B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Shota The Elul 5743, August 1983 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) BBYO Mourns Death of Julius Bisno 1843 The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization aspora," Kraft stated. "His loss is a severe joined the entire B'nai B'rith family in blow to us all." mourning the death of Julius Bisno, the Dr. Max Baer, who worked with Julie se first fulltime director of BBYO. and was his close friend for half a century, d Mr. Bisno died in his sleep June 10 in recalled the charisma, gregariousness, o Los Angeles, after a long illness. and instinctive understanding of young Dr. Sidney Clearfield, International Di- people which Julius Bisno brought to his rector of BBYO, expressed the regret and job as Philip Klutznick's assistant at AZA sorrow that the entire Youth Organization in 1929, when Julie was only 18 years old. feels at the passing of its first fulltime Baer said that those unique qualities of Executive Director. Dr. Clearfield recalled Julie's contributed significantly to the suc- in- the decades of service which "Julie", as he cess of AZA. As Dr. Baer has written in was affectionately called, gave the B'nai his book Dealing in Futures, which is B'rith Youth Organization and the Jewish about to be published, Julie Bisno person- y community at large. ified AZA, perhaps more than anyone Mr. Bisno had been associated with else in the Order. B'nai B'rith since 1928, when he became a Mr. Bisno spent the first 16 years of his charter member of the B'nai B'rith teen- professional career in the development of age boys' organization, Aleph Zadik Aleph, the superstructure of the B'nai B'rith in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1929, at the youth movement. His work helped carry ey age of 18, he became AZA's national as- AZA through the Great Depression of the sistant executive secretary and in 1933 he 1930s and World War II. e was appointed the agency's first fulltime Although he left B'nai B'rith professional At the most recent Youth Commission meeting, in December of last year, the late executive director, a post he held until service to become one of the heads of Julius Bisno presented to outgoing Youth Commission Chairman Horace Stern 1945. the Los Angeles Jewish Community Coun- (left) and incoming Chairman Aaron Grossman (right) the plaque given to Julie Gerald Kraft, president of B'nai B'rith, cil and Welfare Fund, his interest in B'nai in 1928, when he received AZA's Sam Beber Award. said the passing of Mr. Bisno "deprives B'rith remained undiminished He served 3'nai 3'rith of the creative talents of one of as President of a B'nai B'rith lodge and its great leaders and deprives the Jewish member of the B'nai B'rith Hillel Commis- sh community of one of its most devoted sion, and was a life member of the B'nai workers." B'rith Youth Commission. International or Noting that despite recurring illnesses Last year, in honor of Mr. Bisno, then over the last 20 years Mr. Bisno had B'nai B'rith International President Jack J. worked tirelessly on behalf of Jewish Spitzer established an award to be pre- Conventions '83 causes both as a professional and volun- sented biannually to a B'nai B'rith staff teer. Mr. Kraft called him "the epitome of member for outstanding service. the pioneer Jewish civil servant." Julie is survived by his wife Rose, who AZAers and BBGs from across the daughter Mimi was the N'siah of Phila- "Julius Bisno was committed to the im- just recovered from a serious illness, and globe are gathering in Starlight, Pennsylva- delphia Region. provement of the quality of life of Jews one son, Jay. nia, from August 17 through 22 for the In workshops and resolution debate, young and old, in Israel and in the Di- International Conventions of AZA and delegates to the Convention will be dis- BBG. cussing ways of making the fight against Highlights of the Convention will be the Tay-Sachs a major programming thrust in kick-off programs both for the new mem- 1983-84. bership drive and for the AZA 60th Anni- Other issues to be raised during the From the Shofer, 1935 versary Year. The theme of Convention business meetings include proposals to this year is Tradition with a Future, and replace the current Machon framework the first evening's program will be dedicat- with smaller, two- or three-region pro- Among Julie Bisno's many leadership are reprinting here a particularly time- ed to that theme. grams. Resolutions are also to be offered in roles in BBYO was his job as editor of ly editorial from May 15, 1936, when A somber note has been added to proposing changes in the proration of this newspaper when it was still called Julius Bisno was editor and Max Baer Convention by the passing of Julius Bisno, dues for new members. The Shofer: Official Organ Aleph was Assistant Editor. and the Convention has set aside time Another issue that is to be raised is the Zadik Aleph of the B'nai B'rith. We for a special memorial service in honor of question of eligibility by AZAers outside Julie, who was the first fulltime director of North America for international office. of BBYO. There are several different suggestions of- Gerald Kraft, President of B'nai B'rith, fered for restricting some or all interna- will be awarded the Sam Beber Award. The tional AZA offices to AZAers resident in We Need the Convention award is granted to an AZA alumnus who North America. No parallel resolutions e has distinguished himself in his profession have been offered for the BBG, where to- as well as in his commitment to the Jew- day only the N'siah must come from North 1. ish community. America. "No Aleph can say that he knows make the Fraternity the vital influence Speakers at programs during Conven- Action is expected to be taken on the what A.Z.A. is all about until he has at- that it is in the lives of American and tion include Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman proposal to build a memorial at Camp It tended an international A.Z.A. conven- Canadian Jewish youth. It is only when and Mr. Steven Laver. Rabbi Zimmerman, Perlman in honor of members of AZA and tion!" an Aleph joins the international as- Grand Aleph Godol in 1961-62 and Sam BBG who died while still members of the That expression of one of last year's semblage of Alephs that he senses the Beber Award winner, is the rabbi of the Order. Money for the memorial is to be S delegates to the Ozark encampment is real spirit that generates our move- Central Synagogue in Manhattan, the raised in the Regions on a voluntary basis. the conclusion of almost three thou- ment. to largest Reform congregation in the city. He It is hoped that the memorial, if ap- sand A.Z.A. members who have partici- By participating in the annual inter- will speak to the Convention on the re- proved, will be ready for dedication at pated in international conclaves since national convention an Aleph sees the sponsibility of Jews as Jews to be active in Convention '84. the founding of the Order. The Supreme fullest realization of the fraternal de- social action, and of the need to deal If the past is any guide, one high point Advisory Council daily sends letters, sires that motivated him to seek mem- with issues outside the Jewish community of Convention will be the performances by Monthly Programs, Shofers and speak- bership in A.Z.A. Here he surrenders as well. Workshops will follow the talk. BBYOers from District 14 and 15. Last ers to the various chapters in order to himself to a spirit of camaraderie and Steven Laver, a lawyer by profession, is year the singing and dancing by the Israeli educate the members towards a fuller brotherly love that makes his A.Z.A. the chairman of the National Tay-Sachs and British BBYOers received an enthu- appreciation of the aims and activities membership assume a new signifi- and Allied Diseases Foundation. Mr. Laver siastic reception. of Aleph Zadik Aleph. Yet through cance. Here he has an entire week to will be speaking about Tay-Sachs dis- The two "kick-offs" that will be central these media alone we cannot ade- cultivate and to renew friendships that ease, and especially about what BBYO can events at the convention are the start of quately impress upon the minds of the are priceless and everlasting. do to become more involved in the fight AZA's 60th anniversary year, and the be- members the intangible values that to overcome the disease. ginning of the new membership drive. The Steven Laver is an AZA alumnus, and his Continued on page 2