List of Jewish fraternities and sororities

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1949 Jewish fraternity and sorority gathering in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, U.S. Jewish fraternity-sorority gathering (4418742477).jpg
1949 Jewish fraternity and sorority gathering in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, U.S.

This is a list of historically Jewish fraternities and sororities in the United States and Canada. [1] [2] These organizations exemplify (or exemplified) a range of "Jewishness"; some are historically Jewish in origin but later became strictly secular. Some remain more celebratory of their Jewish roots from a historical perspective only, and some actively promote Jewish culture and religious traditions within their current program. [3]

Contents

The terms "fraternity" and "sorority" are used somewhat interchangeably, with men's and co-ed groups always using "fraternity", and women's groups using either "fraternity" or "sorority". For convenience, the term "Greek letter society" is a generic substitute. The word "Greek" in this case refers to the use of Greek letters for each society's name, and not to Greek ethnicity.

Collegiate

The following list include the larger groups. There were many Jewish local chapters formed at universities around the United States, most of which eventually became a chapter of these larger entities. Bold indicates active groups. Italic indicates dormant groups, or those which merged into another, larger society.

Social fraternities

NameSymbolsCharter date and rangeFounding locationAffiliationScopeActive chaptersStatusReference
Alpha Epsilon Pi ΑΕΠNovember 7, 1913 New York University FFC International146Active [1]
Alpha Eta PhiΑΗΦFebruary 22, 1922–19xx ?0Inactive [4]
Alpha Mu Sigma ΑΜΣMarch 19141963 Cooper Union IndependentNational0Inactive, Merged [4]
Beta Sigma Rho ΒΣΡOctober 12, 19101920 Cornell University NIC National0Merged [5] [a] [b]
Hai ReshNovember 8, 1908–19xx ?0Merged [4] [c]
Kappa Nu ΚΝNovember 12, 19111961 University of Rochester NIC National0Merged [d]
Mu Alpha DeltaΜΑΔ1923–19xx ? City University of New York National0Inactive [6]
Mu SigmaΜΣ1906–19xx ?0Inactive [4]
Omicron Alpha Tau ΟΑΤMay 19121934 Cornell University NIC National0Merged [e]
Phi Alpha ΦΑOctober 14, 19141959 George Washington University NIC National0Merged [f]
Phi Beta Delta ΦΒΔ19121941 Columbia University NIC National0Merged [g]
Phi Delta MuΦΔΜ1920c.1935–1940 City University of New York National0Inactive [7] [4] [8] [h]
Phi Delta PiΦΔΠ1899c.1955 New York City, New York National0Merged [6] [9] [i]
Phi Epsilon Pi ΦΕΠNovember 13, 19041970 New York City, New York NIC International0Merged [j]
Phi Lambda DeltaΦΛΔ1920–19xx ? Columbia University Regional0Inactive [6] [k]
Phi Sigma Delta ΦΣΔNovember 10, 19091970 Columbia University NIC National0Merged [l]
Pi Lambda Phi ΠΛΦMarch 21, 1895 Yale University NIC International44Active [1] [m]
Pi Tau PiΠΤΠNovember 9, 1909–19xx ?National0Inactive [4]
Sigma Alpha Mu ΣΑΜNovember 26, 1909 City College of New York NIC International50Active [1] [n]
Sigma Lambda Pi ΣΛΠ19151932 New York University IndependentNational0Merged [4] [o]
Sigma Omega Psi ΣΩΨ19141940 College of the City of New York National0Merged [1] :VIII-22 [p]
Sigma Tau EpsilonΣΤΕ1923–19xx ?National0Inactive [4]
Sigma Tau Phi ΣΤΦ19181947 University of Pennsylvania National0Merged [q] [r]
Tau Delta MuΤΔΜ1920–19xx ? City University of New York National0Inactive [6] [s]
Tau Delta Phi ΤΔΦJune 10, 1910 New York City, New York NIC National5Active [1] [t]
Tau Epsilon Phi ΤΕΦOctober 10, 1910 Columbia University NIC International25Active
Tau Sigma OmicronΤΣΟ1917–19xx ?National0Merged [6] [u]
Zeta Beta Tau ΖΒΤDecember 29, 1898 Jewish Theological Seminary NIC International82Active [v]

