B’nai B’rith
From JudaismWiki
B’NAI B’RITH. On October 13, 1843, twelve German Jews living in New York City met together to form what they called a Bundes Brüder, or “Brothers of the Covenant.” Patterned after other lodges of the day, it had ritual, regalia, and benefits in the form of insurance and mutual aid. It later became known as the Independent Order of B’nai B’rith, and finally, after 1930, as B’nai B’rith.
B’nai B’rith’s membership in the U.S. stands at 550,000 people, in addition to the members of Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) and B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG), its junior affiliates. It is organized into somewhat autonomous local lodges, women’s chapters, and district grand lodges. The supreme lodge establishes general policies for the order.
Over the years, B’nai B’rith has supported, in whole or in part, the following institutions: Bellefaire, an orphan home in Cleveland; the Jewish Children’s Home of New Orleans; the Touro Infirmary of New Orleans; the Jewish Orphan Home of Atlanta; the Home for the Aged in Yonkers, N.Y.; the National Jewish Hospital in Denver; the Leo N. Levi Memorial Hospital in Hot Springs, Ark.; the B’nai B’rith Orphanage in Erie, Pa.; and the B’nai B’rith Home for the Aged in Memphis.
B’nai B’rith has always been interested in advancing the rights of Jews, and working with government and other groups to combat anti-Jewish agitation at home and abroad. Today these activities, together with B’nai B’rith’s concern for the democratic rights of all people, center in the Anti-Defamation League, formed in 1913.
Cultural and educational activities are emphasized by B’nai B’rith, both in local lodges and on a national scale, through speakers, bureaus, cultural programs, and publications. The National Jewish Monthly, published under various names since 1886, has had the largest circulation of any Jewish journal in the English language. B’nai B’rith sponsors an extensive adult education program, featuring the annual Wildacres Institutes for adults, held at various camps in the U.S. There are affiliates in 37 countries, including Israel.
[edit] Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.
Formerly B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation. A network of cultural, religious, and social centers for Jewish college youth. The first Hillel Foundation was set up at the University of Illinois in 1924 to make Jewish life and culture vital and meaningful to college students. Taken up as a national project by B’nai B’rith in 1925, the Foundation now maintains 120 foundations and affiliates on more than 300 campuses in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe (including Russia), Israel, and Australia. In addition, it has professorships of Judaic studies in American universities. Hillel campus programs include cultural, religious, fellowship, community service, personal guidance, and interfaith activities. To stimulate discussion and understanding of Jewish life and thought, the foundation published a series of Hillel Little Books. What is the Jewish Heritage, by Ludwig Lewisohn, was the first.
[edit] B’nai B’rith Youth Organization.
The first B’nai B’rith youth groups were founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1924. Known as Aleph Zadik Aleph, they quickly took root throughout the Midwest, and by 1925 were incorporated as a national branch of the adult organization. In 1927, the B’nai B’rith Girls (ages range from 15 to 21) were formed as a sister organization to the AZA. About fifteen years later, to satisfy the needs of college students and young war veterans, the B’nai B’rith Young Adults was founded. All three groups, joined in the overall Youth Organization since 1949, conducted programs designed to familiarize young Jews with their heritage and to prepare them for active participation in Jewish and general community life. In addition to discussions and study groups dealing with specifically Jewish affairs, the organization concerns itself with problems of social welfare and citizenship, and conducts a broad program of leisure-time sports and social activities. There are over 30,000 members in 1,200 units in fifteen countries.
