B'NAI ISRAEL

The records of congregation Ahavath Achim B'nai Israel, date from 1920 to 1986, with the bulk of them later than 1950, and gaps throughout the entire span of years. Since Ahavat Achim B'nai Israel represents the 1982 merger of Ahavath Achim B'nai Cholim and B'nai Israel, three distinct groups of records comprise this' collection. Thus it is necessary to say which group's records show which gaps:

The records of congregation of Ahavath Achim B'nai Cholim (founded 1931) form the bulk of this collection, but lack minutes for years 1946-1978 and most other types of series until about the early 1950's. It was communicated to a member of the Special Collections and Archives staff that these missing records had been discarded some time ago. As for the records of Temple B'nai Israel (founded 1922), the collection lacks the full congregation's minutes and membership lists until 1971. There are no B'nai Israel materials available for years 1937-1942 and only newsletters document the period 1942-1971. There are also no Hebrew School materials in the B'nai Israel group. And as for the merged congregation Ahavath Achim B'nai Israel (merged in 1982), the collection lacks minutes, newsletters and most other series types -- indeed only a smattering of Ahavath Achim B'nai Israel's records are represented, these having been retained by the Congregation.

Constitutions, one possibly the original of 1922 and another probably drafted later than 1942 are available for congregation B'nai Israel. There is no constitution available for Ahavath Achim B'nai Cholim or Ahavath Achim B 'nai Israel.

Financial information is minimal for all three groups. The minutes of Ahavath Achim B'nai Cholim contain some for the congregation as a whole for years minutes happen to be available, and income and expenses spread sheets are available for years 1969-1970. As for B'nai Israel, early GENERAL FILES contain some financial information, as do minutes for later years, but there is no ongoing ledger available. There is no financial information available concerning congregation Ahavath Achim B'nai Israel. Here and there one can glean in newsletters of Ahavath Achim B'nai Cholim or B'nai Israel mention of an increase in membership fees or school tuition, but of course no intimate details of income or expenses.

The Sisterhood of Ahavath Achim B'nai Cholim's minutes appear to be complete for years 1951-1980, whereas B'nai Israel's Sisterhood, founded in 1922 as the "Auxiliary", lacks minutes until 1971. Membership lists of both sisterhoods are but few, with one undated one for Ahavath Achim B'nai Cholim and a few for B'nai Israel dated later than 1971.