The longtime executive vice president of B’nai B’rith International will likely take over as secretary general of the embattled World Jewish Congress. Daniel Mariaschin will replace Stephen Herbits, sources close to the situation confirmed. The WJC has not made the hiring official, nor has it set a timetable. The WJC has been in flux since March, when longtime president Edgar Bronfman fired Rabbi Israel Singer, the professional at the WJC for nearly 30 years. Bronfman soon after announced his retirement. In June, the WJC elected Jewish National Fund President Ronald Lauder as Bronfman’s successor. On that day Herbits, who had become a lightning-rod figure within the WJC for his bulldog tactics in cleaning up irregularities, announced he would step down if Lauder was elected because he believed the philanthropist and cosmetics heir would run the organization properly along with Bronfman’s son, Matthew, as chairman of the board of governors. Mariaschin has run B’nai B’rith since 1988. He directed and supervised its programs and staff in more than 50 countries, according to the organization. Neither Lauder, the WJC or B’nai B’rith would comment on the appointment.A Lauder confidant praised Mariaschin.”Dan Mariaschin is a highly respected Jewish public servant in the best sense of the term, who has a great deal of experience both in the international arena and with the Jewish community in the United States,” Menachem Rosensaft said. “He is someone who has demonstrated a commitment to transparent governance, which is what the WJC needs at this time in its history.”
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