B'nai B'rith
From KB42
B'nai B'rith International is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit Jewish service organization founded on October 13, 1843, in New York City by 12 German Jewish immigrants. Originally established as a fraternal lodge to support widows and orphans, it has evolved into a global leader in human rights advocacy, Israel advocacy, senior services, disaster relief, and combating antisemitism and bigotry.
Mission and Core Values
[edit | edit source]Mission: To ensure the security and continuity of the Jewish people, defend human rights, combat antisemitism, and provide service on the broadest principles of humanity.
Core Focus Areas:
[edit | edit source]- Human Rights & Public Policy: Active at the United Nations (since 1947) and the European Union, advocating for Israel and Jewish communities globally.
- Senior Housing & Advocacy: The largest national Jewish sponsor of federally subsidized housing for low-income seniors in the U.S.
- Disaster Relief: One of the first organizations to provide international disaster aid, including responses to the 1865 cholera epidemic in Palestine, the Great Chicago Fire (1871), and the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.
- Youth & Education: Supports the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) and Hillel Foundations to strengthen Jewish identity and leadership.
Leadership and Structure
[edit | edit source]- CEO: Daniel S. Mariaschin
- President: Robert Spitzer
- Headquarters: 1120 20th St NW, Ste 300N, Washington, DC 20036, USA
- EIN: 53-0179971
- Website: www.bnaibrith.org
- Global Presence and Impact
- Operates in over 50 countries, with local lodges and chapters in the U.S., Israel, France, Switzerland, Cuba, and Australia.
- Recognized as the "Global Voice of the Jewish Community".
- Played a key role in reversing the UN’s 1975 resolution equating Zionism with racism.
- Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, B'nai B'rith launched emergency aid efforts in Israel and supported affected communities globally.
Historical Significance
[edit | edit source]- Founded in a café on New York’s Lower East Side, it was one of the first Jewish organizations to formalize community support systems in the U.S.
- Pioneered the use of Hebrew in daily operations in the Yishuv (pre-state Israel), with the Jerusalem Lodge adopting Hebrew in 1888.
- Established the B'nai B'rith World Center in Jerusalem in 1981.
- B'nai B'rith continues to serve as a vital institution in promoting Jewish unity, social justice, and humanitarian action worldwide.
