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B’NAI B’RITH TODAY

B’nai B’rith Holds Annual Leadership Forum Focusing on “Global Security in an Insecure World”

By Katherine Dolgenos
All photos: Lloyd Wolf, www.lloydwolf.com


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President’s Award recipients in attendance are photographed with B’nai B’rith’s President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin. Seated, from left: Jack Ventura, Maryland; Kaufman; Peter Perlman, Michigan; Lila Zorn, accepting for Joel Marwil, Michigan.

Standing, from left: Harold Steinberg, Tennessee; Frank Goldman, Colorado; Sam Osmo, Brazil; David Lubin, Michigan; Shel Marcus, Illinois; Gary Javitch, Nebraska; Millie Magid, New York; Harold Miller, Connecticut; Marvin Siflinger, Massachusetts; Mariaschin.

Awardees not in attendance: Marty Adelstein and the Adelstein Family, New York; James Altman and Juliet Seifert, Australia; Valerie Bello, United Kingdom; Marvin Beleck, Texas; Barbara Brenman, Virginia; Helen Scherrer Diamond, Harry Lutz and Lee Tanenbaum, Georgia; Samuel Domsky, Pennsylvania; Rich Hollander, Texas; Marianne Kychenthal, Chile; Harold Mitchell, New York; Alan Samuels, Pennsylvania; Barry Simon, California; Dr. Daniel Sporn, Argentina; Gina Strauss, Florida; Joe Tenenbaum, New Jersey.

B’nai B’rith International’s 2019 Leadership Forum, held in Washington, D.C. from Nov. 2 to Nov. 4, featured prominent speakers from the realms of diplomacy, public policy and the media, as well as a reception for participants at the residence of the Japanese ambassador.

In his State of the Organization address, President Charles O. Kaufman spoke about the ways B’nai B’rith is active globally in combating anti-Semitism and fighting for Israel on the world stage, as well as our work with senior housing and aiding disaster-struck communities. Kaufman also presented the President’s Award to 30 individuals for their efforts to advance B’nai B’rith’s mission.

“B’nai B’rith has a long and distinguished history of leadership in taking strong stands on behalf of our people around the world. And we made our collective, global voice heard once again,” Kaufman said. “However, understanding that the pen can be mightier than the sword, I decided that a direct way to confront emerging hate was through correspondence. I took to the keyboard in protest letters regarding situations at Jewish museums in Berlin, Munich and Warsaw. I continue to follow these issues closely. Our actions were followed in the Jerusalem Post and The Economist, among other places.”


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Thirty B’nai B’rith members were recognized and honored for their extraordinary service with the new President’s Award.

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Michal-Mazal Mariaschin reads the Prayer for Israel.
B’nai B’rith International CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin addressed the global challenges of anti-Semitism. “Whether it occurs in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, or Warsaw, Poland, or Crown Heights, Brooklyn, anti-Semitism must be confronted aggressively,” Mariaschin said. “The responsibility to do so falls squarely on all of us, together with our allies and all people of conscience. Just as the very existence of the Jewish people and the Jewish state is a product of hope and determination, we must continue to apply these qualities to the challenge at hand. The security of our community depends on it.”

Ambassador Gonzalo Koncke, chief of staff for Organization of American States Secretary General Louis Almagro, and Eduardo Kohn, B’nai B’rith International’s director for Latin American Affairs, discussed the security outlook of the Western hemisphere.  

Koncke emphasized the OAS’s commitment to fighting anti-Semitism through the promotion of human rights and democracy. He acknowledged that the OAS has a lot of work to do, including advocating that all countries in the region adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.


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B’nai B’rith International’s 2019 Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. opened with
the Havdalah ritual, marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath. Participants included
Sheila Mostyn, chair, Center for Jewish Identify and Ira Bartfield, chair, Center for
Community Action.

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Executive Board of Directors member Eric Book leading the menorah lighting ceremony from the podium with two of the participants. (From left) Paolo Foa, an Executive Board of Directors member from Italy and Senior Vice President Stéphane Teicher from France.

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B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman spoke to forum participants about the organization’s achievements during the past year, described new initiatives and outlined his vision for the future.

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B’nai B’rith International Chief Executive Officer Daniel S. Mariaschin initiated Sunday events, delivering remarks that detailed the increasing growth of anti-Semitism, now in evidence worldwide.

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From left: Executive Board of Directors member Jorge Stainfeld introduced presentations focusing on Latin American politics that included Eduardo Kohn, B’nai B’rith International’s director for Latin American Affairs (left) and Ambassador Gonzalo Koncke, chief of staff of the Secretary General, Organization of American States.
Three security experts participated in a panel entitled “Global Security Threats at Home and Abroad.” They were Patrick Daly, principal deputy director/chief operating officer, Secure Community Network; Calvin A. Shivers, deputy assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division, FBI; and Frances Townsend, former homeland security advisor to President George W. Bush and executive vice president for worldwide government, legal and business affairs of MacAndrews & Forbes, Inc.  

The three focused on fighting domestic and international terrorist threats in the age of the Internet and social media, noting that seemingly every week, a new platform is unveiled, and radical groups strike a balance between public posts intended to inspire, indoctrinate and motivate, and private direct messages between peers.

Because terrorist manifestos proliferate quickly on the internet, those who commit terrorist acts are able to telegraph their intent within hours of their action. Shivers told how the FBI investigates anti-Semitic threats in the United States: “We have to ensure that, where we have a single [anti-Semitic] act, we look through all the intelligence we have to make sure it’s not…a larger conspiracy.”


