Jewish Women International (Organization)

B'nai B'rith, a national Jewish social and philanthropic organization was founded in New York in 1843. By 1909 Jewish women formed an auxilliary group in San Francisco. By 1940 the national B'nai B'rith Women was born. In 1957 the name B'nai B'rith Women (BBW) became official. The name was changed in 1996 in favor of the more inclusive Jewish Women International. The organization focuses on women's issues and children's welfare. The B'nai B'rith Chapter 324 of Indianapolis was first charted in 1941. Local members funded charitable programs and organizations at home and in Israel. Another Chapter 924, the Menorah Chapter, merged with Chapter 324 in the 1960s. The chapter folded in 2002.

In 1897, the B'nai B'rith auxilary for women was organized as an adjunct to the B'nai B'rith, an organization founded in 1843 to unite Jews in service to their communities and to society. In 1995, the name was changed to Jewish Women International. The first Pittsburgh chapter of B'nai B'rith Women was chartered in 1941. The Menorah Chapter was an outgrowth of the Lillian S. Davis chapter.