BBYO Highlights Of 1957 - In Pictures (see page 7) SPACE LIMITED 31/2 Week Teen Camp Deadline Is Feb. 15 the SH Teen-age campers interested in Camp B'nai B'rith's unique three and one half week camping sessions next sum- mer were advised this month to make their decisions quickly. "Space cannot be reserved indefinitely," Camp Director Mor- Official Publication of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization decai Kessler said as he announced that registrations for the AZA-BBG-BBYA 7-week children's camp are be- ing received "at a brisk pace." A places are reserved for young deadline of Feb. 15 has been set people enrolling for the entire 35TH YEAR 6 JANUARY, 1958 Office of Publications, Baltimore, Md. Send address changes to The Shofar, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington 6, D.C. seven weeks at $450. for teeners' statement of inten- tion. Social Action The half-summer teen-age camping sessions were announced last month "on an experimental OK'd By basis." Mr. Kessler, in announcing that rates for the three and one- Commission half week season had been fixed A pattern for BBYO social at $225, said that plans were be- action was approved by the ing made on a contingent basis. B'nai B'rith Youth Commis- The program will be held, he sion at its annual meeting in said, "only if sufficient interest Washington. is shown." Otherwise, the camp will register only those inter- BBYO's policy making ested in the full seven-week pro- agency adopted a resolution gram. voicing approval of AZA's Present plans call for two sep- actions of last summer in arate three and one-half week taking stands on a variety of periods-from July 1-24 and from controversial issues. July 25-Aug. 18. As a guiding principle, the In addition to vocational coun- Commission said that it had the seling, athletics, arts, and social responsibility of establishing dancing the teen-age program policy "in regard to social action will put heavy -emphasis on lead- HAPPY BAS MITZVAH. Members of Chicago's AZA executive to be taken by BBYO chap- ership training and preparation committee surround BBG Council president Elsa Bilton after pre- ters, regions, districts and inter- for year-round BEYO activities. BBYO Served senting her with a surprise Bas Mitzvah cake. The occasion was a national associations." "In a sense it will be an exten- celebration in honor of BBG's Bas Mitzvah which will be marked The commission said it "encour- sion of BBYO's year-round pro- Over 250,000 throughout the year. ages social action by BBYO gram," Mr. Kessler stated. BBYO Is One Of Most groups at various levels, con- A total of 136,451 Jewish Specific program plans include sistent with B'nai B'rith policy. young men have benefitted Local, regional, and district leadership sessions in singing, from AZA's programs from dancing, dramatics, seminars on its inception on May 31, 1924 Popular Jewish Agencies groups may take their recommen- dations to the international as- public speaking and personality through August 31, 1957, ac- cording to the year-end report How does BBYO stand in the eyes of the North Ameri- sociation, provided these are con- improvement and a series of dis- by Dr. Max F. Baer, BBYO can Jewish community? sistent with B'nai B'rith policy cussions on all aspects of Juda- National Director. on the local, regional and district If membership figures are any criterion-and they usu- levels and provided there has been ism and Jewish life. In addition, BBG, which did not become ally are-BBYO is one of the most desired teen-age agencies clearance with local ADL offices. a vocational counselor will be a national organization until in this part of the world. Certain- The international association may available for counseling campers 1944, now numbers 84,024 ly, it is one of the fastest grow- An analysis of BBYO's mem- approve social action policies alumnae who were nationally on schools and future careers. ing. bership figures is contained in the provided that they are cleared registered, the report said, A total of 32 reservations will The current registration figure year-end report of BBYO's Na- and are consistent with B'nai It also disclosed that BBYA be accepted for the special three of 36,046-as of August 31, 1957, -the end of the last BBYO year tional Director Dr. Max F. Baer. B'rith policy." has registered some 31,636 and one-half week program. Other members between 1945 and The commission also moved to reflects opping gains in The report points out these two August 31, 1957 membership in every district. additional considerations; bar unauthorized action by BY WHITE HOUSE In all, BBYO has served a 1. BBYO's membership figures groups. "Once a resolution has Since 1949-when BBYO counted grand total of 252,111 reg- do not include members in the been adopted on a national level, Joliet Aleph 23,686 members-membership in istered members since each of the order has risen steadily each armed forces who pay no dues and local groups should be informed the three divisions have been year. The record over the past are not counted in registration of the action taken," it said, add- Commended For national agencies under B'nai ing that "if further action is six years shows a net gain in figures. B'rith sponsorship. 