People

The Buffalo region has been home to a wide range of individuals associated with local Jewish communities and Jewish networks from the 1820s through to the contemporary period as immigrants, citizens, residents and locals.

Institutions

Buffalo Jews have a rich history of forming both formal and informal institutions for religious, educational, political and social needs. From synagogues to organizations, and from coordinating agencies to groups and clubs, Jewish Buffalonians have seen a changing range of institutions supported by group endeavors and community philanthropy.

Neighborhoods

In living memory, the East Side and North Buffalo stand out as physically connected and interwoven religious and commercial centers of Jewish living. In contrast to these specific areas are the mini hubs identified with Jewish living and connected to a more dispersed idea of neighborhood. Separately, suburbia with its significant geographic spread, has redefined how a series of Jewish spaces come together with a mix of hubs, focal points and networks.

Themes

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Exhibitions

Special exhibitions, through a focus on particular individuals and subjects, delves into the personal stories that have animated Jewish lives. Each digital exploration reflects on the interplay between place, identities and changing times and the way in which American, Jewish and Buffalo historical experiences are deeply interwoven.

Resources

Materials that document Jewish Buffalo in all its diversity are found in books, articles, archives and museums, many of which are available locally or online. This section highlights some of these sources and will be updated regularly.

Elaine Kellick

Elaine and Eileen Kellick (née Kaiser) B’nai B’rith Girls, Rena Chaim Chapter, 1957-1958

Organizations  /  B’nai B’rith Girls

B’nai B’rith Girls formed as a girls youth wing of the local B’nai B’rith parent organization, supported by B’nai B’rith Women. It provided a whole range of social, educational, religious and service opportunities for Jewish girls in Greater Buffalo.

Overview

As a twentieth century development, B’nai B’rith Girl chapters in Buffalo, grew out of the national, originally all male B’nai B’rith organization that formerly began a century before on October 13, 1843, when twelve men met in a café on New York’s Lower East Side in 1843. They decided to form a Jewish American organization originally named “Bundes-Brueder” (League of Brothers), and alternatively known as “The Independent Order of B’nai B’rith” (Sons of the Covenant). They chose as their mission the goal of, “uniting Israelites in the work of promoting their highest interests and those of humanity.”

As the first Jewish organization that was formed outside of a synagogue structure, B’nai B’rith sought to defend Jewish and human rights and promote intercultural relations. B’nai B’rith continued to develop the organization’s scope and influence during the twentieth century, with an emphasis on national and international social welfare. In 1913, B’nai B’rith established the Anti-Defamation League as concerns about antisemitism grew. From the 1920s, B’nai B’rith expanded its work into a variety of youth movements. In 1923, it supported the first B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation at the University of Illinois. A year later, in 1924, a youth wing, called Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) for teenage boys was established and the first local groups of B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG) began in 1927. From 1949, both girls and boys divisions were organized under the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO).

B’nai B’rith as a contemporary national organization sponsors adult Jewish education and promotes youth groups, provides vocational guidance, supports philanthropic institutions, sponsors welfare projects in Israel, assists victims of natural disasters, and carries on a broad program of community service and welfare. It pursues special interest in civil rights, immigration, and Israel advocacy. As the oldest and largest Jewish service organization in the world, it has lodges for men and chapters for women and youth around the world.

Scrapbook

In Buffalo, there is limited source material about the history of B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG) and the boys group, the AZA. The scrapbook of Elaine Kellick (née Kaiser), however, provides a wonderful snapshot of the late 1950s and her activities with her twin sister Eileen, in one chapter: Rena Chaim, and their interactions with other youth groups active in Buffalo. Through its pages it connects readers to a very specific time in Buffalo when youth, and especially teen programming was served by an array of institutions including sororities and fraternities. As a study in  Jewish organizational youth activities, it highlights B’nai B’rith at an active time in Buffalo from a particular perspective, making it a valuable study of Jewish girlhood and community at mid-twentieth century.

Click the image to explore the scrapbook!

 

Discover More Collections

COLLECTION AT THE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, BUFFALO, NY

The University Archives, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY is currently closed due to the pandemic.

  • Buffalo Jewish Review Records, 1917-2012 (MS217) [Only available off-line/in-person research at the Buffalo Central Library, Buffalo History Museum and the University at Buffalo, University Archives].

Contribute to this Page

We are seeking further information about other B’nai B’rith Girls groups and the AZA the boys B’nai B’rith youth organization, as well as B’nai B’rith Women. Please contact us, or upload here.

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Thank You

Our thanks to Elaine Kellick for permission to image her scrapbook.