The Zionist Movement in the United States (6/10)
B'nai B'rith
B’nai B’rith
is a Hebrew term meaning “Sons of the Covenant.” It is one of the oldest and
largest Jewish organizations, founded in 1843 as a fraternal Jewish body
modeled on Masonic societies, with the aim of “uniting Jews to work for the
advancement of their highest interests and the interests of humanity.” Its
motto was “Kindness, fraternal love, and harmony among Jews.” B’nai B’rith grew
significantly, eventually establishing branches in 45 countries with around
500,000 members.
Since its founding, B’nai B’rith has
focused on providing social and humanitarian services to Jewish communities
both within the United States and abroad, establishing hospitals and shelters
for children and the elderly. The organization also defended the rights of
Jewish communities in Russia and Eastern Europe and provided aid to victims of
disasters and sectarian or ethnic unrest among Jews in these regions. Since
1868, it has supported the activities of the Alliance Israélite Universelle(AIU).
B’nai B’rith’s Efforts to Support Immigrants
B’nai B’rith also participated in the
absorption of Eastern European Jews who began arriving in the United States
from 1881. It established relief programs, created vocational and trade
schools, and offered classes to “Americanize” the newcomers. B’nai B’rith
joined Baron de Hirsch’s fund in efforts to redistribute new immigrants across
the United States and settle them in agricultural colonies after the main
cities became overcrowded. The organization was also active in combating
antisemitism; in 1913, it founded the Anti-Defamation League to fight all forms
of religious and racial discrimination.
The Founding of B’nai B’rith Women (1897)
The organization also focused on
organizing women and youth, founding B’nai B’rith Women in 1897 and B’nai
B’rith Youth Organization in 1924. In 1923, it established the B’nai B’rith
Hillel Foundation to provide religious, cultural, and social services to Jewish
students in American colleges and universities. It also created a Department of
Adult Jewish Education in 1948, offering programs in Jewish studies and Hebrew instruction and publishing a quarterly magazine titled Jewish Heritage.
The First Lodge in Palestine (1888)
As the organization grew, B’nai B’rith
established branches outside the United States, the first being in Berlin in
1882, followed by others in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and elsewhere. In
1888, the first B’nai B’rith lodge was founded in Palestine, with Eliezer
Ben-Yehuda as its first secretary; he translated the B’nai B’rith constitution
and rituals into Hebrew. After its presence in Palestine, B’nai B’rith began
contributing to Jewish settlement activities in the country, establishing
kindergartens, libraries, and hospitals, as well as founding a settlement near
Jerusalem and a guesthouse to accommodate new immigrants.
Contribution to Settlement and Land Acquisition
After the Balfour Declaration, B’nai
B’rith began taking practical steps—despite no formal affiliation—toward
Zionist goals. It participated in the National Conference on Palestine convened
by the American Zionist Organization in 1935. In 1943, B’nai B’rith was behind
the American Jewish Congress decision calling for a Jewish commonwealth in
Palestine. It also collaborated with the Zionist Organization to mobilize
American public opinion against the 1939 British White Paper and restrictions
on Jewish immigration to Palestine.
The organization assisted the Jewish
National Fund in purchasing land and establishing settlements in Palestine,
supported the Technion Institute in Haifa, and in 1947 urged President Truman
to endorse the UN Special Committee on Palestine’s recommendation for partition.
After the establishment of Israel, B’nai B’rith provided medical supplies,
clothing, and equipment, helped establish libraries, planted forests, promoted
tourism; and recruited technical workers from the United States and Canada.
Since the issuance of Israeli bonds, it has been actively involved in their
distribution and pressures U.S. policymakers in favor of Israel.
Through the Anti-Defamation League,
the organization plays a key role in countering any anti-Zionist trends by
labeling them as antisemitic.
In 1968, a former senior B’nai B’rith
official filed a lawsuit against the organization, accusing it of engaging in
political and quasi-political activities on behalf of a foreign
state—Israel—which was considered a violation of U.S. federal laws governing
tax-exempt charitable institutions and the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
B’nai B’rith also played a key role in
founding the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in
1954 and was among the founders of the World Conference of Jewish
Organizations.
The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai
B’rith
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of B’nai B’rith is an American Jewish organization
founded in 1913 to serve as B’nai B’rith’s arm in combating antisemitism and
fighting religious and racial discrimination in the United States. Since its
inception, the organization has worked to enact legislation protecting Jews
from discrimination or violations of their civil rights in areas such as
education, employment, and housing. It has also fought against ridicule of the
so-called “Jewish personality” in theaters and the media, as well as against racist
organizations and movements in the U.S.
The ADL has focused on fostering
Jewish-Christian relations and improving relations between Jews and African
Americans, and it contributed to the passage of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of
1964.
Preservation of Zionist Doctrine and the Centrality of Israel
Since its founding in 1913, the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has taken a supportive stance toward the Zionist
state since 1948, emphasizing the need to strengthen U.S. support for Israel
and to highlight shared values and historical parallels between the two
countries. However, the ADL did not adopt the concept of the Jewish people,
which lies at the core of Zionist doctrine, nor did it emphasize Israel’s
centrality or a membership link between American Jews and Israel. Its support
for Israel remained framed by a distinction between Israelis and the American
Jewish community, with its priorities focused on combating antisemitism and
discrimination and ensuring equality for all in the United States.
In 1952, the ADL (along with the
American Jewish Committee) withdrew from the United Jewish Appeal due to
opposition to allocating a large portion of aid to Israel. Over time, this
position gradually shifted toward defending Israel, eventually becoming central
to its programs after the 1967 war. This shift even overshadowed its original
role of combating antisemitism in the United States, with the current focus
assuming that opposition to Zionism equates to antisemitism, thus framing any
criticism of Israel as a form of hostility toward Jews.
This transformation is evident when
comparing the ADL’s program and objectives in 1966 and 1980. In 1966, Israel is
mentioned only in relation to the Arab boycott under the section “Ensuring the
Safety of Jews Abroad.” By 1980, Israel occupies a separate section, ranking
second in the series of objectives, immediately after “Combating Antisemitism.”
The ADL does not limit itself to
labeling groups and individuals opposed to Israel and Zionism as antisemitic;
it also applies this label to those who support Arab causes or sympathize with
the Palestinians. During the 1970s, the League went even further by describing
indifference to issues and problems affecting Jews, or a lack of sympathy
toward them, as a “new form of antisemitism.”
_____________________________________
Source: Encyclopedia of the Jews, Judaism, and Zionism
___________________________________________________
You may also like:
The Zionist Movement in the United States (3/10)
The Zionist Movement in the United States (4/10)
The intellectual foundation of Zionist racism against Jews and Arabs (1 - 4)
_____________________________________
