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B'nai B'rith Leadership Visits South America

A week-long mission to Latin America yields key communication.

By B'nai B'rith

May 22^nd, 2014

filling the itinerary

Last week, a delegation from B‘nai B‘rith International, including President Allan J. Jacobs and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin, visited Latin America, meeting with local B’nai B’rith leadership and
Latin American government officials.

B'nai B'rith Leadership Visits South America

FIRST STOP: ARGENTINA

The delegation first visited Argentina, meeting with Israeli ambassador Dorith Shavit, visiting the U.S. Embassy, AMIA’s Board, the leadership of Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA), Foreign Minister Hector Timerman and leading members of congress.

They discussed a wide range of issues facing the Argentine Jewish population were discussed, particularly Iran and the 1994 Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish center bombing.

MEET THE PRESS

During the trip, B’nai B’rith officials met with media outlets in Argentina and Uruguay, conducting interviews with La Nación (Buenos Aires), Iton Gadol (Buenos Aires) and El Pais (Montevideo); a press release on the visit was also issued by the Uruguayan government.

Mariaschin told Argentina’s Iton Gadol:

“We have an obligation to join the Jewish people under the umbrella that covers everyone, regardless of where they live, or their connections. We seek to build this relationship…Because of our strong presence in Latin America, we come regularly to interact with our family and with the community.”

Helping Those In need

While in Argentina, President Jacobs discussed B’nai B’rith International’s partnership with the OSDE Fundacion, which has sent more than $80 million worth of medicine and medical supplies to Argentina.

Jacobs told La Nación:

“The Jewish community suffers the same problems
as all Argentinians.”

And Justice For All...

While in South America, the Argentine federal court decided to strike down the agreement between Argentina and Iran to create the “Commission of Truth,” an “independent” group that would investigate the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people and wounded 300.

B’nai B’rith issued a press statement praising the decision. The organization has opposed the agreement since the moment it was signed in January, 2013. President Jacobs and Executive Vice President Mariaschin met with the Argentine foreign minister to articulate their concerns over the agreement.

Second Stop: Uruguay

The next stop on the mission gave the B’nai B’rith delegation the opportunity to engage with government leadership, raising the issues of American and Israeli relations, in addition to the county’s
stance on Israeli-Palestinian relations.

the office of the president

The delegation was received by senior Uruguayan officials to discuss a broad range of foreign policy issues, including the country’s relationship with Israel and ties to Iran.

Advocating for israel

B’nai B’rith International President Jacobs and Exececutive Vice President Mariaschin expressed concern and disappointment in recent U.N. Israel votes.

Mariaschin told El Pais:

“The problem is that, given the history of friendship between Israel and Uruguay, we expected a different approach from the government.”

Third stop: chile

For the final stop on the mission, the delegation visited Chile, stopping first to meet with Deputy Chief Stephen Liston of the U.S. Embassy. The delegation also attended the installation of the new Lodge Jaim.

Finishing Strong

On Friday, the B’nai B’rith delegation had a full slate of meetings, spending time with Gerardo Gorodischer, President CJCh (Jewish Community of Chile); Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Alfredo Labbe (bottom right); Minister Ximena Rincón (top), General Secretary Ministry of the Presidency (in charge of the relationship between government and Parliament); Congressman Daniel Farcas; Minister Alvaro Elizalde (bottom left), General Secretary of Government (official spokesman of the government) and Jorge Tarud, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies.

They attended Shabbat Dinner with B’nai B’rith leadership and other leadership of the Chilean Jewish community, including Ricardo Israel, Minister of Agriculture and former presidential candidate, former Ministers and government officials.

A message that resonates

The focus of the B’nai B’rith delegation to South America was to foster open communication between the organization and the decision-makers on that continent. Although President Jacobs and Exececutive Vice President Mariaschin have returned to Washington, D.C., the organization’s ongoing presence will continue to make an impact throughout Latin America, well into the future.