(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
The twenty-firstbiennial convention of District No. 3 ofthe Independent Order B’nai Brith will open here on Sunday.
For the first time in fourteen years, Philadelphia, the seat of the District Grand Lodge, will be the headquarters of a Convention. The sessions will continue through Monday.
The Board of Governors of the Erie Orphanage maintained by the District, will meet in conjunction with the sessions of the Lodge.
Among the problems to be considered by the convention are the extent of the District’s participation in the $2,000,000 Fund ofthe Wider Scope Movement. The District and the Philadelphia quota will be set.
The Wider Scope Movement will be discussed at a banquet on Sunday evening, by Alfred M. Cohen, president of the Order and Dr. Boris Bogen, executive secretary and director of the Wider Scope Movement. Joseph W. Salus, former district president and chairman of the Philadelphia B’nai Brith Council, will preside.
The opera “Judith” based on the postblical story of Judith and Holofernes, was sung for the first time in the United States by the Chicago Civic Opera Company on Thursday night. Mary Garden sang the title role.
The libretto is by Rene Marax and the score is by Arthur Honegger, French modernist composer. The first presentation in dramatic form was in paris in 1925. Thefirst performance of the opera was at Monte Carlo last February.
The story concerns the beautiful young widow, Judith, who contrived to reach the tent of the Assyrian General. Holofernes, by night, begging him to spare her city, Bethulia, besieged by his army. The wells were dry and her people were face to face with death from thirst. Judith beheaded Holofernes with his own sword, then returned with the bloody trophy to the besieged Jews, who thereupon attacked and defeated their enemies.
Musically, “Judith” has been described as one of the most characteristic pieces of Honegger, an ultra-modernist in the field of music.
The “Brith Sholom News.” the publication of the Independent Order Brith Sholom, announces its second annual contest for the best short stories of Jewish interest. A first prize of $75, a second prize of $50, a third prize of $40, and a fourth prize of $25 will be given. In addition, $10 will be paid to each other story accepted and used. The submissions shall not be less than 2500 words and not more than 3500 words.
The Judges of the contest are Lester Cohen. author of “Sweepings”; Thyra Sampter Winslow, author of “Show Business”, and Wm. R. Langfeld.
All contributions must reach the Independent Order Brith Sholom, 506 Pine Street, Philadelphia, not later than April 20, 1927.
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.
