B'nai B'rith Youth An Appeal to BBYO Members THE SHOFAR Organization ALEPH ZADIK ALEPH (AZA) B'NAI B'RITH GIRLS (BBG) Israel faces the most dangerous threat to its existence since June 1967. You will find the facts on these pages, as well as a B'NAI B'RITH YOUNG ADULTS (BBYA) list of source materials. Over the years, BBYOers have responded swiftly to calls for WASHINGTON, D. C. USA 17 JANUARY - FEBRUARY 1970 action-and we now call on our brothers and sisters to mobilize their energies and manpower. Our main task now is to write letters to Washington, Use the material in this issue-and in the suggested supple- mentary readings. Express your own feelings in your own words. Hold discussions, teach-ins, special services, etc. This applies to Mid-East Crisis and the U.S. members both in the U.S. and Canada. Canadians, however, should not send letters to the U.S. officials. One further caution: DO NOT, at this time, stage rallies or Your chapter and every U.S. to exert pressure on Israel by Secretary Rogers as late as public demonstrations, You will be advised of further suggestions chapter - is urged to act now to yield major concessions to the April 1969 at a meeting with for action. in the face of a new threat both Arab states. the Conference of Presidents of Get Christian friends and acquaintances to write-including, to Israel's security and to Amer- Secretary of State William P. Major American Jewish Organi- if possible, clergymen and public officials. ica's self-interest. See adjoining zations. Rogers maintains there has been Contact your advisors, BBYO board members. Ask your parents column for suggestions. no recent change in the Ameri- Yet the Secretary, at another to write. Every Godol and N'siah should call for a letter writing There has been a sudden shift can policy of "even-handed" jus- meeting with the Conference at the next chapter meeting. of U.S. policy on the Middle tice in the Middle East. But the last month, confirmed reports East. It calls for Israel to give record contradicts him. that a new American Middle Letters should be sent to: up much of what she gained in Up until the early part of East policy was indeed under Hon. Richard M. Nixon defending herself against Arab 1969, the U.S. let it be known way. In fact, the 14-man Con- President of the United States aggression in 1967. many times that no outside ference delegation (including The White House Dr. William A. Wexler, Inter- Washington, D.C. Up to the present, the Arab power should formulate terms national President of the B'nai countries have refused to nego- for an Israel-Arab settlement, Hon. William P. Rogers B'rith and the new chairman of tiate directly with Israel. They which it considered a matter U.S Secretary of State will continue this resistance as for the nations directly con- the Conference) had specifical- Washington, D.C. long as they believe they can cerned. ly requested the meeting be- cause such a change had been The two United States Senators from your State obtain through Big Power diplo- macy the victory they were un- Nixon's Promise announced in two State Depart- Local members of the House of Representatives ment position papers, and in a able to obtain in war. This is a testing time of the devotion, energy and understand- President Nixon, at the B'nai speech by the Secretary himself. ing of the entire Order. We know you will rise to the challenge. In this objective they count B'rith Triennial in 1968-and After the meeting with Secre- not only on political and military in subsequent statements- tary Rogers, the delegation ex- JACK MINTZ AMY HOROWITZ assistance from the Soviet Union promised the U.S. would not at- Grand Aleph Godol AZA InternationalN'siah pressed "profound concern" over but on America's economic stake tempt to impose prior conditions developments they believed were PAM GEWIRTZ in certain oil-rich Arab countries. for a Middle East settlement. International President BBYA This, they believe, will impel the The same position was set forth continued on page 5 B'nai B'rith Youth Commission's Chicago Meeting Charts A New Course BBYO in The '70's: Vision of Things to Come CHICAGO, ILL.-BBYO's imposing vision of Things-to-Come includes a new summer camp in the midwest, acquisition of a new camp site on the Pacific coast-and, eventually, in Israel-along with further development of BBYO's Camp B'nai B'rith, at Star- light, Penna. These were among proposals favorably received by the B'nai B'rith Youth Commission here. They are part of a blueprint for the 70's that also calls for establishment of a world leadership training center at one of these camps, with three objectives: "To stimulate the growth and development of B'nai B'rith youth work overseas; to prepare young people for future leadership in B'nai B'rith, and Jewish communities outside North America, and to facilitate communication among B'nai B'rith youth from different continents." The four-day annual meeting of BBYO's adult policy-making body was informed a Commission sub- committee is actively studying promising sites for the midwest camp, for which some $165,000 is already available. YOUTH ROLE EMPHASIZED More than 60 delegates from throughout the U.S. Relaxing from their serious deliberations at the B'nai B'rith Youth Commission meeting are, from left, AZA Grand Aleph Goldol Jack Mintz, and Canada attended the sessions chaired by Jack J. BBG N'siah Amy Horowitz, YA President Pam Gewirtz, Mrs. Michael Shapiro, international president of B'nai B'rith Women, and Jack J. Spitzer, Spitzer, BBYC national chairman. Most striking as- national chairman of the Commission, who presided at the plenary sessions. pect of the gathering was the prominent role of BBYO's youth representatives. They included Jack tions to the Commission was for the gradual admis- BBYO professional staff urged meetings of advisors Mintz, Amy Horowitz and Pam Gewirtz, international sion to BBYO of 12 and 13-year-olds. and boards throughout the order to consider the presidents of AZA, BBG and BBYA, respectively-all They would be admitted on an experimental basis question: "What will Judaism have to say to our full-fledged voting members of the Commission- sometime during the next five years-and if the trial youth and young adults in the 70's?" who, with great frankness, emphasized the need for period goes well, larger numbers would be brought into greater involvement by adult lodges and chapters in the ranks later on. The Commission approved the pro- YOUTH-ADULT COLLABORATION BBYO programs. posals, but emphasized the need for careful adult Commission approval also greeted a series of reso- To augment BBYO's present camp facilities, a reso- supervision. The experiment can be undertaken only in lutions dealing with youth-adult collaboration and lution approved construction of a new cabin in the regions where a sufficient number of BBYO profes- adult support for youth programs. One proposed Beber Leadership Village at Starlight, with funds sionals are available-and the 12 and 13-year-olds would formation of BBYO parent associations. They would pledged by New York's Boys' Wear Lodge, B'nai B'rith. meet separately from regular BBYO chapters. Regions meet occasionally on an informal basis to discuss It will accommodate additional leadership training interested are requested to consult the national director BBYO's problems and prospects. The meetings, it was program participants, for whom scholarship funds concerning further regulations. hoped, would let parents know how BBYO benefits will be raised. Efforts to strengthen BBYO's programs for a chang- their children-and would also apprise them of the BBYO's awareness of young people's earlier-than- ing society underlined most of the Commission's work of the B'nai B'rith as a whole. ever involvement in great social and moral issues was deliberations, a key theme of which was the quest Another Commission-approved resolution urged stressed in the annual report of Dr. Max F. Baer, for methods to foster Judaism as a valid philosophy annual reunions of BBYO alumni in every commu- BBYO's national director. One of his recommenda- for new generations. A resolution offered by the continued on page 5