B’nai B’rith has been present in Southern California for more than 150 years, since the founding of Paradise Lodge in San Bernardino. In 1863, Paradise and the other lodges in California and the other Western states and provinces formed District 4, headquartered in San Francisco, then the center of Jewish life in the West. By the second century of the District, Southern California’s Jewish population had grown to the point that the area had the majority of District 4’s members, and the district office moved to Los Angeles. Metropolitan Los Angeles is the nation’s second largest Jewish community, after New York.

When B’nai B’rith International reorganized the seven American regions into 18 regions in 1997, the new Southern California Region became one of the largest in the United States. Following a series of mergers in the region, there are currently 15 active lodges and units stretching from Santa Barbara to San Diego to Palm Springs to the Antelope Valley.

In addition to Jewish programming, these lodges and units continue to fulfill B’nai B’rith’s traditional mission of community service. The Southwest Coordinating Committee (formerly the Southwest Council) and many of the units support veterans in veterans’ hospitals in the region. The Greater San Fernando Valley Unit operates the Bagel Brigade, in which volunteers collect day-old bread, bagels, and pastries for distribution to needy students in area schools. Most of the units support local B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) chapters and college campus Hillel Foundations, which were initially created by B’nai B’rith.

The Southern California Region is led by President Ted Toback and Vice President David Prihar.

President's Message
Hopes for the Future By Ted Toback When I assumed the presidency of this region, I had in my mind a group of hopes and expectations for this term of office. I did not reach for the sky and wish that all of the problems facing B'nai B'rith would go away due to one person. The first hope was that all of the region's lodges and units would communicate better with one another. The lifeline of our organization is to inform our members of what is happening not only on a local level, but on the national and international level, as well. Read more by clicking here.
Regional News
Community Projects Marina del Ray/Ketubah Cookbooks: Cookbooks Chairperson Shirley Miller reports that cookbooks are now on sale.  The cookbooks are for your personal use and are ideal gifts for many occasions.  The cost of each cookbook is $10 plus postage.