Sol Esfeld photograph collection, 1931-1949

The United Service Organization (U.S.O.) was created in 1941 by mandate of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941. Its duty was to provide morale and recreational services to U.S. uniformed military personnel returning from service abroad in World War II. Six organizations pooled their resources to meet this effort and effectively became the U.S.O. These were the YMCA, YWCA, National Catholic Community Service, Salvation Army, Traveler’s Aid Association, and the National Jewish Welfare Board.

B’nai B’rith is the oldest continually operating Jewish service organization in the country. It was founded in New York City in 1843. The organization is engaged in a wide variety of community service and welfare activities, including the promotion of Jewish rights, assisting hospitals and victims of natural disasters, awarding scholarships to Jewish college students, and opposing anti-Semitism. During World War II, the B’nai B’rith War Service Committee helped support the war effort by selling War Bonds for the United States government and it sponsored recreational activities for Jewish servicemen. It also organized gift donations to servicemen abroad during the war.