Richard Melson
August 2004
Bnai Brith World Center: President of Israel Katsav and George Bush
Bnai Brith is a major Zionist lobbying and influence-peddling group worldwide.
In a recent award to President of Israel Moshe Katsav, the Bnai Brith official, Richard Heideman, who conferred the award on Katsav, explained:
"His Excellency Mr. Moshe Katsav, President of the State of Israel, received on July 4, the highest honor granted by Bnai Brith International its Presidential Gold Medal by the organizations president Richard D. Heideman. The medal previously bestowed upon such world leaders as US President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Israeli Prime Ministers David Ben Gurion and Golda Meir was conferred in recognition of President Katsavs outstanding commitment to Diaspora Jewry and to its relationship with the State of Israel. The event was held in Jerusalem at the Presidents official residence Beit Hanassi in the presence of over 300 invited guests, among them US Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer and 30 other members of the diplomatic corps.
"Mr. Heideman credited President Katsav with inspiring the views and actions of President Bush on the Middle East, beginning with discussions during a small working dinner early in the Bush presidency in which he participated."
Bnai Brith is organized as follows: TELEPHONE EMAIL
International Districts
B'nai B'rith Argentina Juncal 2573 1425 Buenos Aires |
54-114-824-4625 | bnaib@arnet.com.ar |
B'nai B'rith Australia/New Zealand | 61-2-9361-6035 |
bbozdist@ozemail.com.au |
District & New South Wales Council Office PO Box 443 Kings Cross, N.S.W., 1340 Location: 22 Yurong St. East Sydney, N.S.W., 2010 |
61-3-9527-8249 |
bbvic@bigpond.net.au |
Victoria Council Office 99 Hotham St. St. Kilda, East, Vic.,3183 |
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B'nai B'rith Brazil Rua Cacapava, 105 CEP 01408-010 São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil |
55-11-3082-5844 | brasil@bnaibrith.org.br |
B'nai B'rith Canada | 416-633-6224 | bnb@bnaibrith.ca |
15 Hove Street Suite 200 Toronto, ON M3H 4Y8 Canada |
514-733-5377 |
bnaibrith@total.net |
B'nai B'rith Montreal 6900 Decarie Blvd., Suite 219 Montreal, Quebec H3X 2T8 |
416-633-6224 |
arosenblum@bnaibrith.ca |
Ontario Region 15 Hove St. Toronto, Ontario M3H 4Y8 |
905-678-9691 |
jaster@bnaibrith.ca |
B'nai B'rith Halton - Peel 7330 Goreway Drive, U*nit 01 Mississauga, Ontario L4T 4J2 |
204-487-9623 |
bnaiwpg@ilos.net |
Midwest Region 123 Doncaster St. Suite C403 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3N 2B2 |
780-483-6939 |
bnaibrithed@telus.net |
Western Region Jewish Community Centre 7200-156 St. Edmonton, Alberta T5R 1X3 |
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B'nai B'rith Chile, Bolivia, Peru B'nai B'rith Lodge House Avda Richardo Lyon 1933 Santiago, Chile |
56-2-274-2006 | bb27@bnaibrith.cl |
B'nai B'rith Europe | 32-2-646-92-98 |
direction@bnaibritheurope.org |
District Office 36, Rue Dautzenberg/ Bte. 31050 - Brussels, Belgium |
44-20-7387-52-78 |
hayley@bbuk.org |
B'nai B'rith Office - London B'nai B'rith Hillel House 1-2 Endsleigh Street London, WC1H 0DS |
31-1-55-07-85-45 |
bbfrance@wanadoo.fr |
B'nai B'rith Office - Paris 5 Bis, Rue de Rochenhouart F-75009 Paris |
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B'nai B'rith Israel 10 Kaplan Street Tel Aviv 64734 |
972-3-691-8289 | bneibis@zahav.net.il |
B'nai B'rith Northern Latin America and the Caribbean Hogar B´nai B´rith Novena Transversal de Altamira Caracas, Venezuela |
58-212-2614083 58-212-2621346 |
bnaibrith23@cantv.net |
B'nai B'rith South Africa P.O. Box 58 Pinegowrie, 2123, South Africa |
27-11-648-7607 | boomie@iafrica.com |
B'nai B'rith Uruguay and Paraguay District Office Canelones 1216 11.100 Montevideo, Uruguay |
598-2-908-3385 | bnaibrit@adinet.com.uy |
U.S. Regions
B'nai B'rith Allegheny/Ohio Valley Region 1831 Murray Ave. Suite 204 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 |
(412) 521-2390 | aov@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Chesapeake Bay Region PO Box 4488 Silver Spring, MD 20914 |
(866) 522-4227 (301) 754-2404 |
chesapeake@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Evergreen Region Stroum Jewish Community Center 3801 E. Mercer Way Mercer Island, WA 98040 |
(206) 232-3976 | evergreen@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Greater Florida Region 4300 N. University Drive Suite C-101 Lauderhill, FL 33351 |
1-800-394-8108 (954) 747-8108 |
