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A.Z.A.
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101381
- Collection
- B’nai B’rith Ottawa Lodges fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- One box textual files; several B&W photographs; AZA Moses Bilsky Chapter 166 banner; B&W panoramic photograph 1939
- Fonds No.
- O0005; A.Z.A.
- Date
- 1940's
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of: Moses Bilsky Chapter 1932, 1933 newsletter, correspondence, financial membership list ca. 1936. Annual Sabbath program - no date. AZA badge - no date. Regional deputy certificate - 1939. National deputy certificate - 1940. Skit night program - 1940. Aleph Zadik Aleph Ottawa conv…
- Collection
- B’nai B’rith Ottawa Lodges fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- One box textual files; several B&W photographs; AZA Moses Bilsky Chapter 166 banner; B&W panoramic photograph 1939
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of: Moses Bilsky Chapter 1932, 1933 newsletter, correspondence, financial membership list ca. 1936. Annual Sabbath program - no date. AZA badge - no date. Regional deputy certificate - 1939. National deputy certificate - 1940. Skit night program - 1940. Aleph Zadik Aleph Ottawa convention booklet - 1940. Inside information manual - 1961. Annual Sabbath program - no date. AZA badge and trophy - no date. Series also includes a cloth banner from Moses Bilsky Chapter and a sepia panoramic photograph of participants at the 16th National Camp Convention of Aleph Zadek Aleph of B'nai B'rith held at Cejwin Camp in Port Jervis, New York, June 21 - 28, 1939. This photograph was donated by the family of Herbert Wolf who attended this camp. He was killed in action during WWII. Herbert Wolf may be the fifth from the right in the first row standing, wearing striped shirt with an arm around next fellow (see Photographic Database - 1-961). A framed Chapter Charter for Parliament AZA Chapter 1107 for Ottawa, Ontario. The following members are named within the charter as being of "Special Confidence" - Harry Beck, Allan Cantor, Bobby Dermer, Ricky Goldberg, David Goldfarb, Bernie Gosevitz, Morley Greenberg, Norman Greenberg, Tommy Greenberg, Allan Koffman, Jeff Polowin, Ian Sadinsky, Larry Sadinsky, Barry Saslove, Ivan Silverman, Harvey Slipacoff, Michael Steinberg - August 16, 1961 (see 4-769). A.Z.A. Series of B'nai B'rith contains a Members sub-series with file level descriptions for those members who were included in a Remembrance Day display by the Ottawa Jewish Archives in November 2008. See Sub-series and file level descriptions.
- Date
- 1940's
- Fonds No.
- O0005
- Series No.
- A.Z.A.
- Storage Location
- Banner located in OS Mixed Box 1
- Physical Condition
- AZA banner requires cleaning and it was laundered by Dawn Logan.
- History / Biographical
- A.Z.A. was first chartered in 1924 under a Supreme Advisory Council located in Omaha, Nebraska. The movement was created as a reaction to the rising excess and lack of focus of youth in the post-war jazz age in the United States of America. The founders of A.Z.A. wanted to use Hebrew letters to define this new, national movement of young Jewish men of B’nai B’rith. The first Aleph represents Ahavoh (brotherly love), Zadik represents T’sdakah (benevolence) and the second Aleph represents Achdoos (harmony). The cardinal virtues and creed of A.Z.A. were Patriotism, Judaism, Filial Love, Charity, Conduct, Purity, and Fraternity. Abe Palmer was the founder of A.Z.A. in the 1930's in Ottawa. Two chapters were formed with growing membership over the years prior to World War II; The Moses Bilsky Chapter and the Dr. Maurice Brody Chapter. After the war, the Sid Slover Chapter was formed. Members between the ages of 16 and 21 paid dues, attended regular meetings and participated in Cultural, Religious, Social and Athletic programs. Alephs received crests, pins and a publication called “The Shofar”. When membership of a chapter reached 25, delegates were eligible to attend the yearly conference. One year, Milton Shaffer and Percy Feller hitch-hiked all the way to Washington D.C. to attend this event. As important as the conference was, it was the A.Z.A. Sweetheart Ball that most of the members looked forward to each year. As an A.Z.A. Sweetheart, one of Esther Rafel’s (Mrs. Matt Ages) responsibilities included finding dates for members who wanted one. A.Z.A. even had a form that members could fill out stating preferences for eye colour, height, dance style, etc. The Moses Bilsky chapter held a Parent's Day in May 1934 as a way to demonstrate filial love according to the "Ottawa Mazir", the chapter's first publication. Mothers received a rose, fathers a cigar and all attended a banquet in their honour. A 1944 convention program noted that the goal of A.Z.A. had changed from “directing the busy minds of young men to socially useful functions” to being geared towards the war effort. The program also stated that, “the seven virtues were anathema to fascism. Without democracy, A.Z.A. couldn’t exist. A.Z.A. stands for Benevolence, Brotherly Love and Harmony. Without victory, these ideals of democracy are unattainable.” When war was declared, all eligible men joined up from the Moses Bilsky chapter. This exceptional enlistment record was recognized by the Canadian government in a special booklet titled “Canadians All” in 1941. It is clear from the correspondence of the Moses Bilsky chapter that it was very difficult to keep membership going, especially in the executive positions as alephs were enlisting on a weekly basis. Sam Ages took over as Mazkir (secretary) of the Moses Bilsky chapter from Bernard Ginsberg in May 1942. One month later, he notified his superior that he had joined up too. The Dr. Maurice Brody chapter of A.Z.A. won the Regional Best Chapter award and the Herzl Trophy in 1944. This chapter held a “Nite of Nites Floorshow & Dance” in 1943 under the direction of Ralph Fonberg with proceeds going towards a Chinese Relief Fund. Ottawa chapters raised funds for an overseas mobile canteen under the fraternity’s name in memory of Mrs. A. J. Freiman, O.B.E. It took several months and many attempts to fundraise the $2,700.00 pledged to reach this war-time goal.
- Notes
- 1. Source for Abe Palmer information is Abe Palmer obituary, Rabbi Fine's eulogy, Agudath Israel Congregation fonds. 2. See Ottawa Journal article, Saturday August 30, 1941 about A.Z.A. members who were signed up for armed forces (copy in A.Z.A. box). 3. Mrs. Brenda Wolf donated the panoramic photograph of 16th National Convention. It belonged to her brother-in-law Herbert Wolf.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
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