With the rebirth of the lodges in Central and Eastern Europe, the idea of “twinning” between lodges in the West and in the East has been developed.
In the beginning, the lodges in the East needed a lot of things: guidance, money, equipment, etc.
Now, after so many years, the situation is different.

The members of the lodges in the East are nearly all highly educated people, the financial circumstances are much better and they know how to manage a lodge.
Some of them are even able to do social work themselves, which is one of the main goals of B’nai B’rith.

However they often still feel alone. There is nearly no contact with other lodges. They do not feel that they belong to a big international organization.
How can we change this situation? By really “twinning”, which means:

• personal contact by (mutual) visits between members, not once, but every year;
• financial support, if required, on a regular basis;
• support, when there are other requirements.
  

This article is based on the result of my personal visits and continuous contacts with presidents of different lodges.
As there are many lodges in the West and just a few in the East, more than one lodge from the West can be twinned with one lodge in the East, which would be even better.
When you, the members of lodges in Western-Europe, have read this article, do not think: “this is not my cup of tea”, but talk about it seriously in your lodge.  I most sincerely hope for many positive reactions.
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By Hans Joosten Member of the Commission for Central and Eastern Europe