I.O.B.B. MAREA-LOJA ‘ZION’ NO.9, ROMANIA: CONSTITUTIUNEA SI LEGILE
Bucuresci [Bucharest]: Institut de Arte Grafice Carol Gobl, 1897. Item #43237
First edition. Original paper wrappers, 8vo, 32 pages, 17 cm. In Romanian. Title translates as "I.O.B.B. [International Order of B’nai B’rith] Grand Lodge ‘Zion’ No.9, Romania: Constitutions and Laws.”
A book of statutes and rules for this B'nai B'rith lodge in Romania from the auspicious year of the founding of the modern Zionist movement in Basl by Theodor Herzl and of the Jewish Labor Bund in Vilna.
B’nai B’rith (‘Brothers of the Covenant in Hebrew) “was founded in 1843 by 12 German Jewish immigrants residing on New York’s Lower East Side. Originally known as Bundes-Brüder (‘Brothers of the Covenant’) to reflect their goal of establishing a Jewish fraternal order…
From the outset, B’nai B’rith would be active on the political and diplomatic front defending the interests of the Jewish community…In the 1870’s B’nai B’rith would advocate with President Grant for American intervention on welfare of Romanian Jews” (Windmueller, 2023).
Some have suggested that when US President Grant sent [Jewish] American consul Benjamin Franklin Peixotto to Romania in 1873 to protect the Romanian Jews from the rising Antisemitism there, Peixotto himself helped establish the first B’nai B’rith lodge there, though other sources indicate that no lodges were set up in Romania until 1889.
The lodge was forbiddenin Romania by the fascist Antonescu regime during the second World War and after by the communist government as well.
Not listed in OCLC, nor could we locate any copies anywhere. Possible a unique surviving copy.
Paper mostly strong and bright. Spine rebacked with tape, some edgewear, closed tear to cove. Some other markings, otherwise clean and nice. Good+ Condition. Exceedingly rare. (YID-48-48).
Price: $375.00