Printing, Graphics, & Direct Mail Document Scanning Index Form High Speed Scanning Date of Request: 12/01/14 Box 14 of64 Senator or Department: SENATOR HARKIN Instructions: Prepare one form for insertion at the beginning of each record series. Prepare and insert additional forms at points that you would like to index. For example: at the beginning of a new folder, briefing book, topic, project, or date sequence. Record Type*: Speeches Inclusive Month/Year of Records*: 1983-1991 (1) Subject*: Health and Human Srv Speeches (2) Staffer*: Jim Whitmire ii Maintain (Return to Office) O Destroy (Shred) *REQUIRED INFORMATIOM II111111111111111iiiiiiiiiiililllill B'nai B'rith International 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW. Washington, D.C. 20036 and many backgrounds, uniting them to pro- BI'naimote B'rith Jewish brings continuity, together to Jewsassure of Jewishmany lands defense, to enhance Jewish culture, and to advance the contributions of the Jewish people to all humanity. Since its founding in 1843 by twelve young Jewish men in New York, B'nai B'rith has evolved into the world's largest Jewish mem- bership organization. It welcomes men and women, adults and youth, in a common com- mitment to principles of service, study and benevolence. As the President of B'nai B'rith International, I am privileged to serve as spokesman for our organization in meetings with world leaders and in a wide variety of public forums. To defend our people, to promote our ideals, I rely upon the strength and support of each and every individual member of B'nai B'rith. I am proud that you have joined B'nai B'rith. This book-telling B'nai B'rith's story-shows D President's why you should be proud too. Message This is Revised Edition The History-Past and Present T The Program-A Look in Depth a Serving Jews Around The World Serving Young People 2 Serving Adults 911 Serving The Community 9 Serving The Member 77 B'nai B'rith Women T9 Supporting The Programs 9 Structured to Serve 9 Revised 1979 Printed in the United States of America NOTES This booklet is a basic "bible" of B'nai B'rith. Its text documents our development since 1843 into the oldest, largest and most representative mass membership movement in Jewish life. To illustrate, in quick digest, what we are doing . .. what the major thrusts of our operation are . we are presenting here a kaleidoscope of our present activities. This is B'nai B'rith in action. This is B'nai B'rith geared to answering the needs of our times. This is B'nai B'rith uniting Jews throughout the world in the essential quest for the renewal of our people and the implementation of the contract established so D Preface many thousands of years ago to strive for peace, decency and justice for all the world's inhabitants. This is our program- contemporary, timely, involved-and dependent upon your support and commitment for its success. Dr. Daniel Thursz Executive Vice-President NOTES The .History Sinsheimer Cafe (right), where -Past and Present B'nai B'rith was conceived in 1843. I Looking back, it seems perfectly natural that B'nai B'rith should have been born in New York City. This was the gateway to the New World. The excitement of the teeming metropolis was animated by a sense of a new society under construction, an atmosphere that stimulated social fellowship. In this environment, where unlimited freedom of thought and expression flourished and where there was opportunity for 14j1 intellectual advancement unparalleled elsewhere in America, it was understandable that twelve Jewish idealists should dream of establishing a nationwide organization with the highest altruistic and intellectual objectives. Where but in New York could be found a Sinsheimer Cafe, the glow of its gaslit interior ~-~---~ x welcoming those who liked talk of Jewish affairs accompanied by bountiful Jewish cuisine? Where else could a foreign-born group burst successfully out of the ghetto and, within a relatively short time, be found parading up Fifth Avenue in horse-drawn carriages before the admiring throngs in the bright Sunday afternoon sunshine, en route to a convention which would be conducted before an audience of 10,000 in the Jones Wood Coliseum? The Times and the People Judaism, but would be free in its deliberations When B'nai B'rith was born on October13,1843, in from everything dogmatic and doctrinaire, able that old East Side cafe, the American Jewish to unite all Jews in a common purpose. Such a community numbered some 25,000 people, most society, he was convinced, would develop of whom were recent immigrants from Germany, mutual understanding and respect among the Poland, Bohemia, and Austria.The "aristocrats" various segments of American Jewry, create were the very small number of Sephardic Jews, harmony in Jewish life, and contribute to the descendants of early settlers. They were well intellectual and moral advancement of the integrated into American life, prosperous and Jewish community. 