I World

Canadian Pipeline

First non-U.S. citizen to head B'nai B'rith outlines organization's challenges.

Robert A. Sklar
Editor

B

'nai B'rith International chose
Moishe Smith of Ottawa as its
new president. He is the first
non-U.S. citizen to lead the 163-year-old
organization.
As president, Smith plans to focus on
strengthening support for the State of
Israel and fighting anti-Semitism around
the globe. He also plans to work closely
with political leaders in Latin America
to ensure that the Jewish communities
throughout the region thrive.
He will continue the tradition of B'nai
B'rith active involvement in the United
Nations. He also will turn his attention to
such pressing issues as stern cell research.
Smith has been active in BBI for more
than 30 years, most recently heading the
executive committee.
In his professional life, Smith owns and
manages a food service company, which
includes restaurants and a catering busi-
ness, all based in Ottawa. He is a member
of the Ottawa Food Bank, the Ottawa
Tourism & Convention Association, the
Ottawa Restaurant Association and the
Canada Israel Committee.
Smith visited Detroit Nov. 8-9.

Q: What is the central message you are
bringing to the Detroit Jewish com-
munity?
A: That B'nai B'rith International is
alive, well and doing work in communities
across the United States and across North
America like we have for more than 160
years. The needs may be a little different,
but B'nai B'rith is still working in the com-
munities. Detroit is one of the model cities
in North America, where we work in part-
nership with other organizations to do the
work of the Jewish community.

Q: How is BBI planning on expanding
the number of young adults involved in
programs?
A: I find it to be an interesting question.
All the organizations today are struggling.
How do we attract the next generation
so they will have the traditional Jewish
values and build a strong diaspora Jewish
community? All of us are struggling with
it and all of us are looking for an answer.
B'nai B'rith is trying to increase the next

world.
generation's involvement in such issues as
As to BBI having the first non-U.S. citi-
disaster relief, fighting for human rights
zen as president, B'nai B'rith has always
and human freedoms and getting them
been seen as an international organiza-
involved in the process.
tion. We have done our work around the
At the end of October, we held our
world for as long as we have been around.
annual policy conference. We had specific
events and programs for young leadership, Having a president from outside the
United States makes us a true interna-
from learning about how to participate in
tional organization
disaster relief to
in action as well as
the role of young
in word. It opens the
professionals in
opportunity for oth-
the organized
ers. After there is the
Jewish communi-
first, there are always
ty. This dedicated
more not far behind.
and involved
This opens the field
group of young
across the B'nai B'rith
leaders talked
spectrum to serve in
with experts
the highest offices in
on the crisis in
B'nai B'rith.
Darfur and about
grassroots advo-
Q: How do Canadian
cacy. The young
Jews view the role
leaders who took
and influence of
part also had the
American Jewry on
chance to shape
the Jewish diaspora
B'nai B'rith policy
and on Israel?
and offer sugges-
A: North America
tions and ideas on
is a partnership in
where B'nai B'rith
Moishe Smith: "Detroit is one of the
activism on behalf
should head in
model
cities in North America."
of the State of Israel.
the future. Having
Canada has a long
young members
and stellar history of
take an active role
doing the work of Israel activism. It's part
in shaping B'nai B'rith policies is how we
of the B'nai B'rith platform and we are a
will ensure a strong organization.
very mobile organization. Our partner-
ships let us plan, and let us react to the
Q: Has BBI changed its vision or direc-
current issues and events
tion in light
of the day. It doesn't differ
of world
so much between Canada
events fol-
and the United States. For
lowing 9-11?
instance, in both places,
What does
Israel activism is the
it say about
order of the day. There
BBI to have
are about 350,000 Jews
the first non-
in Canada. The largest
American
Jewish populations are in
president?
Toronto and Montreal.
A: I don't
think we've changed. We have a program
Q: How many cross-border initiatives
of giving service to our communities
are there between the Canadian and
for more than 160 years; we have always
fought for human rights and freedoms for American Jewish communities?
A: B'nai B'rith is an international orga-
the global community. B'nai B'rith is in
nization. We not only do work in North
more than 50 countries and hundreds of
America in partnership with B'nai B'rith
communities within those countries. We
Canada, but we work all across the globe
advocate on behalf of Israel in non-gov-
with B'nai B'rith Latin American, B'nai
ernmental orgaization bodies around the

"North America is a
partnership in
activism on behalf of
the State of Israel."

B'rith Europe, B'nai B'rith Australia and on
and on.

Q: What does it mean to be an interna-
tional Jewish organization?
A: The importance of being an inter-
national Jewish organization is that we
can do our advocacy work for Israel,
for the Jewish people, for human rights,
for freedom of religion, for freedom of
speech, etc., with a consistent approach
in all different countries. Adding to our
uniqueness, we do our programming
around the world with volunteers — we
have the opportunity to involve people
in the communities around the world in
our worldwide approach to serving the
Jewish people and the State of Israel. And
it works just as well whether we are doing
our work in Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago,
Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago,
Brussels, Paris or London. I

Answering
Israel's Critics

The Charge
At a Gaza rally last week, Hamas leader
Ismail Haniyeh said there is no such
thing as a "just solution" to the right of
return, referring to the calls for com-
promise on the demand that all Arabs
who lived in pre-1967 Israel and their
descendants be allowed to return to
Israel and dispossess the Jews living
there. It is the right of every refugee ...
to return to the land, he said.

The Answer
Haniyeh is a rejectionist who plans
and implements terror attacks. The
return of Palestinian refugees and their
descendants to Israel would mean the
end of the Jewish state. Instead, Israel
and moderate Arabs are proposing a
Palestinian state in Gaza and the West
Bank where the refugees would be
resettled.

— Allan Gale

Jewish Community Relations Council of

Metropolitan Detroit

©copyright Dec. 27, 2007,

Jewish Renaissance Media

December 27 • 2007

A17