florida@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Great Lakes Region 6735 Telegraph Road Suite 304 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 |
(248) 646-3100 | greatlakes@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Golden Pacific Region 91 Knight Dr. San Rafael, CA 94901 |
(415)456-0344 | pacific@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Liberty Region 1601 Walnut Street Suite 604 Philadelphia, PA 19102 |
(215) 564-3333 | liberty@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith MetroNorth Region 823 United Nations Plaza Suite 715 New York, NY 10017 |
212-490-3290 | metronorth@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Mid-America Region PO Box 13456 Shawnee Mission, KS 66682-3456 |
(913) 327-5443 | midamerica@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Midwest Region 9933 Lawler Street Suite 355 Skokie, IL 60077 |
(847) 676-0011 | midwest@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith New England Region 34 Washington Street Brighton, MA 02135 |
617-731-5290 | newengland@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith North Central Region 715 Florida Avenue South Suite 301 Golden Valley, MN 55426 |
(763) 546-1616 | northcentral@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Southern California Region 14945 Ventura Blvd. Suite 227 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 |
(818) 380-0730 | socal@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Southeast Region 4204 Hillsboro Pike #107 Nashville, TN 37215 |
615-297-9510 | southeast@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Texarkoma Region 9660 Hillcroft Suite 240 Houston, TX 77096 |
(800) 899-7668 (713) 726-0923 |
texarkoma@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Tri-State Region 248 Columbia Turnpike Florham Park, NJ 07932 |
973-765-9779 | tristate@bnaibrith.org |
B'nai B'rith Western Frontier Region 350 S. Dahlia Street Denver, CO 80246 |
(888) 224-2414 (303) 393-9155 |
westernfrontier@bnaibrith.org |
World Center Jerusalem
worldcenter@bnaibrith.org
The B'nai B'rith World Center is central to B'nai B'rith International's
Israel-related activities and agenda, serving as the organization's permanent and official
presence in Israel and Jerusalem its capital. The World Center is the major
link between Israel and B'nai B'rith members and supporters around the world.
Established in 1980 by decision of the International Convention acting upon a
resolution proposed by B'nai B'rith Israel, the World Center is an ongoing expression of
B'nai B'rith's active commitment to Israel, enabling B'nai B'rith to maintain a high
degree of visibility and contact in Israel and reaffirm Jerusalem as its spiritual
capital.
Operating under the aegis of the BBI Center for Public Policy, the World Center:
Among its responsibilities, the World Center develops and maintains close relationships
with B'nai B'rith International departments, International Districts and United States
Regions, providing crucial assistance in implementing their Israel-oriented agenda.
The World Center's annual activities include its Award for Journalism, which recognizes
excellence in Diaspora reportage in the Israeli media. Now in its tenth year, the Award
for Journalism encourages the publication of more quality reportage on the Diaspora in
Israel, which exposes Israelis to the Jewish reality around the world. Other programs
include the annual "Fraternidad Award" in cooperation with B'nai B'rith Uruguay,
and the "Jerusalem Address," the World Center's most prestigious public forum
for raising crucial issues on the contemporary Jewish agenda.
The World Center consists of an International Board of Trustees, an International
Board of Governors, and Israel Council.
Israel President Moshe Katsav receives highest Bnai Brith honor
Confers Bnai Brith World Center Journalism Awards
"His Excellency Mr. Moshe Katsav, President of the State of Israel, received on July 4, the highest honor granted by Bnai Brith International its Presidential Gold Medal by the organizations president Richard D. Heideman. The medal previously bestowed upon such world leaders as US President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Israeli Prime Ministers David Ben Gurion and Golda Meir was conferred in recognition of President Katsavs outstanding commitment to Diaspora Jewry and to its relationship with the State of Israel. The event was held in Jerusalem at the Presidents official residence Beit Hanassi in the presence of over 300 invited guests, among them US Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer and 30 other members of the diplomatic corps.