Notes

  1. Started as Beta Samach. The second symbol in the name was Hebrew. Beta Samach changed its name with the chartering of its third chapter, becoming Beta Sigma Rho.
  2. Merged with Pi Lambda Phi in 1920.
  3. Merged with Pi Tau Pi.
  4. Merged with Phi Epsilon Pi in 1961.
  5. Merged with Tau Delta Phi in 1934.
  6. Merged with Phi Sigma Delta in 1959.
  7. Merged with Pi Lambda Phi in 1941.
  8. Cornell's Zeta chapter merged into Phi Beta Delta in 1935.
  9. Merged with Tau Kappa Epsilon.
  10. Merged with Zeta Beta Tau in 1970.
  11. Expanded to five chapters.
  12. Merged with Zeta Beta Tau in 1970.
  13. Founded as non-sectarian but was predominantly Jewish until the end of World War II.
  14. The fraternity dropped its Jewish affiliation and became open to men of all faiths in 1953.
  15. The Rider University chapter of Sigma Lambda Pi retained the former national's name as a local, later adding a second chapter. Both are dormant. Merged with Phi Epsilon Pi.
  16. Three active chapters merged with Alpha Epsilon Pi in 1940.
  17. Originally only admitted Jewish men in the fields of Engineering and Architecture but changed to all Jewish men after the addition of a second chapter.
  18. Merged with Alpha Epsilon Pi in 1947.
  19. Expanded to around ten chapters.
  20. Tau Delta Phi was the first NIC fraternity to integrate by welcoming all races, creeds, ethnicities, and religions in 1945, and was the first to open membership to include transgender, gender fluid, and non-binary members in February 2021.
  21. Seven chapters merged with Alpha Epsilon Pi.
  22. Originally a Zionist youth society, its became nonsectarian and opened to non-Jewish members in 1954. Considered the first Jewish fraternity.

Social sororities

NameSymbolsCharter date and rangeFounding locationLocationAffiliationScopeActive chaptersStatusReference
Alpha Epsilon Phi ΑΕΦOctober 24, 1909 Barnard College New York, New York NPC National50Active [1]
Delta Phi Epsilon ΔΦΕMarch 17, 1917 New York University Law School New York, New York NPC International110Active [a]
Delta PiΔΠNovember 2, 1989 York University York, CanadaIndependentRegional4Active [10]
Iota Alpha Pi ΙΑΠMarch 3, 1903July 1971 New York City Normal College (now Hunter College) New York, New York NPC International0Inactive [4]
Pi Alpha Tau ΠΑΤMay 1917c.1950 Hunter College New York, New York IndependentNational0Inactive
Phi Sigma Sigma ΦΣΣNovember 26, 1913 Hunter College New York, New York NPC National115Active [a]
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi ΣΑΕΠOctober 1, 1998 University of California, Davis Davis, California IndependentNational12Active
Sigma Delta Tau ΣΔΤMarch 25, 1917 Cornell University Ithaca, New York NPC National64Active [1]
Zeta Beta OmegaΖΒΩDecember 3, 2018 University of Toronto, St. George Campus Toronto, CanadaIndependentLocal1Active [11]

Professional

Information on the continuing activity of some of these societies may be missing. Active groups are listed in bold. Inactive groups are listed in italic.

