Guide to the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Pittsburgh Records 2018-, MSS 1198
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Pittsburgh Records
- source
- B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Pittsburgh
- Collection Number
- MSS 1198
- Extent
- .25 linear feet
- Date
- 2018-
- Abstract
- In the days following the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018, the Jewish Community of Pittsburgh received an outpouring of support from B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) chapters across the United States. This collection contains letters written by members of three chapters to the Jewish community of Pittsburgh after the shooting.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Pittsburgh is the local affiliate of the international B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBY0). Established in the 1940s, this organization serves as the umbrella over two groups, the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) established in Omaha, Nebraska in 1924, which was adopted by B'nai B'rith the following year. Founded in 1843, B'nai B'rith is the oldest and largest Jewish Service organization in the world. Pittsburgh's first B'nai B'rith Lodge, the Jericho Lodge, was founded in 1896 and later merged with the Saar Sholom and Abraham Lippman Lodge in 1921 to become Pittsburgh Lodge No. 44. The B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) were officially established in 1944. The first AZA chapter was established at the Pittsburgh Lodge No. 44 of B'nai B'rith in 1928. Although the BBG wasn't officially established until 1944, the group was active in Pittsburgh in the early 1940s. BBYO established itself as a teen-led organization that provides a place of cultural and religious support. BBYO Pittsburgh has seven chapters that provide leadership opportunities and programming for local youth and teens.
In the days following the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018, the Jewish community of Pittsburgh received an outpouring of support from BBYO chapters across the United States. The letters include statements such as "I am so sorry to hear about the tragedy that happened," and "We are here for you." Teenagers from the BBYO chapters in Kansas City, Denver and Westchester New, York sent letters written on construction paper and pictures drawn on sheets of white paper.
Scope and Content Notes
The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Pittsburgh Records contains letters written by members of three BBYO chapters from across the United States to the Jewish community of Pittsburgh in the days following the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018. The letters were addressed to the Pittsburgh chapter, but written for the entire Jewish community.
Conditions Governing Access
One folder, Box 1, Folder 3 is restricted due to personal information written on documents. Folder 4 houses access copies from which the sensitive information has been redacted from.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift from B'nai B'rith Youth Organization c/o Lindsay Migdal in 2018.
Archives accession # 2018.0258
Preferred Citation
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Pittsburgh Records, 2018, , Rauh Jewish History program and Archives, MSS 1198 Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
Processing by Catelyn Cocuzzi on 04/18/2019.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Subjects
- B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (Denver, Co.).
- B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (Kansas City, Mo.).
- B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (Westchester, Ny.).
- B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Pittsburgh
- Denver (Co.)
- Kansas City (Mo.)
- Westchester (NY.)
- Jews-Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh.
- ANTI-SEMITISM.
- Hate crimes.