Samantha Pohl is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. She is a graduate of Brandeis University.

Yesterday, in a statement from United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, he recognized B’nai B’rith for its contributions to the UN and, due to its influence, asked for the organization’s assistance in both promoting a solution to the conflict occurring in the Middle East and preventing genocide and other crimes against humanity.

His address to the B’nai B’rith International Annual Mission to the United Nations in New York, delivered by Angela Kane, Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, demonstrates the strong relationship B’nai B’rith has forged with the UN. This is a remarkable accomplishment for any organization, but particularly for a Jewish organization.

The Religious Action Center staff and the Commission on Social Action recently had the great opportunity to hear from Sybil Kessler, the Director of United Nations Affairs with B’nai B’rith International at a meeting of our Israel and World Affairs Task Force. We heard firsthand about the important work Ms. Kessler and B’nai B’rith International do to make the interests of Israel and the Jewish people known in the UN, and were deeply impressed and appreciative of her work.

Kudos to Ms. Kessler and B’nai B’rith!