What is B'nai B'rith?
What is B'nai B'rith?
The words B’nai B’rith translate as Children of the Covenant.
Founded in the United States in 1843, B’nai B’rith is the oldest and largest international Jewish community service organisation, uniting Jewish people of all levels of religious belief and practice who share in the aims of Tikkun Olam (making the world a better place).
B’nai B’rith is a not for profit organization involved in supporting human rights and anti-discrimination, promoting multiculturalism and inter-religious understanding and social justice activities. Today, the original motto of Benevolence, Friendship and Harmony has been modernised to Jewish Unity, Diversity & Continuity, but the basic principles of B’nai B’rith remain.
Advocacy is still central to the tenets of B’nai B’rith. A submission was made to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee, Department of the Senate, into the Inquiry of partial Suspension of the Sanctions against Iran. B’nai B’rith supported the Executive Council of the Australian Jewry to fight against changes to Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
BBANZ has co -signed a statement with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry https://us10.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=19290c7e4e8990f8e5c013408&id=9efffedb7c
calling upon the Australian Government to give formal recognition to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to announce that the Australian Embassy currently located in Tel Aviv will in due course be relocated to Jerusalem.
B’nai B’rith has also been active in advocating for the reform of the treatment of Asylum Seekers.
At the grass roots level, B’nai B’rith delivers community welfare services such as youth and young adults programs, senior citizens' housing and financial support for educational services. These projects reach out into the wider community for the benefit of all Australians and New Zealanders. Via the Israel Commission B’nai B’rith provides financial assistance to worthy organizations in the State of Israel.
B’nai B’rith International has accredited NGO status at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva, and maintains representative offices in Jerusalem through the B’nai B’rith World Centre, and in Brussels to deal with issues relating to the European Union. Learn more at www.bnaibrith.org.
B’nai B’rith is organized into international districts. At the local level The Board of Governors presides over Australia and New Zealand. Each state has a regional president who is head of the council which oversees the activities of the units.
Our mission is:
The words B’nai B’rith translate as Children of the Covenant.
Founded in the United States in 1843, B’nai B’rith is the oldest and largest international Jewish community service organisation, uniting Jewish people of all levels of religious belief and practice who share in the aims of Tikkun Olam (making the world a better place).
B’nai B’rith is a not for profit organization involved in supporting human rights and anti-discrimination, promoting multiculturalism and inter-religious understanding and social justice activities. Today, the original motto of Benevolence, Friendship and Harmony has been modernised to Jewish Unity, Diversity & Continuity, but the basic principles of B’nai B’rith remain.
Advocacy is still central to the tenets of B’nai B’rith. A submission was made to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee, Department of the Senate, into the Inquiry of partial Suspension of the Sanctions against Iran. B’nai B’rith supported the Executive Council of the Australian Jewry to fight against changes to Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
BBANZ has co -signed a statement with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry https://us10.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=19290c7e4e8990f8e5c013408&id=9efffedb7c
calling upon the Australian Government to give formal recognition to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to announce that the Australian Embassy currently located in Tel Aviv will in due course be relocated to Jerusalem.
B’nai B’rith has also been active in advocating for the reform of the treatment of Asylum Seekers.
At the grass roots level, B’nai B’rith delivers community welfare services such as youth and young adults programs, senior citizens' housing and financial support for educational services. These projects reach out into the wider community for the benefit of all Australians and New Zealanders. Via the Israel Commission B’nai B’rith provides financial assistance to worthy organizations in the State of Israel.
B’nai B’rith International has accredited NGO status at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva, and maintains representative offices in Jerusalem through the B’nai B’rith World Centre, and in Brussels to deal with issues relating to the European Union. Learn more at www.bnaibrith.org.
B’nai B’rith is organized into international districts. At the local level The Board of Governors presides over Australia and New Zealand. Each state has a regional president who is head of the council which oversees the activities of the units.
Our mission is:
- to unite people of the Jewish faith in the work of promoting their highest interests and those of humanity;
- to develop and elevate the mental and moral character of the people of our faith;
- to inculcate the purest principles of philanthropy, honour and patriotism;
- to support science and art;
- to visit and attend the sick;
- to come to the rescue of victims of persecution, provide for, protect and assist the aged and the disadvantaged in our community on the broadest principles of humanity; and to pledge our support for the state of Israel.
B'nai B'rith in Australia and New Zealand
The history of B’nai B’rith in Australia starts with the institution of the first Lodge in Sydney in 1944, followed soon after by the commencement of the Sydney Women’s Chapter. Melbourne instituted its first Lodge and Chapter very shortly after this. Although, at one stage, Lodges Chapters and Units (where men and women hold equal membership) existed in each State, currently they only operate in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as New Zealand. Activities are very much modelled on the original core values and mission statements mentioned above and include raising money for worthy causes, both Jewish and non-Jewish, active social and cultural activities such as lectures, art exhibitions etc. as well as a very active Anti-Defamation arm which monitors anti-semitic activities both locally and overseas.
Today, B'nai B'rith Australia/New Zealand is located in three regions: New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand.
> Learn more about our history.
Today, B'nai B'rith Australia/New Zealand is located in three regions: New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand.
> Learn more about our history.
B'nai B'rith Australia / New Zealand - Board of Governors
BBANZ Board of Governors
2022-2025
> Learn more about our people.
2022-2025
- President BBANZ: Dr Benny Monheit
- President BBVic: Dr Peter Schattner
- President BBNSW: Janine Zimbler
- Chair, BBNZ Council: Dr Jim Salinger
- Immediate Past President: David Samuels
- Secretary: Iain Messer
- Treasurer: Cheryl Rubinstein
- BB International Vice-President: James Altman
- Chair Israel Commission: Danielle Schilling
- Chair Click & Connect: Morris Tobias
> Learn more about our people.
