(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
The extension of the Independent Order B’nai Brith to South Africa is being considered, according to a statement of Alfred M. Cohen, president of the order.
Mr. Cohen made public a letter from Johannesburg urging the establishment of a lodge in South Africa, where the Jewish population numbers 62,000.
“Of this number Johannesburg has a Jewish population of 23,000 and Cape Town about 12,000,” the letter states. “The Jewish community is highly organized. Johannesburg has 14 synagogues, supports an orphanage and a home for aged Jews. It has in addition many benevolent societies. Jews occupy high positions in civic and Masonic life.
“Johannesburg retains two Jews as members of Parliament. A Johannesburg Jew is a judge of the supreme court. Johannesburg is the headquarters of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the S. A. Zionist Federation and the South African Jewish Historical Society. In the opinion of those associated with me, the establishment of a Lodge of the Independent Order B’nai Brith would be the keystone of our communal structure.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
