Membership

Membership in the Leo Baeck Institute

In an article highlighting some of the extraordinary contributions of European Jewry, the New York Times recently reported that there is a growing notion that "beyond remembering the cruelties of the Holocaust, it is important to recall the lives and culture that were snuffed out."

This is not a new notion to the founders, members or users of the Leo Baeck Institute. For over 40 years the lives and culture that were destroyed have been preserved in the LBI's collection of official documents, personal diaries, memoirs, books and artwork. The Jews in Germany and Austria produced some of the most definitive literary, scientific, artistic and intellectual achievements of the modern era. They also created a unique family and social milieu that flourished even amid periodic waves of antisemitism.

The archives of the LBI overflow with documentation of this rich and diverse pre-Holocaust heritage. This is the true legacy of the six million.

The LBI collections are recognized as the foremost resource of their kind. Our library and archives are filled with precious treasures. These were saved by the refugees as they struggled to save themselves and each other. If they survived, these irreplaceable possessions would be with them. If they didn't, the fragments might be salvaged to tell the story of their lives.

Because many of these lives can only be reconstructed from such evidence, it is critical to gather the material that is still available, to preserve fragile books and papers, to maintain delicate photos, and to launch new projects. Students and scholars, as well as genealogists and historians around the world count on the Leo Baeck Institute to continue to catalogue its holdings, acquire new materials, produce its globally respected publications, lectures, and research, and to provide worldwide access to all of this via computer.

There is no other organization in the world that does what the LBI has been doing for decades. To help us carry on this increasingly important task, I ask you to consider becoming a member of the Leo Baeck Institute.

Basic Membership Categories:

$50 Student:Invitations to lectures; LBI News; Publications List; LBI Memorial Lecture ; Discount on books; LBI Year Book NOT included.
$100 General: All of the above plus LBI Year Book
$150 University/University Dept.: All of the above plus LBI Year Book
$250 Corporate: All of the above plus LBI Year Book and special invitations to luncheons and briefings.

Special Membership Categories:

$1,000-2,999 - Sponsor Member
$3,000-4,999 - Patron Member
$5,000-10,000 - Benefactor
Privileges: All the privileges of basic membership plus invitations to special events with visiting dignitaries; small seminars and round-table discussions with scholars and government officials on current topics related to German-Jewish interests. In addition, LBI staff will generate customized research reports as requested by special members.

Special Contributions:

These contributions, which may be made at any time in any amount, enable the LBI to purchase rare and important books, to microfilm especially fragile documents, and to restore precious artwork. All contributions help support lectures, public programs, publications and events.

Please act immediately to pledge your support to the Leo Baeck Institute, to preserve this extraordinary part of Jewish history. With the proliferation of Holocaust memorials around the world, those darkest days will never be forgotten. It is up to the Leo Baeck Institute to make sure that the glorious achievements of our people will also be remembered.

Thank you,

Carol Kahn Strauss
Executive Director

If you are interested in becoming a member of the LBI or making a contribution, please fill out our membership form and fax or mail with payment to the LBI.