Over 8000 BBYO'ers To Attend Regional Conventions Almost one out of every five members of The BBG Bay State Region held its an- October for the Southern Ontario Region in BBYO-more than 8000 delegates in all nual fall conclave in Lynn, Mass. last month Toronto, Canada. Theme of the parley, "Win- will attend regional parleys this year, with 160 delegates in attendance. Convention dow on Israel," was carried out with talks by SHOFAR'S annual pre-convention survey activity revolved around the various phases participants in this past summer's BBYO found last month. of BBG's new 6-fold program. Next April 3rd Israel Institute, as well as representatives of The "grass roots" parleys will discuss through the 5th, the region will hold a Spring the Zionist Organization of America. everything from Judaism, world peace and convention-probably in Magnolia, Mass. In District One's Tri-State Region, some American relations with Israel to effective Some 250 alephs and BBG's in the Laur- 150 alephs took part in a three-day conven- chapter leadership and program planning. entian Region Association have already held tion in early November at Mattapan, Mass. their conventions. Early last month, 150 BBG Principal convention speaker was AZA ad- With several execeptions, the bulk of the delegates took part in a two day parley at Ste. visor Dr. Sheldon White, who traveled conventions will be held during the winter Agathe, a Laurentian Mountain resort. In through Israel last summer with a group of school recess week. mid-November, 100 alephs participated in an Hillel directors. A feature of the convention In District 1, five conventions have already AZA convention at the same site. was a panel on the role of the United Nations. been held. It was a 300-delegate co-ed convention in (See REGIONALS, Page 8) 1959 Israel Institute Plans To Be Announced Next Month With final details still to be ably begin in early July, with the worked out, registration opens group returning home toward the this month for the 1959 BBYO end of August. the FAR Israel Summer Institute. A limit of 40 BBYO partici- The Jewish Agency, which pants for the 1959 Institute has sponsors the Institute in coop- been set. Those interested are eration with BBY0, is making urged to make plans early to arrangements for a European avoid disappointment. Official Publication of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization stopover as an added feature for Fee for the seven-week Insti- this year's institute. Details are tute is $895, plus a $15 fee for a AZA-BBG-BBYA expected to be available next two-day orientation meeting in month. New York prior to departure for The seven-week tour will prob- Israel. 35TH YEAR 6 DECEMBER, 1958 Office of Publications, Baltimore, Md. Send address changes to The Shofar, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington 6, D.C FROM PARENTS' MAGAZINE Set For Tours BBYO's Membership Atlanta Groups Cited Hits Record 36,900 For Community Service Atlanta, Ga. service work, but singled out in Membership Increases Seventh Consecutive Outstanding achievements particular its contributions to the Year; Up Over 60 Percent Since 1951 for community service proj- Cancer Society. Chapter members helped the Cancer Society by pre- New York ects have earned the At- paring mailings, assembling re- BBYO's steadily-spiralling membership soared to new lanta BBYO Council and ports and publications, preparing heights for the 1957-58 year, National Youth Commission one of its constituent chap- program kits and making dress- MIDYEAR TOURS of GAG Chairman Label A. Katz reported to the Board of Governors ings for cancer patients. Steve Blank (left) and BBG ters national honors. of the Supreme Lodge at its annual meeting here last month. The honors, Parents' Maga- The Council was cited for help- international president Sandy Membership figures for the registration year ending ing to raise some $1,300 for the Towsner take place later this zine's annual Youth Achievement Multiple Sclerosis campaign. It month. (See story below, for August 31, 1958 stood at an all- Awards for Juvenile Decency, coordinated the fund-raising ef- details.) time high of 36,900. Mr. Katz's forts of some 275 individual BBYO Served year-end report showed that the went to Daughters of B'nai B'rith BBG for its work with the Cancer members. Prexies To Visit combined memberships of AZA, Society, and to the Council for Over 250,000 BBG and BEYA made a net gain In addition, the Council spear- headed drives for UNICEF, with Eight Cities of 854 members over last year's In the more than three dec- previous all-time high of 36,046. coordinating the community serv- a resultant $400 contribution to GAG Steve Blank and BBG in- It was the seventh consecutive ice efforts of the nine BBYO ades BBYO has been in