Moishe Smith

Moishe Smith "of Ottawa, Canada, is the first non-U.S. citizen elected president of B'nai B'rith International. His term began in December, 2006 and will run through 2009. Smith has been active in B'nai B'rith for more than 30 years. Smith has long focused on B'nai B'rith's public policy arena and has developed expertise on a broad range of issues. He led B'nai B'rith Canada's first mission to the Soviet Union; served as Chair of the International Council of B'nai B'rith; vice chair of the Center for Human Rights and Public Policy; and for many years served as a member of the B'nai B'rith delegation to the World Zionist Organization.

"Smith was a 1986 winner of the prestigious B'nai B'rith Label A. Katz Award for Outstanding Young Leadership. He then was appointed to the BBI Board of Governors, and, for the next five years, served as an active member of the Young Leadership Cabinet. In 1991, he was appointed Young Leadership chair.

"Before being named BBI president, Smith completed two terms as chairman of the executive. He also served two consecutive two-year terms as a senior international vice president.

"Smith is involved in the food-and-hospitality industry, which has restaurants across Canada and its headquarters in Ottawa. He also sits on the board of the Ottawa Food Bank, the Ottawa Tourism and Convention Association, the Ottawa Restaurant Association, and the Canada-Israel Committee."