Mercer Island’s Robert Spitzer is following in his father Jack’s footsteps as the president of B’nai B’rith International, the world’s oldest and most widely known Jewish humanitarian, human rights and advocacy organization.
Robert, 70, was elected for his three-year presidential term on Jan. 12 by the organization’s International Board of Governors during its Triennial meeting in Washington, D.C.
“It’s exciting and daunting because it’s a big responsibility,” said Robert, who has lived on Mercer Island since 1986 with his wife, Kathleen. Their three children, Samara, Phil and Harry, all graduated from Mercer Island High School.
The lawyer at Foster Garvey PC in Seattle continued: “This is a time which is very challenging for the Jewish people in the United States and around the world. We have seen an unprecedented rise in overt antisemitic incidents, including at the University of Washington, a synagogue, Herzl (-Ner Tamid), on Mercer Island (and recently at Islander Middle School). It’s fighting antisemitism in the United States and around the world.”
A portion of his presidential duties will be shifting the B’nai B’rith business model so that revenues are generated from general philanthropy, corporate sponsorships and grants as opposed to being largely based on membership dues from a fraternal membership system.
“So that’s challenging, but I’m a business lawyer and I have a lot of nonprofit experience, so I’m pretty well-suited to be able to do that,” he said.
Robert, who was one of four candidates engaged in the competitive election, will be leading B’nai B’rith’s worldwide delegations at the Human Rights Commission meetings in March in Geneva, Switzerland, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) meetings in Paris, France.
He’ll be taking less cases with Foster Garvey PC while he travels with B’nai B’rith, which has non-governmental organization (NGO) status at the United Nations.
The Islander — whose father was president from 1978-82 — has been involved with B’nai B’rith for most of his adult life and is looking forward to interacting with and advocating for others in his presidential role.
Robert, who was past president of B’nai B’Rith Seattle, noted that his father taught him the importance of public service, along with applying hard work to his duties.
“Also just to follow your passions in life. And, certainly, post-October 7th — a sense of this is more important than other times in my own life. I don’t remember antisemitism rising to the level that it presently is. So to do what feels important to you,” he said.
In a press release, Robert said that B’nai B’rith’s work is more critical now than at any other time since the Holocaust. The press released added that, “B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief.”
In his school and professional realm, Robert graduated from Columbia University School of Law nearly 45 years ago; clerked for the chief justice of the Washington State Supreme Court; worked in Washington, D.C., for U.S. Sen. John Tunney in his Senate office, as well as in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; and has been a Seattle lawyer since 1982.
With B’nai B’rith, he previously served as senior vice president and chairman of its Strategic Planning Committee.