Coming of Age: Jewish Youth in BC

Kappa Theta Rho was the first Jewish fraternity established at the University of British Columbia. After gaining international affiliation in 1941, the fraternity became known as Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT). The ZBT held an annual pledge party for first year students who were interested in becoming members.

The first sorority for girls of Jewish faith at the University of British Columbia, originally called Sigma Iota Pi, it became the Greek letter sorority Delta Phi Epsilon (Delta Gamma Chapter) in September 1946.

The purpose of the sorority was to socialize with Jewish youth and engage in charitable causes. In order to support the small number of Jewish students on campus, the University of British Columbia provided membership subsidies to increase participation in Jewish Youth Groups.

Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) was established in Omaha, Nebraska in 1924 as the fraternity component of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization for ninth through twelfth grade boys. The acronym of AZA also stands for the Hebrew words Ahavah (fraternal love), Tzedakah (benevolence) and Ahdoot (harmony). The Vancouver AZA Chapter 119, founded by the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, was formed in 1929. The second Vancouver AZA chapter, called “Totem” was formed in 1946.

The AZA Sweetheart Night was held at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on May 23, 1945. The Sweetheart Night was organized by the AZA Chapter 119 to collect money for charitable causes. The “sweetheart” winner of the night, Rosalie Wosk, was appointed by raffle.

B’nai B’rith Girls is a component of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. Established in Vancouver in 1949, B’nai B’rith Girls was created for the purposes of strengthening Jewish identity, creating community relationships, participating in religious and communal services and enjoying mutual recreation.

The Vancouver chapter of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth provides programs for youth from the Orthodox Jewish community. The Orthodox Union established the NCSY in 1954 as a way of helping Jewish youth build friendships and develop strong ties to Jewish traditions.

Young Judea was a Zionist youth organization established by Sam Rothstein, Dave Nemetz, and Rabbi Judah L. Zlotnik in the first part of the twentieth century. Open to youth between the ages of 16 and 21, Young Judaea was one of the most active Jewish youth groups in Vancouver at the time. Jewish youth held their meetings at the Zionist Hall on East Hastings Street.