B'nai B'rith, the oldest Jewish service organization in the world, is founded in New York City by Henry Jones and 11 others. B'nai B'rith, meaning "Sons of the Covenant," organized its first lodge in November, and Isaac Dittenhoefer was elected the first president. The fraternal organization went on to become a national leader in charity work and disaster relief, and in 1913 it formed the Anti-Defamation League to combat anti-Semitism. Today, some 500,000 men and women are members of B'nai B'rith.
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Oct 13, 1843:
B'nai B'rith founded
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This Week in History, Oct 13 - Oct 19
- Oct 13, 1775
- Continental Navy established
- Oct 13, 1812
- Sir Isaac Brock saves Canada
- Oct 13, 1843
- B'nai B'rith founded
- Oct 13, 1977
- Palestinians hijack German airliner
- Oct 14, 1066
- The Battle of Hastings
- Oct 14, 1912
- Theodore Roosevelt shot in Milwaukee
- Oct 14, 1964
- King wins Nobel Peace Prize
- Oct 14, 2012
- Skydiver breaks sound barrier with 24-mile jump
- Oct 15, 1945
- Vichy leader executed for treason
- Oct 15, 1989
- Gretzky breaks scoring record
- Oct 15, 1991
- Thomas confirmed to the Supreme Court
- Oct 16, 1793
- Marie-Antoinette is beheaded
- Oct 16, 1946
- Nazi war criminals executed
- Oct 16, 1987
- Baby Jessica rescued from a well as the world watches
- Oct 17, 1777
- Patriot victory at Saratoga
- Oct 17, 1961
- Algerians massacred in Paris
- Oct 17, 1973
- OPEC enacts oil embargo
- Oct 17, 1989
- Earthquake rocks San Francisco
- Oct 18, 1469
- Ferdinand and Isabella marry
- Oct 18, 1860
- Peking's Summer Palace destroyed
- Oct 18, 1898
- U.S. takes control of Puerto Rico
- Oct 18, 1931
- Edison dies
- Oct 19, 1812
- Napoleon retreats from Moscow
- Oct 19, 1935
- Ethiopia stands alone
- Oct 19, 1989
- Guildford Four are cleared
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