NameSymbolsCharter date and rangeFounding locationFocusAffiliationScopeActive chaptersStatusNotesReference
Alelph Yodh He איה19071921 Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery MedicalNational0Merged [b]
Alpha Omega ΑΩDecember 20, 1907 Baltimore, Maryland DentalIndependentInternational125Active [1]
Alpha Zeta Gamma ΑΖΓ1910September 17, 1932 Chicago College of Dental Surgery DentalIndependentNational0Merged [12] [c]
Alpha Zeta Omega ΑΖΩDecember 19, 1919 Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science PharmacyIndependentNational42Activecoed [d]
Iota ThetaΙΘ1918–19xx ?Law0Inactive
Kappa Epsilon PhiΚΕΦ1930–19xx ? Alfred University EngineeringNational0Inactive [e]
Lambda Alpha PhiΛΑΦ1919–19xx ?Law0Inactive [4]
Lambda Gamma PhiΛΓΦOctober 21, 1921–19xx ?Law0Inactive
Lambda Epsilon XiΛΕΞ1936 or earlier–19xx ?Law0Inactive [13]
Lambda Omicron Gamma ΛΟΓ1924OsteopathsActive
Mu Beta ChiΜΒΧ1933–19xx ?Business0Inactive [14]
Mu Sigma PiΜΣΠJanuary 18, 1932–19xx ?Optometrists0Inactive
Nu Beta Epsilon ΝΒΕ1919 Columbus, Ohio LawNational15Activecoed
Phi Delta Epsilon ΦΔΕ1903 Cornell University Medical College Medical PFA International182Activecoed [4]
Phi Lambda Kappa ΦΛΚ1907 University of Pennsylvania MedicalInternational41Activecoed
Phi Sigma MuΦΣΜ1932–19xx ? Omaha University Night Law SchoolLawLocal0Inactive [15] [f]
Rho Pi Phi ΡΠΦJanuary 3, 1919 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy Pharmacy PFA NationalActivecoed
Sigma Epsilon DeltaΣΕΔ1901–19xx ? University of Pennsylvania DentalLocal0Inactive [g]
Sigma Iota ZetaΣΙΖ1933–19xx ?Veterinarians0Inactive
Tau Epsilon Rho Law Society ΤΕΡ1921 Western Reserve University School LawNationalActive [16] [h]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Although their founders were Jewish, Delta Phi Epsilon and Phi Sigma Sigma are historically nonsectarian sororities.
  2. Merged with Phi Lambda Kappa
  3. Merged with Alpha Omega.
  4. Originally known as the Dead Men's Club.
  5. The Alfred University chapter was founded in 1930, became Kappa Nu in 1933. The Ohio State chapter was founded in 1935 and lasted two years. No information in Baird's.
  6. Not to be confused with the fictional fraternity of the same name, from the movie G.O.A.T.
  7. Baird's 1923 edition has this as a local at Penn; may have expanded to multiple chapters.
  8. Tau Epsilon Rho formed in 1921 by the merger of the local Lambda Eta Chi Law Fraternity, established in 1919 at Western Reserve University School of Law, and the local Phi Epsilon Rho, established in 1921 at Ohio State University Law School. Both groups were Jewish law fraternities. It became the Tau Epsilon Rho Law Society in 1985.

High school

Information on the continuing activity of some of these societies may be missing. Known active groups are listed in bold; dormant groups are listed in italics.

NameSymbolsCharter date and rangeFounding locationTypeScopeActive chaptersStatusReference
Aleph Zadik Aleph אצא1924 Omaha, Nebraska FraternityInternationalActive
BBG (BBYO)בבג1944SororityInternationalActive
Iota PhiΙΦSororityNational0Inactive [17]
Phi BetaΦΒ1920–19xx ?FaternityNational0Inactive [4] [a]
Phi Sigma BetaΦΣΒJune 22, 1910Fraternity0Inactive [18] [b]
Phi Sigma SigmaΦΣΣ
Pi Upsilon PhiΠΥΦFraternityNational0Inactive [19]
Sigma Alpha Rho ΣΑΡNovember 18, 1917 West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania FraternityInternationalActive
Sigma Theta PiΣΘΠ1909SororityNational0Inactive [20] [21] [22] [c]
Upsilon Lambda PhiΥΛΦApril 5, 19160Inactive

