B Nai B Rith

Kent Schiner says it will take a businessman to take care of the business of B'nai B'rith International.And the businessman he has in mind is Kent Schiner.A local insurance underwriter and financial consultant, Schiner was elected president of B'nai B'rith, the world's largest Jewish organization. The election took place late last month in Dallas at the group's 35th biennial international convention. The president serves for two years and can seek re-election once.Schiner, who succeeds New York attorney Seymour Reich, beat Washington attorney Richard Heideman by a "very close" margin from a total of about 600 votes, according to B'nai B'rith spokesman Buzzy Gordon.

Bernard Simon, who served for more than 20 years as public relations director for the Jewish humanitarian organization B'nai B'rith International, died April 20 at his home in Olney of complications from spinal stenosis. He was 89. Mr. Simon's death was confirmed by son David Simon, a former Baltimore Sun reporter and creator of the HBO TV series "The Wire" and "Treme." Early in his career, Bernard Simon was a freelance journalist who wrote for the Saturday Evening Post, Coronet magazine and the Toronto Star.

Arlene O. Smolar, a regional director for B'nai B'rith, was killed Sunday in an automobile accident near Wilmington, Del. She was 58 and had homes in Pikesville and Philadelphia.She had been active in B'nai B'rith nearly 40 years. At the time of her death, she was executive director of District Three, which includes Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.Founded in 1843, B'nai B'rith is a Jewish fraternal organization that emphasizes community service. With programs worldwide, it assists the elderly and the needy, endows hospitals, participates in disaster relief, defends human rights and fights discrimination.

When Joe Cohen waxes nostalgic about his teen years in the early 1970s, he thinks of the basketball tournaments and pizza parties with a local Jewish boys club. As a president of the local chapter, he formed lifelong bonds with his peers and developed pride in his religion and culture. Now the Millersville resident is ushering in a new era for the long-dormant club known as Aleph, Zadik, Aleph, letters that start the Hebrew words for fraternal love, benevolence and harmony. Cohen is reviving the Anne Arundel County Colonial AZA chapter in the name of a Jewish teen who died in August 2005 in a highly publicized car accident.

A longtime B'nai B'rith official has been appointed executive director of the Jewish Federation of Howard County, which serves as an umbrella group for Jewish organizations in the county.Neil C. Rosen, who was selected from several candidates, started work July 1. He will work part time for the federation. His predecessor, Steve Shaw, was full time. The federation's president, Jacques Fein, said the change was a cost-cutting measure.For the last five years, Mr. Rosen was national director of field services for B'nai B'rith in Washington.

CURRENT volunteers' news and needs.Maryland State Association of B'Nai B'Rith is coordinating Operation Brotherhood in which Jewish volunteers are helping their Christian neighbors by taking over some of their jobs in order to free them to spend Christmas with their families. Volunteers will take over clerical jobs, help out in police stations and deliver food and gifts to the needy to make Christmas happier for them.* Members of the David Lester/Maccabiah/Sabra Unit will volunteer at the Garrison Police Station.

Kent E. Schiner, a Pikesville insurance underwriter serving his second two-year term as president of B'nai B'rith International, plans to spend part of the Sukkot holiday, which begins Sunday, with the Jewish community of Cuba.Sukkot, a joyous nine-day festival, comes four days after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.In Cuba, Mr. Schiner will be the guest of the B'nai B'rith Maimonides Lodge, which was founded in 1943. He will be the first B'nai B'rith president to visit Cuba on behalf of the 149-year-old international Jewish organization.

B'nai B'rith, a Jewish service organization that historically has worked on low-income housing ventures, is expanding into other types of housing by forming a pilot partnership with a company building an assisted-living project in Pikesville.The limited partnership is a first-time project for the nonprofit organization, which will provide cultural, religious and social assistance for residents of the Sunrise Assisted Living building under construction on 3 acres in the 3800 block of Old Court Road.

The county's black-Jewish coalition has criticized a prominent Jewish service organization in Annapolis for inviting the South Africanambassador to speak at one of its meetings.After several weeks of internal discussion about Harry Schwarz's scheduled Dec. 8 visit tospeak at a B'nai B'rith meeting, the coalition issued a statement this week calling South African society "an affront to all decent people everywhere.""Ambassador Schwarz's visit to our city reminds us that the all-white minority government of South Africa continues to deny the right to vote to the majority of its black citizens," the African American-Jewish Coalition of Anne Arundel County said in the statement.