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From left: Executive Board of Directors member Robert B. Spitzer moderated a global security panel featuring experts from private and government sectors including Frances Townsend, executive vice president, MacAndrews & Forbes, Inc., president, Counter Extremism Project and former Homeland Security advisor to President George W. Bush; Calvin A. Shivers, deputy assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Bureau of the FBI; Patrick Daly, principal deputy director/chief operating officer, Secure Community Network.

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At lunch, Honorary B’nai B’rith International President Richard D. Heideman (l) was joined by B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem Director Alan Schneider, who surveyed the complexities of Israel’s numerous factions with respect to the complicated election situation in Israel.
Internationally, Townsend said: “The single largest state sponsor of terrorism remains Iran. We have never seen a more aggressive Iran in our lifetime.” Daly explained that there has been a shift to an equal number of domestic and international terrorist investigations, although we had been blessed with geographic boundaries as a security buffer from international terrorist threats for so long.

Alan Schneider, director of the B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem, broke down the complicated Israeli elections during a luncheon presentation.  


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Leadership, past and present. From left: B’nai B’rith’s Honorary Presidents Gary P. Saltzman (2015-2018); Seymour D. Reich (1986-1990); Richard D. Heideman (1998-2002); Allan J. Jacobs (2011-2015) and Kent E. Schiner (1990-1994) with current President
Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin. Honorary President Tommy Baer (1994-1998), not pictured, also attended the forum.

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The film “Kids: Chasing Paradise,” a chilling documentary about the recruitment of children for terrorist activities, was introduced by International Council of B’nai B’rith member W. Stewart Cahn (at podium.) Following its screening, Peter A. Perlman, regional director, Great Lakes Region, moderated a question and answer session with Richard Green (r), executive director of the Clarion Project, the non-profit organization whose mission is dedicated to educating the public and policy makers about Islamic extremism.
Richard Green, executive director of the Clarion Project, which produces and distributes films warning of the threat from Islamic extremists, screened his film “Kids: Chasing Paradise.” The film examines the recruitment and radicalization of terrorists around the world, many of whom are vulnerable young children. Green answered questions from the audience after the movie.

Day two of the conference concluded with a reception at the residence of the Japanese ambassador, hosted by Ambassador Shinsuke J. Sugiyama and his wife, Yoko Sugiyama. Kaufman presented a tzedakah box to Sugiyama, who spoke movingly about the Holocaust: “This is not about your history. This is about human history. We shall never let it happen again.”

On the final day, the Claims Conference (formally, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany), which represents Holocaust survivors and their descendants in negotiating for restitution and compensation, received an award from B’nai B’rith for its six decades of work.


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Japanese Ambassador Shinsuke J. Sugiyama, who hosted a special diplomatic reception for forum attendees, welcomes them to his residence.

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From left: Daniel S. Mariaschin; Charles O. Kaufman; Ambassador Sugiyama and
Yoko E. Sugiyama.

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Leaders from The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (the Claims Conference) were acknowledged for their extraordinary dedication and advocacy in procuring justice for Holocaust survivors. B’nai B’rith has worked with the organization since its inception in 1951. Flanked by Charles O. Kaufman (l) and Daniel S. Mariaschin, honorees included: Arie Bucheister, chief of staff; Karen Heilig, assistant executive vice president and Greg Schneider, executive vice president. Also recognized with an award but not pictured: Miriam Weiner, assistant executive vice president for North America and director of allocations.
The Election 2020 Analysis program with Dana Bash, CNN’s chief political correspondent, and Mara Liasson, NPR’s Washington Desk correspondent, was timely and engaging. Bash and Liasson, in a conversation moderated by Mariaschin, discussed the top issues the presidential candidates are talking about this election cycle, and the engaged electorate. Liasson said, “I can’t think of a time since I’ve been covering news that there’s been this much interest in politics.”

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For the final luncheon panel, B’nai B’rith United Nations Affairs Chair Millie Magid introduced a discussion with Greek, Cypriot and Israeli diplomats who enumerated the myriad aspects of the continually expanding tripartite relationship among the three nations. Seated from left: moderator Daniel S. Mariaschin; Ambassador Marios Lysiotis of Cyprus; Ambassador Haris Lalacos of Greece; Benjamin Krasna, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of Israel.

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A presentation devoted to America’s 2020 elections featured, from left, journalists Dana Bash, CNN chief political correspondent and Mara Liasson, NPR Washington desk correspondent. Daniel S. Mariaschin served as moderator.
Among issues discussed was the influence of social media and late-night talk shows in shaping perceptions about the candidates. Bash noted that candidate appearances are good for the shows’ ratings, and they are where many young people get information.

B’nai B’rith leaders asked the guests about truthfulness in news and getting Americans on the same page. “Democracy can’t function unless people have a shared reality. You have to start with a set of facts,” Liasson said. She stressed the importance of civics, media and financial literacy. And she urged people to take in a broad range of news, to get a fuller picture in order to make informed conclusions.

The 2019 Leadership Forum concluded with a diplomatic luncheon featuring Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States Marios Lysiotis, Ambassador of Greece to the United States Haris Lalacos and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Israel Benjamin Krasna. The diplomats emphasized the historic and continuing ties between Greece and Cyprus and the Jewish people.