2. The figures do not reflect desired by a local chapter, such membership of 12,945, or some 56 action may be taken only by the percent. (see MEMBERSHIP, page 2) His Writing individual members, but not in AZA SERMONIZER SAYS the name of the organization." Joliet, Ill. Endorsed were resolutions Allan Joel Prival, president of Jewish Parents Obliged To Help Their adopted by delegates to the 34th the Joliet BBYO chapter, re- international AZA convention at ceived a commendation from the Children Build the University of Illinois last White House last month for a "Jewishness" Security August putting AZA on record: In opposition to quota sys- series of three articles he had Jewish parents have an obligation to build a feeling of tems in colleges and universities. written on current affairs. security for their children with respect to their "Jewish- stand a Jewish holiday, or vice Favoring formation of inter- Prival, a 16-year-old senior at ness." They must "build in the child a sense of pride in the versa? group youth councils on the local Joliet Township High School, dramatic history and mission of the Jew in the world." Alluding to the concept of "re- level. Endorsing the idea of a con- wrote articles on "Earth Satel- That is the view of AZA ser- leased time" away from the monizer Sheldon Zimmerman. "shock troops of history" in the ference of presidents of national lite," "Veterans Honored and public school classroom for re- youth organizations to foster Veterans Remembered" and "The Past aleph godol of Sholom AZA, war for justice and the concept of ligious instruction - Baily said brotherhood. Current Depression." All three Toronto, Canada, Zimmerman was equality of all men." the major drawback of such a plan * Favoring youth representa- articles appeared in the "J-High delivering the sermon at his chap- Zimmerman's was one of many would be that "the rights of tion on Jewish community boards, Journal," the high school's of- ter's annual AZA Sabbath. He told youth sermons delivered through- minorities will have to be tramp- such as synagogues, temples, ficial journal for which aleph out the order on the AZA Sab- welfare funds, and the like. his elders: led on. The person who doesn't * Endorsing Federal aid for Prival writes. They were passed "It is most important for Jew- bath in November. Sermon topics believe in any of the three major education for school construe- on to the White House by Don- ish parents at the earliest oppor- were as diverse as the interest branches of religion in the United tion. ald Chapin, a journalism instruc- tor at the school. tunity to inform their children range of AZA's members. States would be at a complete Endorsing the Supreme Court To his surprise, aleph Prival concerning the ways of Jewish Religion In Schools disadvantage." He said that such (see COMMISSION, page 2) received a letter of commenda- life, in particular to train them in In Buffalo, New York, aleph a program could also conceivably tion from Mary Jane McCaffree, the ways of Judaism. It is urgent godol Philip Baily of Chaim lead to "intergroup tension and Mrs. Eisenhower's personal sec- that at the very first opportunity divisiveness." Where To Find It Weizmann AZA, speaking at Tem- retary, saying "it is most encour- Donald Lapowich, aleph godol Aleph Godol's aging to know that young people when the child is called JEW by ple Beth El, dealt with religion of London AZA, London, Ontario, Message Page 3 are aware of these problems and his non-Jewish playmate that the in the public schools. Refer- Canada, probing "The Background BBG President's are devoting some thought to blow be softened by informing ring to the resolution passed at of Prayer," listed these achieve- Message them." Page 5 the little one that a Jew is differ- last year's AZA international ments of prayer: Prival last year won second ent because of the great religious convention opposing religious "Prayer can articulate ideals. BBYA President's place in a national essay con- heritage of Israel. No apologies practices of any kind in the public People pray for things they wish Message Page 2 test sponsored by "Literary Cav- need be given. schools, Baily asked: most - recovery of illness or Chapter Chatter Page 6 alcade" magazine-a publication "Jewish parents should very "Even if all religions are put help from trouble. Prayer puts Names In The News devoted to encouraging writing Page 7 early bring home to their children on an equal basis, how can a ideals into words. Secondly, we among high school students. the fact that Jews have been the Christian teacher fully under- Shofar Feature Section Page 4 (see SERMONS, page 3)