6.You secure, and not at all pleased about the influx of On October 13, 1843 he gathered around him Ashkenazic Jews, which was impelled by poor 11 like-minded men and established the B'nai economic and political conditions in Europe early B'rith with the mission of "uniting Israelites in the in the nineteenth century. The newcomers were work of promoting their highest interests and This has been a comprehensive overview of discrimination and bigotry. The dignity of man. mostly poor, spoke German, and were not yet those of humanity." Jones' associates were B'nai B'rith from its beginning. Greater awareness of our heritage. Doing things adjusted to life in America. Isaac Rosenbourg, William Renau, Reuben Its story is one of growth, change and together, as Jews, for ourselves, and for all Organized Jewish life centered around the Rodacher, Henry Kling, Henry Anspacher, Isaac maturity. From twelve men, it has grown into a people. Contributing to our community. Giving synagogue. Except for burial societies, Dittenhoefer, Jonas Hecht, Michael Schwab, Jewish mass membership movement, the young people a greater sense of their direction American Jewry had no philanthropic agencies Hirsch Heineman, Valentine Koon and Samuel largest in the world, spanning every continent, and background. Living at peace with our independent of the synagogue. There were Schaefer. representing every viewpoint in Jewish life, neighbors. Living at peace. really no provisions for integrating the Because all of the founders came from uniquely of service to every age group and The most important part of this program is immigrants in the American culture. While Germany, they selected a German name at first, every component of our population. you. material assistance and cultural guidance were "Bundes-Brueder" (League of Brothers), but The strength of B'nai B'rith is its membership. You make the difference between a lodge that greatly needed, the Jewish community was too they also had the foresight to have an alternate People. You. B'nai B'rith mirrors our society, but is weak and a lodge that is vital and alive. You weak and too divided to offer either in any choice, "The Independent Order of B'nai B'rith" also strives for something more. Giving new make the difference between an active interest effective measure. Although K/al Yisroel, unity in (Sons of the Covenant). purpose to older values. Perpetuating tradition in your community and a passive acceptance of Israel, should have prevailed, the various while reflecting new generations and new ideas. come-what-may. You are the mover, the doer, groups of Jews actually had as little as possible The Age of Philanthropy Changing to fit new times and answering the the person on whom B'nai B'rith depends in to do with each other. The spirit of the age was one of philanthropy; needs of its own age. another century of service. Portuguese and Germans, Poles, Bohemians but if these men had limited themselves to Our purpose is steadfast. Greater Jewish The burden is not heavy. Share it with us and and Austrians simply could not or would not charity, nobody would be writing about them identity. Human rights. A world free of get others to share it with you. "get along" together. So fierce and passionate today and the organization they founded was the disunity that in some Jewish families a probably would not have survived. The Jews of marriage between a German Jew and a Polish 1843 were so divided and mutually hostile that Jew was considered akin to "intermarriage," they did not dream of pooling their resources to and rarely occurred. help those less fortunate than themselves. They The 34 synagogues may have fulfilled their lacked community consciousness, and that is religious purposes, but the times called for a what the infant B'nai B'rith set out to teach them. new type of organization. Some of the younger The founders began with personal example. educated newcomers decided to do something They put aside half the money they collected about it. during the first three months of the Recognizing the difficulty of uniting the organization's existence for a widows and congregations, Henry Jones, himself a orphans fund. The first lodge was not actually synagogue leader, proposed to found a society formed until a few weeks later. Meanwhile, on which would be based on the teachings of October 21, they met again and by that time 4 93 Henry Anspacher Isaac Dittenhoeter Jonas Hecht Hirsch Heineman B'NAI B'RITH VOLUNTEER STRUCTURE had worked out their statement of moral Puritans "Abroad" Who Found a Home principles. The original Preamble to the B'nai The Constitution set up a central power known B'rith Constitution, with only slight changes, is as the Constitution Grand Lodge to perform still the Preamble today: such functions as issuing charters to new lodges and enforcing the rules of the Order.