Photo Essay on Brighton Beach, the Legacy of Jewish Orphanages and the Story of a Nazi-Era Agricultural School

B’nai B’rith is excited to unveil the winter 2024 edition of B’nai B’rith Magazine, a thoughtfully curated issue that includes compelling stories reflecting the rich history and diversity of the Jewish community, both past and present.

This year’s cover story, “Bagels and Balalaikas: A Return to Brighton Beach,” features a retrospective photo essay by award-winning photographer Marcia Bricker Halperin. Revisiting Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, New York—an enduring hub for the Russian Jewish community—Halperin captures the neighborhood’s streets and locals 45 years later. The essay juxtaposes images from 1979 with present-day scenes, showcasing how Russian-speaking immigrant elders and their vibrant culture continue to thrive.

Reflecting on her father’s experience at Gross Breesen, an agricultural school in Nazi Germany, Heidi Landecker recounts the cultural immersion and farming education offered to Jewish youth before World War II shattered their world in “Gross Breesen: A Temporary Haven From Hitler.”

In “American Jewish Orphanages Housed the Most Fortunate Unfortunates,” Marlene Trestman explores how Jewish orphanages in the early 20th century helped shape orphaned children into resilient, productive Jewish Americans by instilling Jewish values and fostering a strong sense of community.

Despite Israel’s ban on DNA testing, MyHeritage, a family ancestry research firm based in Tel Aviv, has become a global leader in the field. In “Israel Spawns Global Family Research Firm,” Michele Chabin explores how the company is helping Jews around the world trace unknown relatives and discover more about their Jewish backgrounds.

In “The Yiddish Rock Star—From Galway, Ireland!”, B’nai B’rith archivist Cheryl Kempler interviews Caraid O’Brien, a dedicated Yiddish translator. O’Brien is committed to preserving Yiddish theater, ensuring that its legacy endures for future generations.

 Leah Goldstein, a Canadian-Israeli cyclist, defies the limits of human endurance in grueling competitions. In “Canadian-Israeli Cyclist Gets Good Mileage,” Jennifer Lovy profiles Goldstein, the first woman to win the Race Across America.

“With Rising Anti-Semitism, the Secure Community Network Is on Guard and on Duty” highlights the nonprofit’s critical role amid the surge in anti-Semitic threats since Oct. 7, urging the community to stay vigilant while practicing Judaism proudly.

Also, read the first-place winning composition of the 2024 None Shall Be Afraid Essay Contest, held this year to encourage college-age students to offer strategies to combat virulent anti-Semitism that have plagued college campuses.

This issue also features commentary from B’nai B’rith CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin on Israel’s 75th anniversary of joining the United Nations and the persistent bias it has faced from other member states, as well as a special farewell column from outgoing B’nai B’rith President Seth J. Riklin.

Read these stories and more in the 2024 issue of the magazine here.