B’nai B’rith Provides Hospitality Houses and Synagogue for Refugees at Fort Ontario

At the request of the U. S. Department of Interior, the B’nai B’rith has equipped and furnished four hospitality houses, a nursery and two arts and crafts rooms for vocational and therapeutic purposes at the Emergency Refugee Shelter at Fort Ontario. In addition, the National War service Fund of the B’nai B’rith has made possible the installation of complete synagogue facilities, including several Torahs, altar cloths and shofar, furnished through the B’nai B’rith Lodge of Rochester, New York.

Government officials invited the B’nai B’rith to assume the responsibility because the B’nai B’rith National War Service Committee has already furnished similar facilities for the armed forces at various army and naval posts throughout the country. The funds for such purposes are contributed to the National B’nai B’rith War Service Fund by the seven American districts of the order. Robert Lurie, National B’nai B’rith War Service department representative, completed the arrangements for the Oswego camp. Among the refugees is a prominent European physician, Dr. Rafillo Margulis, chairman of the executive committee of the Yugoslavian district Grand Lodge of B’nai B’rith.