JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305 120 PROSPECT AVE MR AN DAUBER 6d OI 1924 GOLDEN AZA ANNIVERSARY SHOFAR B'nai B'rith Youth Organization ALEPH ZADIK ALEPH (AZA) B'NAI B'RITH GIRLS (BBG) Twenty-four former Grand Aleph Godolim participated in the AZA Golden Anniversary International Alumni Reunion, May 3-5, near Chicago. 17 17 Shown above are, seated (1. to r.), Hon. Philip M. Klutznick, 1925-26; Ad Fried, 1931-32; Lowell Adelson, 1936-37; Rabbi Stanley Rabinowitz, 1937-38; Jack J. Spitzer, 1938-39; Joseph Borenstein, 1939-40; Irging Kaler, 1940-41; JUNE, 1974 Edward Grause, 1943-44; Rabbi Arthur Gilbert, 1945-46; Dr. Myron Teitelbaum, 1947-48; Orrin Kabaker, 1948-49; Richard Brownstein, 1949-50. Standing (1. to r.) are: Ronald M. Weiss, 1950-51; Dr. Donald E. Newman, 1952-53; Elliot Rothman, 1954-55; Dr. Leon H. Ginsberg, 1955-56; Steven H. Morrison, 1963-64; Richard Heideman, 1964-65; Daniel Brener, 1966-67; Edward A. Zelinsky, 1967-68; Jack Mintz, 1969-70; Paige Reffe, 1970-71; Michael Dock- terman, 1971-72; and current Grand Aleph Godol, Michael H. Lee. Golden Festivities Attract Alumni From Around World As Sam Beber looked out into the faces of doctors, lawyers, governmental of- Following Sabbath Morning services, the alumni were treated to "A Review of ficials, former United Nations ambassadors, and the many others who had made American Society, 1924-1974" by Leo M. Cherne, alumnus of Rehoboth Chapter #89 their mark in the Jewish and general communities, he knew his dream of 50 years of the Bronx, N.Y. and Executive Director of the Research Institute of America, and ago had found fruition. "A Review of Jewish Life, 1924-1974" by Rabbi Stanley Rabinowitz, an alumnus of Former members of AZA from around the world gathered at the Arlington Park Des Moines Chapter #4. Following their presentations, two former Grand Aleph Towers near Chicago to pay tribute to the founder of AZA and reminisce about the Godolim and a former member of the BBYO staff discussed the presentations. Acting first half-century of the world's largest Jewish Youth Organization. as discussants were former Grand Aleph Godolim Michael Dockterman, alumnus In opening the historic convocation, Golden Anniversary Chairman Jack J. of Tri-Cities Chapter #40, Rock Island, Ill. and Dr. Leon Ginsburg, alumnus of Spitzer, former GAG and Honorary Chairman of the B'nai B'rith Youth Commission, David Marcus Chapter #152, San Antonio. Jack Weiner, former District 7 BBYO called attention to the impact which AZA has had upon the world in its first 50 Director, and an alumnus of Robert H. Witt Chapter #310 and Kander Chapter years. Pointing to the hundreds of thousands of men whose lives have been enriched #405, Milwaukee, was also a discussant. by their AZA experience, Spitzer declared "It is our hope that these individuals will Rabbi Rabinowitz pointed out that "The only people who saw the Jews clearly be motivated to increase their identification with the objectives of a humane, viable, were the Nazis, and in their scheme of things they worked for total obliteration and responsible Jewish community." In the darkness [of the world] the Nazi saw the Jew but could not see that he was a In his greetings to the alumni and their guests present at the Reunion, B'nai human. The Jews were victims not only because of German bestiality, but be- B'rith International President, David M. Blumberg, himself an alumnus and an cause of the widespread and almost courteous indifference of other countries of the Honorary Chairman of the B'nai B'rith Youth Commission, reminisced about his world, Rabinow itz, Washington Fidds concitided AZA days. "It was common experiences that forged SO strongly the relationship "Above all, we must hear the 11th Commandment that emerged from Auschwitz: between members of AZA as well as alumni of AZA, friendships which have en- Thou shalt not give Hitler a posthumous victory. All else will follow." dured and remained alive to this day." The former member of Memphis AZA #71 Leo Cherne, looking at the same fifty-year span from the broader perspective and St. Louis #28 continued, "This lesson needs to be learned among nations as of the total society, pointed out that "these 50 years have seen the greatest burst to- well as individuals." ward equality take place. A Catholic President entered the White House, a Black Officiating at Shabbat Evening services were Rabbi Stanley Rabinowitz, Vice- Justice entered the Supreme Court, a Jewish Ambassador