Prominent Jews in the United States, Canada and Europe will gather here on May 4 for the opening of the B’nai B’rith quinquennial convention which will continue until May 8.
The convention proper will open May 5 with an invocation by Dr. Abram Simon of the Washington Hebrew Congregation, following which there will be an address of welcome by a representative of the government of the District of Columbia and Abe Shefferman, president of District Grand Lodge, No. 5, and Alfred L. Bennett, president of Argo Lodge of Washington.
Following luncheon and a sightseeing trip around the city, the delegates will journey to Arlington where a wreath will be placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by officers of the Constitution Grand Lodge of the B’nai B’rith. Members of the Jewish War Veterans will participate in colorful military exercises. A plague will be dedicated at Arlington in honor of America’s war dead.
LIVINGSTON TO REPORT
The business sessions of the convention will get under way May 6. Most of the morning session will be occupied with reports to be given by Sigmund Livingston, president of the Anti-Defamation League; Dr. Abram L. Sachar, who will report on the work of the Hillel Foundation; Samuel Bieber, who will report on the A. Z. A.; and Louis J. Born-stein, who will report on the wider scope fund raising. A detailed account of the work of the Washington bureau of B’nai B’rith will be given by M. D. Rosenberg. Sidney G. Kusworm is scheduled to report on Americanization activities of the order.
The convention banquet will be held on the evening of May 6. Joseph W. Byrns, Speaker of the House of Representatives, will deliver the principal address hen the B’nai B’rith convention was test held in Washington in 1910, President Taft and Speaker Joe Cannon were the honor guests.
OTHER SPEAKERS LISTED
In addition to Speaker Byrns, others who will address the banquet include M. Gordon Liverman, prominent English Jew who is president of the District Lodge No. 15, of England, and Alfred M. Cohen, international president of B’nai B’rith.
The business session of the convention will continue on May 7. The featured speaker will be Rev. S. Parkes Cadman, New York liberal preacher, who will talk on “Good Will.”
Election of officers is scheduled for May 8, when the convention will close.
Plans and arrangements for the convention are in charge of a local committee headed by Harry Viner of this city, a member of Argo Lodge. Many of the delegates to the convention are expected to bring their wives and arrangements are being made to entertain the women.
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