B'nai B'rith Leo Baeck (London) Lodges: archives

Readers need to book a reading room terminal to access this digital content

B’nai B’rith is the world’s oldest Jewish service organisation, committed to the community’s unity, security, and the fight against antisemitism and intolerance. Established in the US, it has been active in Great Britain since the early 20th century. On a local level, members organise themselves in a system of Lodges. In 1943, male Jewish refugees from Nazi persecution formed their own branch (‘Section 1943’) within the existing B’nai B’rith structures in the UK. Under the name Leo Baeck (London) Lodge No. 1593 the branch was officially recognized as a new Men’s Lodge in its own rights in 1945. One year later, an independent Leo Baeck (London) Women’s Lodge No. 510 was inaugurated. Both Lodges merged in 2006 and formed a mixed body known as the Leo Baeck (London) Lodge. Due to declining membership, the joint Leo Baeck Lodge was ultimately dissolved in 2017/18.

Founded by German-speaking Jewish refugees from Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland and Yugoslavia, the Lodges were named after Leo Baeck, the eminent German Rabbi and international leader of Liberal Judaism. Although an early inclusion of members from other backgrounds changed the Lodges’ profile over time, the name endured as a reference to its origins and heritage. Committed to the values of B’nai B’rith, the Leo Baeck Lodges dedicated themselves to help the needy and to support the Jewish community. Starting with relief work for Holocaust survivors by the end of the Second World War, their charitable activities generally covered the fields of welfare, education, philanthropy and care for the elderly and children.