B’nai B’rith Marks 100th Anniversary Today; Waives Formal Celebration

Waiving all formal or public national celebration of its centennial, B’nai B’rith, the oldest and largest national Jewish service organization in the United States, will mark its 100th anniversary tomorrow. It was founded in New York City on October 13, 1843, by Henry Jones and 11 associates.

In a statement issued today by Henry Monsky, national president of the organization, the members of the B’nai B’rith are called upon to observe the anniversary day by pledging themselves to “an even greater mobilization of their strength and resources to help bring closer the inevitable day of victory.” Expressing the hope that “the year in which B’nai B’rith becomes a centenarian may be the year in which we celebrate the victory for which we all work and serve,” Mr. Monsky said that B’nai B’rith is commemorating its 100th year by. “rededicating its manpower, organizational machinery and resources to a reaffirmation of the ideals which it has practiced and preached since 1843.”

At the same time, Mr. Monsky made public the war service record of B’nai B’rith. This record shows that 17,500 members of the organization and its youth affiliates are serving in the armed forces, and that of these 109 have died in service or are missing in action, 19 are prisoners of war and 71 have been decorated for bravery.

Mr. Monsky also reported that B’nai B’rith had equipped or furnished 550 recreational facilities for the armed forces at Army and Navy installations in 36 states, in addition to 34 in Canada, contributed $700,000 to the American Red Cross and other war relief agencies; provided 40 pieces of mobile equipment to the Red Cross; recruited 38,000 of its members as Red Cross blood donors; furnished recreational and musical equipment to 43 battleships, cruisers, destroyers and aircraft carriers and sold $162,500,000 worth of bonds, including 50,000,000 in the Third Loan.