both racism and anti-Semitism and raising awareness of the tainted legacy of a 2001 U.N. conference in Durban, South Africa. That event, the World Conference against Racism, itself notoriously became a scene of anti-Semitic outrages, with an outcome document singling out Israel alone for implied characterization as racist. B’nai B’rith mobilized the largest multinational Jewish delegation at the original Durban conference, as at the 2009 Durban Review Conference, and it will remain in the forefront of combating anti-Zionism when the U.N. plans to commemorate Durban’s 20th anniversary later this year. 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. (Brussels, Feb. 2, 2021)--B’nai B’rith International extends its thanks to the European Commission, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) for their contributions to the B’nai B’rith International Holocaust Remembrance Day event held on Feb.1.
The commemorative event, “International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Renewed Commitment through Innovation and Cooperation,” featured keynote addresses from President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić, Director of ODIHR Matteo Mecacci and Chair of the IHRA Ambassador Michaela Küchler. The two ensuing expert panels featured the focal points in these institutions tasked with tackling anti-Semitism and grassroots initiatives, bringing innovation to the field of remembrance, education and research. Von der Leyen noted “B'nai B'rith International never wavered in its mission to fight anti-Semitism and racism, to promote Jewish life, to stand by Israel and to preserve the memory of the Holocaust. Today I am here to tell you that Europe is with you in this endeavor—because anti-Semitism strikes at the heart of our values: humanity, religious freedom, equality.” She continued, “This year we will present the first ever European strategy to combat anti-Semitism. Holocaust remembrance and education will be an important aspect in this strategy, and we will increase our funding for projects on Holocaust remembrance and education. And in addition, last week we have launched the campaign #ProtectTheFacts which pushes back Holocaust distortion together with the United Nations, UNESCO and the IHRA. We back up our fight against Holocaust distortion and denial by legislation too. With our Digital Services Act, we make clear that online platforms must take greater responsibility for their role in disseminating and promoting such material. Because when there are attempts to deny the Holocaust, it is Europe itself that is called into question.” In her opening remarks Küchler noted, “Remembrance has to go digital. While nothing can replace the immediacy of a story told in person, it is wonderful that we have found creative ways of remembering. This will also help us to preserve testimonies of survivors over time.” Several of the speakers and panelists made reference to the growth of anti-Semitism that we are currently facing in Europe, with Pejčinović Burić mentioning that “We live in a time of uncertainty, when a shrill and intolerant tone too often breaks true and where there has been an increase in the incidents of anti-Semitic words and attacks.” Mecacci noted “As the organizers of this conference [B’nai B’rith International] rightly identify, such negative trends can only be counteracted through innovation and collaboration... But we need to intensify these efforts.” The event itself is a testament to the work being done and the commitments being made by leaders of international, regional and national level organizations alike in Europe and abroad on the fight against anti-Semitism. However, amid rising levels of hate, anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial and distortion both in the physical world and the online realm, institutions and organizations in Europe and around the world must take this moment to effect positive change. Indeed, in speaking to the necessary societal response to rising levels of anti-Semitism, Azoulay said, “We are called on to assume our responsibility, that of remembering what took place yesterday and what is taking place here and now. More than ever, we need to take action and fight amnesia, the distortion of facts, and to not cede ground to liars and demagogues through the power of memory and education.” The memory of the Shoah must be cultivated to promote commemoration in future generations as a historical marker and such informal and educational initiatives must be backed up by effective and necessary legal and legislative frameworks used in order to combat anti-Semitic hate. As B’nai B’rith International CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin put it in his welcome remarks to the event, “[We are thankful that] Key international institutions have joined us to recommit their efforts to discharge an abiding duty, to preserve the memory of the Holocaust, to tackle anti-Semitism and hatred and work to foster Jewish life.” See the full event 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. (Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2020)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
