Aleph Zadik Aleph

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AZA Menorah

The International Order of Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) is the men's Order of BBYO, an international youth-led high school fraternity for Jewish teens. BBYO has over eighteen thousand members in chapters worldwide, including chapters in the United States, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Israel, France, Australia, Argentina, Canada, and elsewhere. Each member of the Order is called an Aleph.

[edit] History

Aleph Zadik Aleph began in 1923 as a high school fraternity in Omaha, Nebraska, and was founded originally as primarily a social group. A local group of 14 young men in Omaha began the group. Contrary to popular belief, the group was not founded as a protest against the local Greek high school fraternity which did not allow Jews to become members. The last known surviving founder disputed the claim of some organization not letting Jews in, in a taped interview with the Southwestern Region Aleph Godol and rather an alternate history found in Dealing in Futures by Max Baer describes a schism between the founders of the AZA and members of the local Zionist youth group, called the Maccabees. The AZA founders split from the group and formed their own with the Greek-letter college fraternities in mind. The young men who organized it began their own high school fraternity and decided to name it Aleph Zadik Aleph, or AZA, the Hebrew letter equivalent. The boys elected Abe Baboir as their first president and Nathan Mnookin as the advisor to the group. They named their chapter "Mother Chapter AZA #1", which is still alive and thriving to this day.

A few months later, Mnookin, a local chemist, moved to Kansas City, Kansas and founded a similar social group. This chapter was named "Two's/2's AZA #2", which is still alive to this day. The Omaha chapter approached Sam Beber to be their next advisor. Beber accepted under the condition that they continue the expansion of the order, with the goal of creating an organization of Jewish Fraternities that would stretch even beyond the United States.

On May 3, 1924, Beber called the first meeting of the International Order of the Aleph Zadik Aleph. This first meeting consisted of the Omaha and Kansas City chapters. A constitution was drawn up and the Supreme Advisory Council was created.

By April 1925, the order had expanded to include seven groups around Omaha. Sam Beber went to the national convention of B'nai B'rith, to see if they would sponsor the organization. Although there was strong opposition to the proposal at first, Henry Monsky delivered a stirring speech which led to the approval and adoption of AZA to become a part of B'nai B'rith.

[edit] The Seven Cardinal Principles

These are The Seven Cardinal Principles that were laid out by the founding members of AZA to define the ideals of the Aleph Zadik Aleph

Patriotism- Loyalty to my homeland, to its laws, to its principles, to its ethics. To die for it if need be, but primarily to live for it.
Judaism- Always to observe the tenets of my faith; ever to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord my God.
Filial love- Ever to honor and love my parents. To be considerate of my elders and to respect age.
Charity- To give of myself and my subtance for all worthy causes; to be kind and generous to all in need, regardless of race or color.
Conduct- Never too bold, never too forward, ever humble, ever observing the principles of gentlemen.
Purity- To keep my soul pure, my mind active, and my body healthy.
Fraternity- A spirit of sociability, of cooperation, and of friendship toward all AZA's that shall make of us one fellowship; a love of and a loyalty to AZA and its ideals.

[edit] Programming

[edit] The 5 Folds

The Five Folds are used as the basis for all event planning. In 1928, a man by the name of Boris D. Bogen presented his ideas for a Five-Fold-and-Full Program to the Supreme Advisory Council of AZA. This program has proven to be a major part of AZA. It basically requires that chapters include the Five Folds, which are like general topics or classifications for programs. Boris D. Bogen’s original Five-Fold-and-Full Program has been modified over the years. Recently, at International Convention, the Five Folds were changed. Most successful events contain three or more of the folds, but an event can also concentrate in depth on a single fold. Here are the new Five Folds:.

Social - The most common type of event, it includes any type of socializing within an event. Just about any event falls under this fold. They mostly include programming involving other chapters, programs involving none of the other folds, and the majority of membership drives.
Athletic - Any Sport, whether existent or a product of one’s mind. Includes trips to professional sports games or any physical program. Also a very common event type.
Community Service/Social Action - Beautifying parks, raising money for Tzedakah, recyclable object scavenger hunts etc. are expamples of Community Service. Also includes participation in rallies or protests with positive causes as Social Action. These often take a lot of planning but can be some of the most rewarding experiences one can have.
Education - Any program or event in which you learn something. Includes events having to do with different cultures, religions, and holidays; these events include guest speakers, art museums, fairs and festivals, etc.
Judaic - A regular part of programming that is inherent of the organization. Includes services during events, discussions, chapter Seders, leading synagogue services, etc. Most anything can have a Judaic twist added into it, and anything that involves any Jewish values can be considered a Judaic Fold Program.
Health - A fold created in 2020 by Connecticut Valley Region Presidents Nathan Zakim and Ellie Carter that stresses that health and wellness programming be included. It includes mental health related ideas and consent.

[edit] Programming Bank

This bank contains programs other chapters have found succesful. Please use them, for that is their purpose. Please update the programming bank, elsewise it will not be succesful.

AZA Programming Bank

8 Properly Find Mindful Yourself . Recording Studio For You

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[edit] Geographic Structure

[edit] The Chapter

The smallest, most specialized group is the chapter. Each Aleph is a member of a single chapter--a place where he can feel welcome and socialize without fear of persecution. The Chapter is the most important aspect of BBYO for if there were no chapters then there would be no order.

[edit] Councils

Several chapters that are in the same geographic area make up the next level of AZA: the council. Since they are usually used to break up large, incohesive regions, some areas have them while others do not. Councils serve to bring chapters together so that they can exchange ideas, socialize, compete, and work together on projects that require many people.

[edit] Regions

Several chapters and/or councils that are in the same geographic area make up the region. The purpose of the region is the same as that of the council. For each region there is a regional board, who's job is to assist the chapters, plan regional conventions, and serve to represent the region to the international body, and communicate the needs of the region to the Grand Board.

[edit] International

The International level of AZA consists of every region, council, chapter, and member throughout the world. The major purpose of this level is much like that of the region, but on a larger scale. It serves to bring every Aleph from every chapter and from every region together under one banner.