represented us at the Chairman of the B'nai B'rith Youth Commission and a former Grand Aleph Godol. United Nations, an Italian became the first of his people to be Ambassador to Rome. Serving as Cantor was Paul Sheldon, an alumnus of Raome Chapter #1016 in All are benchmarks and none of them are final victories." Toronto, Ontario. In place of a sermon, a review of the last 50 years of Jewish history The climax of the Reunion weekend came Saturday night with the Golden through the eyes of "The Jewish Optimist and The Jewish Pessimist" was presented Anniversary Banquet: "A Tribute to Sam Beber." Featured speaker for the evening by Dr. Boris Conforty and Stanley Yudolf from a script by Dr. Max F. Baer, Interna- was Honorary B'nai B'rith President, and former Ambassador to the United Nations, tional Director Conforty, an alumnus of the AZA chapter in Sofia, Bulgaria in the Hon. Philip M. Klutznick. Relating the BBYO program to Israel, the second GAG 1930's, is presently Chief of the Department of Orthopaedics at a leading Israeli asserted "There is only one Jewish people whether in Israel or in the many nations hospital. Yudolf is an alumnus from Great Britain. Fred Rubin, of the Chicago BBYO of the world." Looking back to the early history of AZA, Klutznick observed that staff, presented guitar accompaniment. the force most responsible for transforming a small fraternity into the world's larg- est Jewish youth organization was "one man with an idea which he made his cause. The Jewish Optimist and The Jewish Pessimist makes for an ex- Aleph Zadik Aleph is the shadow of that man- Sam Beber." citing and unique chapter or council program. It requires two narrators Later that evening, David Blumberg presented to Sam and Helen Beber the and, preferably, guitar accompaniment. The script for this presentation President's Medal for their continued outstanding contributions to the B'nai B'rith is available through local BBYO offices. It sells for $1.00 a copy to those family. Following this presentation, Youth Commission Chairman Anita Perlman outside B'nai B'rith family and for only 50c a copy (3 for $1.00-one for presented a pair of beautiful oil portraits of Sam Beber-one to Helen Beber to hang each narrator, one for the guitarist) to BBYO members and others in the (Contd. on pg. 2) B'nai B'rith family. Publication code is DR-28. BBYO REACTS TO MA'ALOT MASSACRE As the world reeled from the unspeakably brutal act of Arab guerillas in a school As an immediate demonstration of concern, Mike Lee and Jan Rothschild have in the tiny village of Ma'Alot, BBYO members reacted with shock to this massacre authorized a $1,000 contribution from the International Service Funds of AZA and of fellow high school students. BBG to help in whatever way possible the people of Israel. We are investigating with "As young persons representing thousands of high school students," stated our representatives in Israel the most effective method of using this GAG Michael Lee and International N'siah Jan Rothschild, "we are shocked at this it be rebuilding the school, a memorial fund for scholarships, or other aid to the latest act of terrorism on the part of the Palestinian guerrillas directed to the high school. school students of Ma'Alot." There is a need for action on the part of every BBYO member. We, therefore call "The students of Israel find themselves on the front lines, sacrificing their lives upon all BBYO members to take immediate action in two areas: for Israel. 1. Letters of condolences to the families of the dead youngsters and other Is- "The high school youth of countries fortunate enough not to be plagued by war raelis killed in the Ma'Alot Massacre should be sent from every BBYO and terrorism must work equally as diligently as our Israeli brothers and sisters in chapter. These letters should be addressed: fortifying and strengthening our own Jewish communities," Mike and Jan added. "The teenagers of Israel have not yielded to apathy. They cannot-and we must Mayor, not. Town Hall, "The result of indifference may well deliver the death blow to the future of not Safed, only the Israelis but also of the Jewish people." Israel Almost from the moment of the massacre, BBYO members throughout the world swung into action in a series of local marches, memorial services, petition The letters are being sent to the Mayor of Safed because this is the community drives, and letter-writing campaigns. from which most of the dead youngsters came. (Contd. on pg. 7)