This year’s Aalst Carnival generated more abundant and offensive anti-Semitic displays. B’nai B’rith demands that all political authorities overhaul this celebration. While organizers claim no group is spared mockery, insults and humiliation, it would seem that the worst of this horrifying, hateful behavior falls squarely on stereotypical tropes against Jews. B’nai B’rith is aware that the carnival is rooted in the Middle Ages, when Jews evidently were a primary target for such hatred. But the Middle Ages are long gone. The lessons from this dark time should be taught, but not as comedy. In modern times, this village celebration is a global event with 21st century technology. The “rabbi kits,” hook-nosed masks, sidelocks and massive black hats are not only disrespectful, they are not entertaining because they are offensive. Mocking religious Jews identifies them as targets for ridicule, abuse and hate. Surely there are ways to celebrate the ignorance of the Middle Ages other than portraying Jews as vermin. B’nai B’rith is deeply concerned about the messages this carnival sends to current and future generations. Flemish authorities have failed to act, instead further instigating vitriol. Aalst Mayor Christoph D’Haese and Jan Jambon, minister-president of the Flanders region, maintain their support of the parade. They reject any notion that these displays are anti-Semitic. UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) understood the offensive characterizations of Jews by de-listing the event in December 2019. Jambon understandably backs this display of hate as he has been criticized for giving a speech at a celebration of former Flemish Nazi collaborators, not to mention his ties to people affiliated to neo-Nazi organizations. B’nai B’rith commends vocal opposition to the event, notably from UNESCO, the European Commission, members of the European Parliament and countless civic organizations. Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès has said the carnival “damage[s] our values and the reputation of our country.” Regional political party DéFI has equated the event of amounting to “incitement to hatred” given its hateful imagery and slogans. A recent Fundamental Rights Agency Survey reports 87 percent of Belgian Jews perceive anti-Semitism as a serious problem nationally; 67 percent avoid wearing Jewish symbols out of fear of being attacked. While checks on the festival are a necessary first step to overhauling this festival, the long-term solution requires a concerted effort to deconstruct the root biases that prompted the festival displays in the first place. 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., Dec. 13, 2019)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith supports the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s decision to condemn the Aalst carnival parade’s anti-Semitism and remove the event from the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Although the parade’s organizers and the mayor of Aalst attempted to dodge criticism for the event’s anti-Semitism by preemptively renouncing its spot on the list, we support UNESCO’s choice to hold the organizers accountable by debating and voting on the parade’s delisting nonetheless. The Aalst carnival has a history of trafficking in anti-Semitic and racist tropes. In preparation for the 2020 parade, organizers plan to distribute ribbons to all participants featuring Orthodox Jews with hooked noses and gold teeth. In March of this year, we condemned the 2019 parade’s “Shabbat Year” float, which depicted Orthodox Jews amidst bags of money; the float’s creators claimed the display was meant to protest “rising prices.” In the 2013 parade, one float featured a caricature of the Holocaust with Nazi rail cars and Zyklon B, the gas that was used to kill Jews at concentration camps. No event has ever been delisted before, and no clear procedure existed for delisting before today. The delay in creating a delisting mechanism allowed the Aalst carnival to remain on the list years after its endemic anti-Semitism was exposed. We call on UNESCO to streamline the formal delisting process to prevent future situations like this. While the UNESCO decision is welcome, the concern over the festival’s content remains. Exposing the public, and especially young people, to Nazi-era anti-Semitic tropes is not humorous, but immoral. 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., Dec. 2, 2019)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith is outraged that the organizers of the Aalst carnival parade in Aalst, Belgium, have chosen to renounce the event’s place on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity rather than be held accountable for the anti-Semitism in the annual parade. Following an outcry from Jewish groups, including B’nai B’rith, in Belgium and worldwide, UNESCO was set to vote on whether the parade could remain on the heritage list during an agency meeting on Dec. 12. Aalst’s mayor stated it was “unavoidable” that Jews would continue to be mocked at the carnival. The Aalst carnival has a history of trafficking in anti-Semitic tropes. In preparation for the 2020 parade, organizers plan to distribute ribbons to all participants featuring Orthodox Jews with hooked noses and gold teeth. In March of this year, we condemned the 2019 parade’s “Shabbat Year” float, which depicted Orthodox Jews amidst bags of money; the float’s creators claimed the display was meant to protest “rising prices.” In the 2013 parade, one float featured a caricature of the Holocaust with Nazi rail cars and Zyklon B, the gas that was used to kill Jews at concentration camps. The Aalst parade has held a spot on the UNESCO list since 2010; it is unacceptable that the parade retained its listing for six years after featuring the Holocaust caricature. To prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future, UNESCO must create a de-listing mechanism for items on the cultural heritage list. Currently, no event has ever been de-listed. In addition, we call on UNESCO to strongly affirm that there will not be any tolerance for these kinds of anti-Semitic caricatures and displays. 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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