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A Finding Aid to the Men of Reform Judaism Records. 1889-2011 (bulk 1994-2011).Manuscript Collection No. 74
Institutional SketchThe 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 NoteThe 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. ArrangementThe papers are arranged in two (2) series: Conditions of Access and UseTerms of AccessThe collection is open for use; no restrictions apply. Terms of Reproduction and UseCopyright 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 MaterialBerkowitz, 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 InformationPreferred CitationFootnotes 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. ProvenanceThe 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 InformationProcessed by M. Carolyn Dellenbach, December 1978. Additional processing by Nathan Tallman, August 2013. Box and Folder Listing
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA's online catalog. Persons and FamiliesReinhart, Arthur L. --
Correspondence
InstitutionsJewish Chautauqua Society
Men of Reform Judaism -- Archives
Union of American Hebrew
Congregations
SubjectsJewish men -- United States
Jews -- Societies, etc
Reform Judaism
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