100-year Jewish fraternity reactivates, aims for South Jersey chapter

In 2017, 650 alumni members of Sigma Alpha Rho (SAR), a Jewish fraternity for high school boys founded in West Philadelphia, got together to celebrate its 100-year anniversary at the Marriott hotel in downtown Philadelphia. The only problem, though, was that its more than 50 once-thriving chapters spanning Pennsylvania, New Jersey, across the country, and even Canada, first beginning during World War I, had all faded away.

Upon seeing the disappointed faces of alumni that night, Larry Blumenthal, past international president of the SAR Fraternity Alumni Association, decided to help revive the organization. Alongside a reactivation committee of alumni, Blumenthal held focus groups and hired a marketing company to rebrand.

In December 2022, SAR inducted its first new chapter in a decade as 12 high school boys from Bucks County became brothers of the fraternity.

David Chanin, a senior at Council Rock South High School is one of the new brothers. He told the Voice that SAR is “an outlet where I can really be myself both culturally and religiously.” He added that the fraternity’s blend of youth leadership, religion, and independence is what convinced him to join. “SAR has made a big impact on my Jewish life. I’m definitely much more committed to Judaism now,” he noted.

So far, the chapter has planned several bonding activities, including roller skating, paintball, TopGolf, a haunted house hayride, bowling, and more. Together they’ve volunteered to pack food boxes for the Jewish Relief Agency, delivering them to food-insecure community members. At the Jewish cemetery of Har Nebo in Oxford Circle, they cleaned up various gravesites, which, due to a lack of funding and upkeep, had fallen into disrepair.

“Many of our alumni say it was one of the best things to happen in their entire life,” said Blumenthal, who serves as vice president of an IT service company and remains in touch with everyone from his high school chapter. “Those are still my friends today.” For Blumenthal, SAR also runs in the family. His son Marc was president of his own chapter at Lower Moreland High School.

Unlike most Jewish youth organizations for which adult advisors play a significant role, SAR is unique in that it’s a de facto independent system. “It’s a parliamentary procedure, so it’s not the most popular kid who’s the loudest voice,” said Blumenthal. “Everything is organized democratically. You learn at an early age that you have a voice.” In addition, members are responsible for running and budgeting events, often having to problem solve on the fly.

From the 1970s to 1990s, there were six South Jersey chapters, according to a SAR alumnus from Cherry Hill High School East who preferred to remain anonymous. About 150 teens would convene every Tuesday at the JCC for sporting events, dances, and other activities. They’d take road trips and visit other chapters. “I remember going door to door selling hoagies and chocolate to raise money for local Jewish charities,” the SAR alumnus said.

After getting its feet wet in the Philadelphia area, SAR has plans in the works to open new chapters in Cherry Hill, Voorhees, and Cinnaminson, followed by others in the area. Right now, they’re hoping to find younger SAR alumni in South Jersey who could serve as mentors for potential brothers.

To learn more about SAR, please contact Larry Blumenthal: larryblum31@gmail.com or visit sarfraternity.org/