Notes

  1. Not to be confused with the professional fraternity for the creative and performing arts.
  2. Became ΤΔΦ collegiate fraternity in 1914.
  3. Not to be confused with the international sorority with a similar name, Sigma Thêta Pi, founded in 2003, nor the local Christian fraternity at Howard Payne University, founded in 2004.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sigma Delta Rho</span> Defunct American collegiate fraternity

Sigma Delta Rho (ΣΔΡ) was a small American's men's fraternity founded on January 8, 1921 at Miami University of Ohio, the fifth general social fraternity to be formed at that school. It "disintegrated" in the spring of 1935 due to pressures of the Great Depression and "absence of strong leadership." About half its chapters were absorbed into other fraternities.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. ISBN   978-0963715906. Baird's Manual is also available online here: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  2. Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003), Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895–1945, Wayne State University Press, ISBN   0-8143-2857-1
  3. An example of the former is Tau Delta Phi, a Jewish heritage fraternity that became non-sectarian in 1932. Tau Delta Phi was ethnically Jewish, but not religiously Jewish when it was founded in 1910. Its earliest members were ethnically Jewish but were from all different religious backgrounds. That Fraternity is therefore often grouped with other Jewish fraternities but has long shifted toward a primary identification as "secular".
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Jewish National organizations in the United States, 1941-42 edition, accessed 27 Jan 2020.
  5. "Beta Samach Changed to Beta Sigma Rho", The Cornell Daily Sun, vol. 40, no. 146, p. 6, April 22, 1920
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Listed in Baird's Archive online , accessed 24 Jan 2021.
  7. Alpha Kappa Pi notes a chapter of Phi Delta Mu at Newark College of Engineering in their magazine, accessed 27 Jan 2020.
  8. The organization may have existed beyond 1935. In addition to the CCNY and Cornell chapters, this article references chapters in Lewiston and Portland, Maine, in 1940. Were these at campuses of the University of Southern Maine? Article accessed 26 Jan 2020. From a cursory Google search there appears to have been a chapter at Columbia. Unaffiliated: There may have been a similarly-named but unaffiliated sorority at Drexel University, and a high school sorority of the same name.
  9. Per Baird's, the Alpha chapter of this four-chapter fraternity joined Tau Kappa Epsilon at Eastern Michigan; the others appear to have scattered.
  10. "Delta Pi Sorority". Delta Pi Sorority. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  11. "Toronto Jewish Sorority | Zeta Beta Omega Jewish Sorority". Zeta Beta Omega. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  12. Journal of the American Dental Association 1932-1933
  13. Noted in the Minnesota Gopher yearbooks for 1938-'52, with scattered reference to alumni from other schools.
  14. Archive notes from the University of Minnesota library note the group's founding as the Minnesota Business Club, and soon chartering clubs in Ohio and in Michigan. Minnesota's was the Alpha chapter of the fraternity. Accessed 3 Feb 2020.
  15. "William Wolfe Heads Phi Sigma Nu Frat" (October 13, 1933) The Jewish Press, vol. 9, no. 37, p. 5. Via issuu, Accessed December 29, 2022.
  16. "Tau Epsilon Rho Law Society Web Site". www.ter-law.org. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  17. "Media - Documenting Maine Jewry". mainejews.org. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  18. "Home Page". www.taudelt.net. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  19. "Pi Upsilon Phi Meets in Syracuse Sunday" (June 26, 1934) The Jewish Daily Bulletin, vol. 11, no. 2881, p. 5, accessed 27 Jan 2020.
  20. "Sigma Theta Pi Group to Hold Annual Meeting" (June 26, 1934) The Jewish Daily Bulletin, vol. 11, no. 2881, p. 7, accessed 27 Jan 2020.
  21. Adler, Cyrus; Szold, Henrietta (1920). American Jewish Year Book. Jewish Publication Society of America.
  22. "Sigma Theta Pi Sorority Conclave, 1940". digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-29.