WASHINGTON -- A package oozing an unknown substance later found not to be life-threatening was discovered in the mailroom of the international headquarters of B'nai B'rith yesterday, prompting the quarantine of 108 employees into the evening and triggering a terrorist scare.No serious injuries were reported, although at least 14 people stripped to their underwear outside the building and were decontaminated by hazardous-materials experts with a spray of water and a bleach-like substance.The incident snarled traffic for hours around the downtown building of the Jewish service organization in northwest Washington, six blocks from the White House.

Menorah Lodge, B'nai B'rith, is saddened at the passing of MICHAEL MERITT, a past president of the lodge and a tireless worker in support of the ideals of B'nai B'rith. May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion.

WASHINGTON -- A package oozing an unknown substance later found not to be life-threatening was discovered in the mailroom of the international headquarters of B'nai B'rith yesterday, prompting the quarantine of 108 employees into the evening and triggering a terrorist scare.No serious injuries were reported, although at least 14 people stripped to their underwear outside the building and were decontaminated by hazardous-materials experts with a spray of water and a bleach-like substance.The incident snarled traffic for hours around the downtown building of the Jewish service organization in northwest Washington, six blocks from the White House.

Contemporary artists of the former Soviet Union have become increasingly well known in the West over the past decade, and a dozen of the most respected are featured in "Here and There: Then and Now" at Washington's B'nai B'rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum.Some of the artists are Jewish and some are non-Jewish but focused on Jewish themes; some live in Russia and some now live in Western Europe or the United States. Their common ground, according to museum director and curator Ori Z. Soltes, is that "each artist necessarily finds the issue of identity at the center of his or her work; the path to that center is as diverse as the vastness of both Soviet and Jewish history would lead us to expect."

Psalmist Christian School celebrates ties to educationThe New Psalmist Christian School is celebrating "A Decade of Dedication to Excellence and Education" with a banquet from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow at New Psalmist Baptist Church, 4501 1/2 Old Frederick Road.The school has begun a $50,000 endowment campaign to fund scholarships. Tickets are $25; $10 for alumni. Information: 233-3133.Adams Chapel AME Church plans homecoming serviceThe annual homecoming service at Adams Chapel AME Church will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Arlene O. Smolar, a regional director for B'nai B'rith, was killed Sunday in an automobile accident near Wilmington, Del. She was 58 and had homes in Pikesville and Philadelphia.She had been active in B'nai B'rith nearly 40 years. At the time of her death, she was executive director of District Three, which includes Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.Founded in 1843, B'nai B'rith is a Jewish fraternal organization that emphasizes community service. With programs worldwide, it assists the elderly and the needy, endows hospitals, participates in disaster relief, defends human rights and fights discrimination.

In a community service project devised by a local student, a band of teen-age girls from Columbia's B'nai B'rith chapter spend Saturdays helping senior citizens with their grocery shopping.The high school girls, who call themselves the "Shopper Hoppers," accompany older women on shopping trips, gather items, carry heavy grocery bags and provide companionship. In cases where a senior is unable to leave the house, the girls do the shopping."I don't think shopping for someone is that big of a deal, but to the seniors, it is," said Aime Kellner, 17, of East Columbia's Long Reach village, president of the girls chapter of Columbia's B'nai B'rith, who came up with the community service idea in September.

Menorah Lodge, B'nai B'rith, is saddened at the passing of MICHAEL MERITT, a past president of the lodge and a tireless worker in support of the ideals of B'nai B'rith. May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion.

B'nai B'rith Columbia Lodge will produce a real estate board game, "The Game of Columbia Maryland."Players will buy, sell and expand local businesses by advancing their way around the town, aspiring to become the wealthiest entrepreneur.Squares will be named after businesses, professionals and organizations in Columbia who have purchased a spot on the board.Prices vary according to board placement.Fees include $179 for a Basic Square, along the side of the board; $229 for a Premium Gold Square that is one of eight key locations along the side of the board; $299 Premium Corner Squares on the four corners of the board.

B'nai B'rith, a Jewish service organization that historically has worked on low-income housing ventures, is expanding into other types of housing by forming a pilot partnership with a company building an assisted-living project in Pikesville.The limited partnership is a first-time project for the nonprofit organization, which will provide cultural, religious and social assistance for residents of the Sunrise Assisted Living building under construction on 3 acres in the 3800 block of Old Court Road.

B'nai B'rith Columbia Lodge will produce a real estate board game, "The Game of Columbia Maryland."Players will buy, sell and expand local businesses by advancing their way around the town, aspiring to become the wealthiest entrepreneur.Squares will be named after businesses, professionals and organizations in Columbia who have purchased a spot on the board.Prices vary according to board placement.Fees include $179 for a Basic Square, along the side of the board; $229 for a Premium Gold Square that is one of eight key locations along the side of the board; $299 Premium Corner Squares on the four corners of the board.