About Alpha Omega Alpha Omega is the oldest international dental organisation and was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1907 by a group of dental students originally to fight discrimination in dental schools.

Chairman's Welcome Welcome to the Alpha Omega International Dental Society’s website! As the International President, it is my privilege to lead this extraordinary global community of dental professionals united by a shared commitment to excellence, education, and service. Alpha Omega has been a cornerstone of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth for over a century, fostering connections that transcend borders. Whether you are a long-time member or exploring Alpha Omega for the first time, I invite you to discover the wealth of resources, events, and opportunities we offer. Together, we continue to uphold our mission of advancing dentistry, supporting communities, and building lasting bonds within the dental profession. Thank you for being part of the Alpha Omega family. I look forward to seeing how we will grow and succeed together. Warm regards, Dr. Eldad Helft International President Alpha Omega International Dental Society

Dr. Eldad Helft - International President of Alpha Omega International Dental Society

The Council Many members may not be aware that there is a core group of council members who literally make Alpha Omega tick and I feel it only right that they be recognised for their efforts. We cannot deliver this kind of program without their constant hard work behind the scenes. We always need new members on Council, so please approach any of us, if you are interested in helping out.

DR ELDAD HELFT

International President, Alpha Omega International Dental Society

DR GILAD BAR DAYAN

President Haifa Chapter & NextGen Doctors

DR MEIZI ELIEZER

President Tel Aviv Chapter

Dr. Blachash - Expert in Dental Implants and Regent of Alpha Omega Israel

DR SHAHAR BLACHASH

Regent of Alpha Omega Dental Society

DR VLADI DVOYRIS

International Communications Officer (2025-2027) of the Alpha Omega International Dental Society

History of Alpha Omega Compiled and Written by Musick Kaplan and Noah Stern

Initial Exploration

It was Shmuel Levin-Epstein who, at the annual convention of the Alpha Omega fraternity in Detroit in 1946, the first convention after World War II, made the connection between the Israeli Dental Association and the fraternity. In 1949, at the Alpha Omega convention in Chicago, Shmuel Levin-Epstein was awarded honorary membership in the fraternity, becoming the second member of Alpha Omega among Israeli dentists. The first was his son, Jacob, who became a member while studying dentistry in the United States.
Establishing Chapters in Israel

In 1954, the Alpha Omega leadership in the U.S. decided to establish Chapter No. 20 in Israel. Jacob Levin-Epstein was appointed as the first regent, founder, and organizer of the fraternity in the country.

On July 29, 1954, during a visit to Israel by the international president, Louis J. Galin, a reception was held for him at the Tourism Club in Talbiya, where members of the Jerusalem chapter were inducted.

The 14 members of the Jerusalem chapter present were: Regent Jacob Levin-Epstein, Shmuel Levin-Epstein (President of the Jerusalem branch), and members Chaim Barent, Moshe Glazman, Alexander Grossman, Binyamin Weissberg, Jacob Yardeni, Y. Lapidot, Yitzhak Michman, Fritz Fried, Moshe Rabinowitz, Kurt Rosenzweig, Rudy Rudberg, and Eino Shaki.

On August 1, 1954, the Haifa chapter was established, inducting nine members: H. Braunschweiger, Kurt Dankwort, David Gutman, H. Lachman, M. Chizik, Georg Winternitz, Y. Yanai (from Zichron Yaakov), K. Zucker, and A. Packel.

On August 3, 1954, a major event took place at the Zionist House of America in Tel Aviv, where the following members were inducted: B. Becker, H. Berger, M. Binur, Chaim Idels, G. Grossman, L. Hirsch, Moshe Mishori, H. Niederland, M. Salpeter, Aryeh Sarnat, Yitzhak Zifert, Avraham Zusman, Sh. Tajer, M. Weiner, Z. Zeidner (this list is incomplete).

Soon after, with the establishment of chapters in Israel’s three major cities, a student group also began organizing at the School of Dentistry in Jerusalem to provide a continuous stream of new members for the fraternity. The students were organized under the Alpha Sigma chapter. In August 1959, during a visit by the fraternity’s U.S. president, David Dean, to celebrate the graduation of the school’s first class, the student members were inducted. The first president of Alpha Sigma was Shmuel Perlmutter, and the initial members included Jacob Ehrlich, Israel Giladi, Miki Helfet, Ehud Melberger, Zvika Messner, Chaim Sarnat, Nathan Portuguese, and Musick Kaplan.
The Story of a Veteran Member

Aryeh Sarnat from Tel Aviv, who served as Regent from 1962-1965, is one of the fraternity’s veteran members. He recalls the initial organization:

“There was great enthusiasm to unite under the fraternity. As a student at the University of Illinois, I witnessed the activities of the fraternity and its members in Chicago. I wanted to see this same spirit here in Israel. We held meetings in hotels; members’ children performed for us in musical and vocal recitals; we held discussions and welcomed visitors to the country, and felt we were contributing significantly to the development of the dental school. Every guest from abroad stayed with me, and I took them on tours, introduced them to members, and felt we were forging ties with the finest Jewish dentists from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

We were determined in our mission, and the fraternity’s motto—Judaism, Professionalism, and Brotherhood—was reflected in every step we took. Over time, the Israeli fraternity grew, and Alpha Omega became a global fraternity where every Jewish dentist was considered a colleague. Everyone spared no effort, expense, or labor to elevate the Jerusalem dental school project. I came to realize humbly that it’s not about what the fraternity gives me, but what I can do for the fraternity. Blessed is the person who experiences all this.”
Establishing the "Mashalash" Project

In 1976, under the initiative of Prof. Aryeh Steier, president of the Jerusalem branch, the “Mashalash” organization (Volunteers for Dental Treatment Services) was founded to assist the needy. Initially, 14 Alpha Omega dentists volunteered. Over time, their numbers grew to 140 in Jerusalem, treating approximately 2,000 individuals in need.

Similar initiatives were established in Haifa and Tel Aviv, although not on the same scale. The Haifa chapter, in particular, adopted the Sephardic nursing home in Neve Sha’anan in the late 1980s, providing dental care for residents on Fridays.
Contributions to Neighborhood Rehabilitation
The "Harry Zisker" Memorial Seminar
Global Conferences in Israe

The tradition of global Alpha Omega conferences has included several hosted in Israel, beginning in 1972. These have been instrumental in highlighting the fraternity’s significant contributions to dentistry and Jewish heritage worldwide.

For further details or additions, feel free to ask!

International Alliance of Alpha Omega

Canadian Foundation

The Alpha Omega Foundation of Canada (AOF) was incorporated on November 17, 1970 as a duly registered non-profit charitable foundation under the laws of Canada. The AOF is a separate organization that is closely associated with the other charitable foundations of the Alpha Omega International Dental Society. Currently, there are foundations in the United States, which was also started in 1970, the United Kingdom and in Israel. Donations made to the AOF are distributed either as designated by the donor or by the Board of Directors that meets annually, usually in November.

All members of the Alpha Omega Dental Society in Canada are also members of the AOF in Canada. Each member pays a nominal annual amount to the AOF, usually through the chapter in his or her home city.

The Board of Directors has representation from different parts of Canada. According to the AOF charter, the foundation is allowed, six Directors. Currently, the Directors come from Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary. The Directors move up a line holding each position for a two-year period. Once a Director has served as president, he or she becomes a Director Emeritus and is allowed to attend and participate at meetings but not vote. The exception is the secretary-treasurer. This individual holds the position for an extended period of time, often exceeding ten years, as it is the secretary-treasurer who is responsible for the day-to-day workings of the foundation.

www.aofoundation.ca
United States Foundation

Our Mission
Alpha Omega International Dental Society”Reaching out to the needs of Dental Health, Education, Research and Care throughout the World”. This mission is supported by the Alpha Omega International Dental Society as part of Alpha Omega’s commitment to a Global Oral Health Initiative . We share this mission with Foundations and Trusts from other countries as part of an Alliance of Alpha Omega Charitable Organizations.

Non-profit Organization
The Alpha Omega Foundation, Inc. was officially chartered in 1969 as the “Philanthropic Arm of the Alpha Omega International Dental Society”. Certain rules and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service dealing with ‘not-for-profit’ organizations dictated that charitable donations be recorded, and duly recognized as tax deductions through organizations that meet the standards set by the US Government. Alpha Omega Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization.

International Alliance
Sister Foundations and Trusts with similar missions were established in other countries; Canada in 1971, the London Trust in 1973 and the Israeli Foundation being the most recent. With a great emphasis on Mitzvot (good deeds), and Tzedakah (charity) and inter-global relations, involvement of Alpha Omega members throughout the world has greatly expanded the roles of our Foundations as well as those of chapter members. Today, even in countries where no foundations can be established due to their government regulations, the international alliance of Alpha Omega charitable organizations carries out our mission.

http://aofus.org

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London Charitable Trust
Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program

Mission

The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program’s mission is to provide comprehensive oral health care to Holocaust survivors living in poverty across North America.

We are Grateful to Our Current Philanthropic Donors

The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation, the Robert I. Schattner Foundation, Inc., Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Bedford HealthCare Solutions, The Darwin Project, Hyman R and Ruth Shapiro Foundation Inc., The Wagner Family Foundation, Russian American Dental Association, Mr. Jonathan Eskow, Dr. Fredric H. Simon, Town & Country Dental Studios, GCDL, Orthodent Ltd., Alpha Omega Foundation USA and Alpha Omega Foundation of Canada.