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It was the 100th birthday of the First Lodge of England and one of the most spectacular B’nai B’rith event of the century.
On Thursday last the 11th February 2010 exactly 100 years to the very evening since First Lodge was founded in the City of London, a commemorative Gala Dinner was held at the Great Hall in Lincoln’s Inn.
Over 320 guests from across the Jewish community were joined by guests of honour, the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, the Israeli Ambassador, H.E. Ron Prosor, other communal leaders, as well as presidents and members of B’nai B’rith Lodges from around the world.
These included Lodge presidents from Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, the UK and the Senior Vice-President of B’nai B’rith International HQ in the United States Brother Dr Yves-Victor Kamami. They were joined by the President of BB Europe Brother Graham Weinberg and the BBUK President Brother Martin Kudlick.
During the evening, the First Lodge of England’s special Centenary Year Award was presented to the Chief Rabbi by Professor Martin Aaron Lodge President on behalf of the Lodge, as a token of appreciation of his ambassadorial service on behalf of the Jewish community, his inter-faith work, and beyond that.. During his acceptance speech, the Chief Rabbi referred to his long standing relationship with B’nai B’rith First Lodge, and attributed his decision to become a Rabbi to the generous travel bursary he was given by First Lodge in 1968. He was later initiated to membership of the Lodge in 1993.
Lord Sacks commented: “For a hundred years B’nai B’rith has been one of the great organisations of the Jewish world. As times have changed, its role has changed, but it has never ceased to be a source of leadership, blessing and inspiration.
‘I owe it a great personal debt. In 1968 B’nai B’rith awarded me a travel grant, which, together with a College prize, enabled me to spend two months in America in the summer of that year, meeting many of the leading thinkers of American Jewry. That trip changed my life. Because of it, I eventually decided to become a rabbi and dedicate my life to serving the Jewish community. That I owe to First Lodge, and I am sure there are many others who could tell a similar story. B’nai B’rith encouraged Jews to become leaders – and it still does.
‘So mazeltov on this memorable anniversary, and may you continue to inspire all those who have a share in your great work.’
Also speaking at the Dinner, Ambassador Ron Prosor highlighted his concerns at the recent rise in anti-Semitism, commenting: “With last week’s CST figures showing a 55% increase in anti-Semitic incidents, that’s 55 alarm bells to wake even the most complacent and unconcerned from their slumber. Our unity is as important now as ever, and as one of Anglo Jewry’s most enduring institutions, B’nai B’rith has demonstrated courage, determination and solidarity with Israel – and together we will face these enormous challenges.”
In addressing the large gathering The President of First Lodge Professor Martin Aaron first read a message from Her Majesty the Queen to whom he had written concerning the historic Centenary. Her office conveyed the following message from Her Majesty on the Lodge’s 100th anniversary.“ I was most interested to read about the Lodge and to learn that you will be presenting Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks with the First Lodge Centenary Award. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in writing as you did and, in return, send my warm, good wishes to all those who will be present for a most memorable and enjoyable event”
There were best wishes from the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, who wrote separately saying how disappointed he was not to have been able to be with us on the night, but sent his warmest wishes.
The President said he was privileged and honoured to be standing before the historic gathering as the 58th President of the First Lodge of England, particularly on its 100th birthday. Exactly 100 years ago, there were gathered at a meeting in the City of London not far from the Great Hall at Lincoln’s Inn, the initiators of this premier Lodge who founded it and gave birth to B’nai B’rith in England.
Much has been gained by the Anglo-Jewish community during the 100 years through the efforts of those illustrious men and women members of the Lodge who dedicated themselves to the needs of our community, and, later, support for the State of Israel.
He said that he hoped that the Lodge’s Centenary events would help to provide inspiration for younger members of the community to become involved in B’nai B’rith.
It was very appropriate that First Lodge should have chosen Lincoln’s Inn for the Centenary Dinner. Firstly the weeks Sedra was Mishpatim, ordinances or laws. The venue was in the very centre of the implementation of the Laws of England, Lincoln’s Inn being adjacent to the Supreme Court and the Royal Courts of Justice. Above the entrance and within the Great Dining Hall is a most beautiful fresco by G.F.Watts entitled JUSTICE – A Hemicycle of Lawgivers. Prominently in the centre of the masterpiece Moses the lawgiver is seated.
So many leaders from the Jewish community had given so much, not only to our Community, but to Britain. Some graced the walls of the Great Dining Hall and anterooms; three Lord Chief Justices, six Lord Justices and innumerable judges. Besides these men and women, he continued, we can boast one Prime Minister, a Viceroy of India, Chancellors of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretaries and numerous government Ministers of State. And, as of last June, our first Jewish Speaker of the House of Commons. The were the Jewish men and women, leaders in the arts, sciences, education, inventors, financiers and businessmen. Creators of M &S, Burtons, Joe Lyons, the Shell Oil Company, ICI and so many others. The legendary bankers Rothschilds, Samuel Montague, Hambros, and the founders of Natwest and Midland Banks and numerous financial institutions.
Professor Aaron said that we can be justly proud of the Jewish contribution to the life of Britain since Oliver Cromwell allowed our return here in 1656. What a shrewd man he must have been, he observed.
As the evening celebrated the 100th Birthday of the Lodge, so did the venue building hold a co-incidence for its foundation stone was laid in 1843 the same year that Henry Jones with other German Jewish Immigrants friends in America met at a Sinsheimer’s Café on Lower East Side New York and founded B’nai B’rith.
The charitable work carried out by that dedicated group of men brought about services which led to a range of social, welfare, humanitarian and other support services that in time extended throughout the American continent. So it was inevitable that B’nai B’rith would come to London.

The Lodge commissioned Brother Dr Alan Webber to write the history of the First Lodge of England and the President commended the book for everyone to read. He said that it would fill in many missing chapters of Jewish history in this country.