Moishe Smith was elected the first non-American President of B’nai B’rith International in December, 2006 and served in this position until 2011. He has been an active in B’nai B’rith for more than 30 years. A Member of Parliament chapter of AZA, Smith went on to become an active member of his B’nai B’rith lodge in Ottawa. He served various capacities and served as President of B’nai B’rith Canada, 1988-89.
A 1986 winner of the prestigious B’nai B’rith Label A. Katz Award for Outstanding Young Leadership, Smith was appointed in that year to the B’nai B’rith International Board of Governors, and served for the next five years as an active member of the Young Leadership Cabinet. In 1991 he was appointed to serve as B’nai B’rith International Young Leadership chair.
Prior to his Presidency, Smith completed two terms as Chairman of the Executive of B’nai B’rith International. He also served two consecutive two-year terms as a senior international vice president of BBI.
Smith led B’nai B’rith Canada’s first-ever mission to the Soviet Union, served as chair of the International Council of B’nai B’rith, vice chair of the B’nai B’rith International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy, and served as a member of the B’nai B’rith delegation to the WZO.
Professionally, he is involved in the food and hospitality industry, with restaurants across Canada and a head office in Ottawa. Smith also serves as a Board member of the Ottawa Food Bank, the Ottawa Tourism & Convention Association, the Ottawa Restaurant Association, and the Canada Israel Committee. He has held a number of positions with UJA Ottawa, as well.
He served as a Board Member from June 2007 through 2011. currently he serves as a committee member.