TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction

Institutional Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Conditions of Access and Use

Related Material

Administrative Information

Search Terms

Box and Folder Listing

Series A. Records. 1925-1932.

Series B. Jewish Chautauqua Society. 1899-2011

A Finding Aid to the Men of Reform Judaism Records. 1889-2011 (bulk 1994-2011).

Manuscript Collection No. 74


Introduction

Repository: The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
Creator: Men of Reform Judaism
Title: Men of Reform Judaism Records
Dates: 1899-2011
Bulk Dates 1994-2011
Quantity: 3.4 linear feet (1 Hollinger box and 4 record cartons)
Abstract: The records of the Men of Reform Judaism consist of correspondence, form letters, and reports which outline the activities and interests of the Men of Reform Judaism and its committees. Also included are founding records of the Jewish Chautauqua Society, together with copies of the founding documents.
Collection Number: MS-74
Language: Collection material in English.

Institutional Sketch

The National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods (NFTB) was founded in affiliation with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1925. NFTB was, in part, a response to the success of the creation of the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods in 1913. Approximately 47 men's clubs in United States Reform Congregations joined together to form a national organization. By 1942, the NFTB comprised 137 chapters and 23,000 individual members.

The NFTB's mission includes opportunities for men to explore their Jewish identities, to be active in Reform Judaism and to connect the activities of local chapters to a regional and national organization. They also serve as a recruitment method for the synagogues in developing new lay leaders.

In 1939, the NFTB assumed responsibility for the Jewish Chautauqua Society. As the head of this organization, they began to send speakers out to American universities and colleges. Other national activities include the sponsorship of biennial conference and regional/city conferences in alternating years. A second national project is the Reform on Campus Project, which sponsors grants to campuses in order to help sustain their Jewish communities.

Additionally, the NFTB sponsors a periodical entitled Achim Magazine. This periodical follows the former Brotherhood magazine and before that The Jewish Layman. Also, in an attempt to connect the brotherhood chapters, the NFTB has a series of national committees that take the best of the ideas from local chapters and disseminate them to all other chapters.

In 2007, the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods officially changed its name to Men of Reform Judaism.


Scope and Content Note

The records of the Men of Reform Judaism (NFTB) consist of correspondence, form letters, and reports which outline the activities and interests of the NFTB and its committees.

Because these records were taken from the Union of American Hebrew Congregation Records (UAHC), much of the correspondence is with the UAHC and its officials or relates to the NFTB's relationship with the Union and the Reform movement. There is also a fair amount of material on the Metropolitan Conference of the Temple Brotherhoods in New York City, in the 1930s. While there are annual reports, there are very few minutes.

The records also include copies of founding documents of the Jewish Chautauqua Society and funding records for that program.


Arrangement

The papers are arranged in two (2) series:

Series A. Records. 1925-1932.
Series B. Jewish Chautauqua Society. 1899-2011.

Conditions of Access and Use

Terms of Access

The collection is open for use; no restrictions apply.

Terms of Reproduction and Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce, with exceptions for fair use, may be obtained through the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio. Please address queries to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information, see the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.


Related Material

Berkowitz, Max Edward. Autobiography. Mount Vernon, New York. 1951. SC-931.

Lee, Edward. Transcript of oral history. SC-6727.

National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods. Cantata entitled "Menorah of Faith." Undated. TR-552.

National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods. Convention proceedings and executive board minutes. 1931-1946. MF-3271 to MF-3272.

National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods. Convention/meeting excerpts. VT-428.

National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods. Nearprint Special Topics.

Union of American Hebrew Congregation Records. MS-72.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Men of Reform Judaism Records and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as follows:

[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-74. Men of Reform Judaism Records. American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Provenance

The National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods/Men of Reform Judaism Records were donated to the American Jewish Archives by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Cincinnati, Ohio in 1951.

Series B., Jewish Chautauqua Society, was received from Deborah Goldman, Librarian, Union for Reform Judaism, New York, N.Y. in August 2013.

Processing Information

Processed by M. Carolyn Dellenbach, December 1978. Additional processing by Nathan Tallman, August 2013.


Box and Folder Listing

Series A. Records. 1925-1932. [1 Hollinger box]
The papers, which consist of correspondence and accompanying materials, are arranged chronologically in a single series. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically within the year.
Box Folder
1 1 Correspondence. Topics include: fundraising, activities reports, Asch, Sholem's Kiddush Ha-Shem: an epic of 1648. 1925-1926.
1 2 Correspondence. Topics include: Reinhardt, Arthur, committee form letters; reports; minutes; 2nd Biennial Conference, New York City's Metropolitan Conference of Temple Brotherhood . 1927.
1 3 Correspondence.Topics include: New York City's Metropolitan Conference of Temple Brotherhood. 1928.
1 4 Correspondence. Topics include: 3rd Biennial Conference, Executive Board; Brotherhood lists; reports, New York City's Conference of Temple Brotherhood. 1930; 1932.
Series B. Jewish Chautauqua Society. 1899-2011 [3 record cartons]
Scope and Content Note: Includes photocopies of founding documents, PhD dissertation on Jewish Chautauqua Society, and record on granting programs (Chicago/Great Lakes Conference of Brotherhoods, HUC-JIR Year-in-Israel, and Scholar-in-Residence).
Box Folder
2 1 Founding documents. 1899-1975
[Photocopies. Includes charter, minutes from National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods Executive Board, and tax documents.]
2 2 Understanding Through Education: One Hundred Years of the Jewish Chautauqua Society, 1893-1993. PhD dissertation by Peggy Perlstein. 30 September 1993
2 3 Chicago/Great Lakes Conference of Brotherhoods grants. 1992-2004
2 4-7 HUC-JIR Year-in-Israel book grants. 2007-2010
2 8 Scholar in residence grant program. Application. circa 2010
2 9 Scholar in residence grant program. Funding. 2005-2006 [1 folder]
2 10-22 Scholar in residence grant program. Grants awarded. Alaska Pacific University–Garret-Evangelical Theological Seminary. 1990-2011
[Includes correspondence, cancelled checks, applications, and award letters.]
Box Folder
3 1-15 Scholar in residence grant program. Grants awarded. Fairfield University–Ripon College. 1990-2011
[Includes correspondence, cancelled checks, applications, and award letters.]
Box Folder
4 1-16 Scholar in residence grant program. Grants awarded. Sacred Heart School of Theology–Wesley Theological Seminary. 1990-2011
[Includes correspondence, cancelled checks, applications, and award letters.]

Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA's online catalog.

Persons and Families

Reinhart, Arthur L. -- Correspondence

Institutions

Jewish Chautauqua Society
Men of Reform Judaism -- Archives
Union of American Hebrew Congregations

Subjects

Jewish men -- United States
Jews -- Societies, etc
Reform Judaism