By Garry Fabian
MELBOURNE, Australia — In a turbulent, ever changing world, for an organization to survive seventy years and still be strong and vibrant is an impressive achievement.
This was emphasised Sunday, May 24, when B’nai B’rith Victoria celebrated its 70th birthday with a “gala Birthday Party” in front of almost 250 attendees.
The Guest speaker, The Honourable Howard Nathan QC, in his address enticingly titled Seventy Years and still a Virgin described the many cultural and social changes in our society over the last seven decades that have taken place since the founding of B’nai B’rith in Victoria on the 20th May, 1945.
Tracing the progress of the organization and its impact on the local Jewish community, he described B’nai B’rith as an important unifying force that provided a platform where diverse strands of Jewish life could meet in one forum. Its activities span a wide spectrum of community service for the Jewish and general community, its charitable endeavors, and cultural, educational and social activities.
Professor Ron Taft, who is the last founding member, gave a thumb nail overview of its early days, and how it created a bridge between the old “established” Jewish Community and European refugees at a time when considerable mistrust existed between them in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Professor Louis Waller presented a historic summation of its many important works, ending with the classical Jewish invocation “bis zu 120”
The occasion provided the affirmation that the organization is alive and well with a bright future in the decades ahead.
*
Fabian is an author and freelance writer based in Melbourne, Australia. You may comment to him directly at garry.fabian@sdjewishworld.com, or post your comment on this website provided that the rules below are observed.
__________________________________________________________________
Care to comment? We require the following information on any letter for publication: 1) Your full name 2) Your city and state (or country) of residence. Letters lacking such information will be automatically deleted. San Diego Jewish World is intended as a forum for the entire Jewish community, whatever your political leanings. Letters may be posted below provided they are responsive to the article that prompted them, and civil in their tone. Ad hominem attacks against any religion, country, gender, race, sexual orientation, or physical disability will not be considered for publication. There is a limit of one letter per writer on any given day.
__________________________________________________________________