The first Hebrew-speaking lodge of B’nai B’rith outside of Israel was inaugurated here in the presence of 75 British Jewish leaders who helped found the lodge. They included former British Commonwealth Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie, president of the lodge, and Professor Norman Bentwich, monitor.
At a banquet following the inauguration, the importance of Hebrew as the language of the entire Jewish people and as a vehicle for the Jewish culture, past and present, was stressed by a number of speakers. They included H. Bar-Tov, cultural attache at the Israel Embassy here, Itzhak Alfassi of Tel Aviv, general secretary of the B’nai B’rith in Britain and Alderman M. Fidler, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Hayim Pinner, executive director of B’nai B’rith, was lauded for initiating the idea of a Hebrew-speaking lodge.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
