Object numberM2020/010:007
DescriptionThe Sydney Jewish News article of 22 December 1944 reporting on the Inauguration of the Sydney Lodge of B’nai B’rith. Part of a collection relating to the establishment of the first B'nai B'rith lodge in Australia.
Founded in the United States in 1843, B’nai B’rith is the oldest and largest international Jewish community service organisation. The ideals of B’nai B’rith were brought to Australia by members of former Austrian, Czechoslovakian and German Lodges; ideals which they cherished as essential for their way of life. Ernst Goldschmidt was one such refugee from Vienna who had belonged to the Wien Lodge and had been its president in 1934. Ernst was integral in driving the establishment of a Sydney Lodge.
The first meetings that planted the seeds for B’nai B’rith in Australia were social ones, initially in people’s homes and then more established in places like the Tarbuth Rooms in George Street. These social meetings were an opportunity for people of similar cultural backgrounds to mix and feel a sense of belonging, and also provided an outlet for moral support and a chance to help each other.
In March 1944, Goldschmidt placed an advertisement in the Hebrew Standard calling on all former members of European Lodges to contact him to assist with his intention of applying for a charter for the establishment of a B’nai B’rith Lodge in Sydney. However, the initial response from the Supreme Lodge in Washington was a negative one, stating that it was not policy to issue a charter unless the majority of petitioners were citizens or long term residents of the country in question.
Ernst did not give up and continued arguing the case of the Sydney Jewish community until the Supreme Lodge agreed. On 13 September 1944 the provisional Sydney lodge held its first meeting in the Maccabean Hall and the first council of the Lodge was elected. On 17 December 1944, Ernst Goldschmidt, as delegate of the Supreme Lodge, solemnly installed the first B’nai B’rith Lodge in Australia: Sydney Lodge no. 1546 with 74 foundation members, 60 of which had been former members in Europe.
Founded in the United States in 1843, B’nai B’rith is the oldest and largest international Jewish community service organisation. The ideals of B’nai B’rith were brought to Australia by members of former Austrian, Czechoslovakian and German Lodges; ideals which they cherished as essential for their way of life. Ernst Goldschmidt was one such refugee from Vienna who had belonged to the Wien Lodge and had been its president in 1934. Ernst was integral in driving the establishment of a Sydney Lodge.
The first meetings that planted the seeds for B’nai B’rith in Australia were social ones, initially in people’s homes and then more established in places like the Tarbuth Rooms in George Street. These social meetings were an opportunity for people of similar cultural backgrounds to mix and feel a sense of belonging, and also provided an outlet for moral support and a chance to help each other.
In March 1944, Goldschmidt placed an advertisement in the Hebrew Standard calling on all former members of European Lodges to contact him to assist with his intention of applying for a charter for the establishment of a B’nai B’rith Lodge in Sydney. However, the initial response from the Supreme Lodge in Washington was a negative one, stating that it was not policy to issue a charter unless the majority of petitioners were citizens or long term residents of the country in question.
Ernst did not give up and continued arguing the case of the Sydney Jewish community until the Supreme Lodge agreed. On 13 September 1944 the provisional Sydney lodge held its first meeting in the Maccabean Hall and the first council of the Lodge was elected. On 17 December 1944, Ernst Goldschmidt, as delegate of the Supreme Lodge, solemnly installed the first B’nai B’rith Lodge in Australia: Sydney Lodge no. 1546 with 74 foundation members, 60 of which had been former members in Europe.
Production placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Production date 1944-12-22 - 1944-12-22
Object namearticles
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 176.00 mm
height: 202.00 mm
Language
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ms Ruth Wirth