(Hebrew: "Sons of the Covenant") Oldest and largest Jewish service organization.
Founded in New York City in 1843, it now has men's lodges, women's chapters, and youth organizations around the world. Its goals include defending human rights, aiding Jewish college students (mainly through the Hillel Foundation), sponsoring educational programs for adult and youth groups, helping victims of natural disasters, supporting hospitals and philanthropic institutions, and promoting the welfare of Israel. In 1913 it established the Anti-Defamation League to combat anti-Semitism .