At the same event, President Katsav, Mr. Heideman and World Center Chairman Naor Yerushalmi conferred the tenth annual Bnai Brith World Center Award for Journalism in Memory of Wolf and Hilda Matsdorf. Since its inception in 1992, the Bnai Brith World Center Award for Journalism has recognized excellence in reportage on contemporary Diaspora Jewish communities and on the state of Israel-Diaspora relations today in the Israeli print and electronic media. The award, which carries a cash prize and certificate, seeks to generate greater public interest and knowledge in Israel about the current condition of Jewish communities in the Diaspora and Israel-Diaspora relations.
In presenting the medal to President Katsav, Mr. Heideman paid tribute to the Presidents leadership, vision and his willingness to continue to count himself as one of the Jewish people. Noting that the State of Israel was created out of the belief, passion and commitment that never again will the Jewish people suffer indignities and humiliation, or have its hopes and lives extinguished, Mr. Heideman said that "We come not only to honor the President but to stand with Israel and the Jewish people as one people and toe express how much we appreciate and support the State of Israel." Referencing American Independence Day and September 11, Mr. Heideman praised US President George W. Bush as "the outstanding and superb leader of the entire free world who provided great leadership to all of us who love freedom and democracy who remember why the world created the State of Israel." Mr. Heideman credited President Katsav with inspiring the views and actions of President Bush on the Middle East, beginning with discussions during a small working dinner early in the Bush presidency in which he participated. Mr. Heideman also noted that President Katsavs early public career began as a leader in Bnai Brith Israel, where he served as chairman of its youth division and lodge president.
In accepting the medal, President Katsav paid tribute to Bnai Brith, saying that its success lies in the fact that it has absorbed Jews from all religious streams to work in harmony, setting a model for all organizations in Israel and the Diaspora, proving that co-existence is possible. Turning to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, President Katsav said that prior the outbreak of the current wave of Palestinian terror in September 2000, Israel had made difficult concessions at the negotiating table the only place where Israel is ready to make concessions. He added that the 20 intervening months have been a period of regression for the Palestinians and that forces within the Arab world which support Palestinian violence do so cynically, knowing that there will be no Palestinian state while the bloodshed continues, since they actually reject the establishment of such a state.
Daniel Ben Simon, a writer for Haaretz Hebrew daily, was this years award winner. The jury chose Ben Simon from among twenty contestants in recognition of an expertly written and in-depth series of articles entitled "Travels Among the Jews" on the Jewish communities of France, Belgium, Italy, Germany Azerbaijan, Ukraine and the Czech Republic - part of a significant series which has spanned three years. The articles, which appeared also in the papers English edition, also examined the problem of resurgent anti-Semitism in these communities.
A Certificate of Merit was conferred on Itamar Levin, news editor at Globes business daily, for an article about lost Jewish property in Poland and in recognition on his original and consistent reporting on Holocaust-era restitution. A Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred on veteran Israel Radio correspondent Sara Frenkel, in recognition of many years of outstanding reporting on developments in the Jewish world, especially the struggle for Soviet Jewry.
Speaking on behalf of the Award winners, Ben Simon, who immigrated from Morocco at the age of 16 in 1968, said that in his recent travels to different Jewish communities that served as a basis for his stories, he found emotions similar to those that bore him and many others to Israel following the Six Day War. Like then, the crisis has united Jews on the right and the left, and has compelled Jews back to their Jewish identity. However, Ben Simon observed the difference between the Six Day War and the current situation is that, whereas in 1967 Jews exposed the Jewish stars they wore out of pride in Israels achievements on the battlefield, today Jews in the Diaspora are concealing their Judaism out of fear as Jewish institutions are burned and Jews are in danger once again. Ben Simon said he detected many concerns and worries among Diaspora communities during his travels. The Jewish situation, particularly in Europe, is dependent on what happens in Israel although Jerusalem is not always sensitive to this, exemplified by repeated simplistic calls by Israeli leaders on Diaspora Jews to resolve their problems through emigration to Israel."
The B'nai B'rith World Center Award for Journalism is named for the late Wolf Matsdorf, a founding member of the Bnai Brith World Center Executive Committee and a journalist who published articles of Jewish interest in the Jerusalem Post and in Australian Jewish newspapers, and his late wife Hilda Matsdorf, a pioneer in the field of social work in Israel.
The Award is made possible through donations from Prof. Daniel Schydlowsky, a member of the B'nai B'rith World Center International Board of Governors (Lima, Peru and Washington D.C.), and the Matsdorf family.
The event was sponsored by Bnai Brith International , Bnai Brith Israel and the Bnai Brith World Center in Jerusalem. News of the event was carried in the print and electronic media.