AT ANNUAL MEETING Commission OK's AZA Lower S Age Limit; Acts On AIT's The AZA international convention-adopted resolution d their setting the order's lower age limit at 14 or 9th grade-or SHOFAR the its equivalent-wa endorsed by the B'nai B'rith Youth Commission at its annual meeting in Washington last month. But the convention-approved resolution pertaining to Alephs- tion resolution which would offer Publication of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization in-Training ran into a series of a one-time grant of $1,000 to the AZA-BBG-BBYA slight modifications by the Com- B'nai B'rith District Grand Lodge of Great Britain toward the em- mission. ployment of a BBYO staff worker. BBYO's adult policy-making The proposal carries with it the agency rewrote slightly the AZA 37TH YEAR DECEMBER, 1961 Office of Publications. Baltimore, Md. Send address changes to provision that the District allo- The Shofar, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW. Washington 6. Aleph-in-Training procedure and cate funds for this purpose. asked that the 1962 convention The offer will now be negoti- body come again study proposal, and the matter ated by the chairman of the Com- up with a new or mission and the BBYO National accept the Commission's current Director, after clearance, with the version. BBYO Membership Hits New International Council and Board That version, which will be the of Governors of B'nai B'rith. effective policy, until the 1962 Other major decisions taken by convention takes further action, the Commission: as follows: All Time High Of 41,847 "A potential AIT must be pro- (See COMMISSION, Page 8) posed by a member in good stand- Increase Is of the AZA chapter. Upon his payment of dues, he shall auto- Largest In matically become an AIT. "Thereafter, upon successful Single Year completion of a 4-8 week AIT program (determined by the chap- New York objection ter) come member. automatically If boy there becoming is a be- a he shall BBYO's registered mem- a valid bership has increased for the to the member. it will take a two-thirds tenth consecutive year and vote of those present at a regular now stands at an all-time chapter meeting to drop his name high of 41,847, the B'nai from membership. If such an ac- tion is taken and the boy is drop- B'rith Board of Governors ped. he shall receive a refund of was told at its annual meet- dues, all of which shall come from local chapter funds, ing here last month. "Each chapter shall determine Reporting on BBYO member- rights, privileges, and pro- ship for the 1960-61 registration subject period gram regulations approval. during the be for AITS the AIT year, B'nai B'rith Youth Commis- Such shall sion national chairman David M. to the of Regional or local adult boards, or Blumberg said that the order had where such boards do not act, the added 3,369 members during the Regional Director." 12-month period ending August The Commission also asked the 31,1961 to zoom to its new record 1962 convention to formulate a definition for "a valid objection." high. (See District Membership Other Actions Breakdown, Page 8.) In another action, the Commis- Not only did this year's regis- approved an AZA conven- tration figure set a new overall Name Policy TRIPLE CHECK FOR LEADERSHIP. BBYO's three presidents present checks from the youth orders membership record, Mr. Blumberg said, but it set a record for the totalling $11,500 for the Katz-Klutznick Arts and Education Buildings to be constructed at Camp B'nai largest membership gain in a Reaffirmed B'rith. The buildings will be used in connection with BBYO conventions and leadership conferences. Making the presentations to Jack J. Spitzer of Los Angeles, second from left, chairman of the Build- single year. ing Fund, are Marcia Goren, BBG president; Robert Levinson, BBYA president; and Sheldon Zimmer- Mr. Blumberg added that By Commission man, AZA grand aleph godol. Double-checking the checks to make certain they are properly signed is BBYO's net membership gain over What's in a name? David M. Blumberg, left, national chairman of the B'nai B'rith Youth Commission. The presentation the past ten years has been 18,746, Plenty, according to the was made at last month's annual Commission meeting in Washington. or about 81 percent. B'nai B'rith Youth Commission Attuned To Interests which last month at its annual Record 10,000 BBYO'er To Take "During the decade of the meeting reaffirmed the order's 1950's the BBYO membership ex- Policy that BBYO chapters are panded three times more rapidly not to be named after living persons. Part In Regional Conventions than the Jewish teen-age popula- tion," Mr. Blumberg told B'nai In taking its decision anew, B'rith's governing body, adding: nizance groups the of the fact existence expressed that some cog- Commission An estimated 10,000 BBYO'ers will play active roles in the mid-year regional con- "There is no better proof of our assumption that BBYO programs, now in have ventions, SHOFAR's annual survey indicates. objectives, methods and person- violated this policy but it said The regional parleys will be drawing the largest attendance in the organization's nel are sensitively attuned to the also recognized that to at- needs and interests of American tempt to have these chapters history-accurately reflectiong its new record high membership. Jewish teen-agers of this day." change their names would Topics as broad as BBYO's in- cause considerable embarrass- Mr. Blumberg reported that terest and scope have been the regional parley highlights on ment for both the groups and Red Coss Thanks BBYO's record membership ding selected as convention themes. which SHOFAR has information: the individual for whom the growth for the 1960-61 registra- chapter is named. The size of the parleys vary Calendar Range BBYA For Carla tion year was contributed to by all three orders. The Commission's statement widely too-from 50 participants, District 1 regional conclaves made it clear that future at- all the way up the scale to the show a very wide calendar range. Refugee Help AZA membership increased by tempts to circumvent the rul- mammoth conclave to be held by Early bird honors go to AZA's 1,021 during the past 12 months A letter acknowledging BBYA's will be more closely Chicago Region AZA at which Tri-State Region which held its and now stands at 16,512; BBG watched. three-day parley October 27-29 at contribution of $150.00 to aid in some 900 alephs are expected. grew by 1,895 members and its y By districts, here are some of (See REGIONALS, Page 6) the Red Cross disaster relief pro- total membership is now 22,747; gram for victims of the recent BBYA's current membership is POLL hurricane Carla has been sent to 2,588 for a net gain of 453 mem- bers for the year. BBYA president Bob Levinson Mr. Blumberg also reported Survey Shows BBYO Leaders Favor letter, signed by Red Cross that the number of chapters now president Alfred M. Gruenther, enrolled with BBYO for the year expressed the Red Cross' "grate- ending August 31, 1961 was 1,497, Action To Counter Anti-Semitism a ful thanks to all members of your net increase of 110 chapters splendid organization for their (See MEMBERSHIP, Page 6) A cross-section of BBYO's regional leadership rejects continuing interest in, and sup- idea that "Jews should not go where they are unwanted.' B'rith Anti-Defamation League port of, the disaster relief pro- Where To Find It They think that when a Jew encounters an act of dis- should be called in to intercede. grams of the Red Cross." Aleph Godol's The remainder advocated that crimination he should make active protest and seek remedial Jews individually bring their Gen. Gruenther's letter pointed Message Page 3 action through the many courses open to him. grievances to court or to state out that the Red Cross provided BBG President's These were the views of some and municipal anti-discrimination care to more than 303,000 persons Message Page 5 for the first time. agencies. BBYO participants to last affected by the hurricane at a BBYA President's Not a single respondent favored Message Page 2 summer's annual Leadership Some 75 percent of the BBYO cost of about $6 million. the idea that Jews should mask Chapter Chatter Page 7 Training Conference at Camp leaders who favored counter- their identity to gain entrance to The BBYA contribution was the Names In The News Page 6 B'rith. Their views, sought measures to acts of discrimina- restricted country clubs, resorts maximum amount to be awarded Pen Pals Dag Page 2 lengthy questionnaire, were tion endorsed the view that de- or housing. from the order's Emergency Dis- Sports-Scope Page 4 and evaluated last month fense groups such as the B'nai (See SURVEY, Page 8) ster Fund.