ex- the world organization, and help- ternational president Sandy year in which BBYO membership chapters here. ed raise $3,500 among chapters Towsner make the annual mid- istence, it has brought its pro- had risen. Since 1951, member- It was the second successive for Atlanta's "Empty Stocking year presidential tours this grams to more than a quarter ship in BBYO has increased by year that Parents' Magazine rec- Fund," which aids indigent At- month, with eight prolonged of a million young Jews, a 13,799 members, or just over 60 ognized achievements of BBYO lanta families. visits between them scheduled. just-completed survey of mem- percent. groups here. Last year, Gate City In making the award, Parents' Subject to a last-minute switch AZA won a Youth Achievement bership rolls shows. The number of registered Magazine pointed out that in all in plans, here is how the two BBYO chapters also increased in Award for its recreational pro- cases stress was laid on why the presidents plan to spend their Since its founding in 1924, the past year. Mr. Katz reported gram organized for a blind boy drives were conducted-with an travel time: a grand total of 143,137 young that the Washington headquarters scout troop. emphasis on preparing the young GAG Blank flies to San Fran- office had registered 1307 chap- men are present or former The citation to the BBG group participants for future commu- cisco on December 13 for a three- ters as compared with 1268 chap- members of AZA. praised its variety of community nity leadership roles. day visit during whish he will ters the previous year. address a rally of area B'nai BBG, which did not become The breakdown by orders of B'rith leaders and AZA chapter, a national organization until BBYO's 1957-58 membership is: regional and district execs. AZA-15,277 1945, has enrolled 93,425 young BBG-20,059 On the 16th, he flies down to women to date. BBYA, which BBYA-1564 Los Angeles for a similar meet- ing. During his two-day stay in also became a national organi- Servicemen Excluded Los Angeles, he will talk to area zation in 1945, has enrolled Not included in BBYO's mem- B'nai B'rith adult leaders at a 32,751 members over the same bership reports are members now rally, as well as meeting the Dis- period. serving in the armed forces, who trict 4 AZA convention planning pay no dues, as well as the 2500 committee, These figures do not include members outside the United (See VISITS, Page 6) many thousands of girls in States and Canada who pay no B'nai B'rith Girls' groups be- dues to BBYO's headquarters EXPANDED VERSION fore BBG became a national office. organization. Membership breakdown by dis- Revised AIT-MIT tricts for 1957-58 is: District AZA BBG BBYA Kits Now Ready Ramat Tzvi School 1 3271 5757 187 2 1521 1520 13 The 1958-59 version of the Honors BBYO Gift 3 2811 3683 96 backbone of AZA and BBG new 4 1954 2854 512 member indoctrination-the AIT Gilboa, Israel 5 1485 1666 27 and MIT kits-are now available When the kindergarten at 6 3306 3542 729 from BBYO regional offices. Ramat Tzvi here is completed 7 929 1037 Because of a number of minor within the next few weeks, it will changes, publication of the kits Other highlights of the report: was slightly delayed, but orders bear a plaque inscribed: "This Almost half the current are now being filled. kindergarten was built with the members are in BBYO for their first year. During the just-com- This year's revised kit has been financial help received from the pleted registration year, a total expanded to include a copy of the Youth Organization of B'nai of 17,202 new members were first in BBYO's Judaism pam- B'rith of North America." enrolled. phlet series, Dr. Ira Eisenstein's The plaque will be placed in the AZA membership up 192 "What Is A Jew." HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, Richardson Dilworth of Philadelphia, members over last year has To cover the cost of the pam- building in gratitude for a $1500 accepts a citation from Nita Targan, president of the Philadelphia phlet, the price of the kits has now increased by almost 49 per BBG Council, and Sidney Meyers, godol of the Philadelphia AZA contribution recently received been increased from $.30 to $.50. cent in the past seven years. Council, honoring him for his concern for "BBYO and other youth Individual copies of Dr. Eisen- from BBYO. The money-$1000 BBG membership up. 887 groups interested in erasing the stigma of juvenile delinquency and stein's pamphlet sell for $.35 and from AZA and $500 from BBG- members over last year promoting instead juvenile decency." The presentation was made are also available from BBYO came from AZA and BBG Service to the Mayor during ceremonies at City Hall. now increased by a booming 144 regional or district offices. Funds. per cent in the past seven years.