Jewish Community Relations Council, Boston, Massachusetts

              December 29, 1952
At the request of Isaac Seligson I got in touch with Jacob Sieve of the A,E.
Halperin Co., 75 Northampton St. (HI-5-5550).
Mr* Sieve indicated that he was unhappy about the relationship between his
father and B'rith Abraham, one of the agencies in the Council. He stated that when
his father came to this country about 2$  yrs. ago he joined B'rith Abraham with the
understanding that there would be death payments of $500.00 and $250.00 payment in
case of a loss of an eye. Mr. Sieve said that he has an unhappy feeling that the
older Jewish people are paying to B'rith Abraham more than they are getting out of it.
However he indicated that his father states that it is not a matter of moneyj he has
a sentimental attachment to the lodge.
Mr. Sieve related that recently of the several hundred members in the
Roxbury Grand Lodge it is worked out that only about 5 remain. His father apparently
is the secretary. The death benefit is now only about $250.00 and he is disturbed
over this. 
When the New York part of B'rith Abraham tried recently to make Mr. Sieve's
father deputy secretary, he protested. Mr. Sieve wrote the New York Grand Secretary
to this effect and received a letter back from New York indicating that B'rith
Abraham is disbanding its Roxbury lodge.
Shortly thereafter each member of the Roxbury lodge received a letter asking
for $5.17 for application for membership into the New York group. It was stated in
this letter that only $250.00 death benefits are now available.
Five members want to stay in for sentimental reasons.
I put Mr. Sieve in touch with Mr. Sidney Rosenberg (CA-7-3UlU) and when I
spoke with Mr. Sieve later he indicated that Mr. Rosenberg had helped him tremendously.