world jewish congress: global review 2014-15

World JeWish Congress2014 / 2015 global review

worldjewishcongress.org | 1

Executive Committee*

Chairman of the GoverninG BoardDavid de Rothschild

WJC PresidentRonald S. Lauder

Julius MeinlPresident, Euro-Asian Jewish Congress

Moshe KantorPresident, European Jewish Congress

viCe Presidents(by country, regional affiliate and organization)

* As of October 1, 2015

ArgentinAJulio Schlosser

President, Delegación de Asociaciónes Israelitas Argentinas

AustrAliARobert Goot

President, Executive Council of Australian Jewry

BrAzilFernando Lottenberg

President, Confederação Israelita do Brasil

CAnAdADavid J. Cape

Chairperson, Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs

CzeCh repuBliCPetr Papousek

President, Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic

FrAnCeRoger Cukierman

President, Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France

georgiAGuram Batiashvili

President, Jewish Community of Georgia

germAnyJosef Schuster

President, Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland

greeCeMoses Constantinis

President, Federation of Jewish Communities in Greece

hungAryAndrás Heisler

President, Magyarországi Zsidó Hitközségek Szövetsége

KyrgyzstAnVladimir Kritsman

Chairman, Jewish Community of Kyrgyzstan

russiAMikhail Chlenov

Chairman, Vaad of Russia

Yuri Kanner President, Russian Jewish Congress

south AFriCAMary Kluk

Chairman, South African Jewish Board of Deputies

uKrAineBoris Fuchsmann

President, Jewish Confederation of Ukraine

Andrey AdamovskiyChairperson, Vaad of Ukraine

united KingdomJonathan Arkush

President, Board of Deputies of British Jews

usARabbi Joel Meyers

Chairperson, WJC (American Section), Inc.

VenezuelASaul Levine Seir

President, Jewish Community of Venezuela

euro-AsiAn Jewish CongressMikhail Mirilashvili

europeAn Jewish CongressJacob (Cobi) Benatoff

lAtin AmeriCAn Jewish CongressSaul GilvichwJC isrAel

(vacant)

wJC north AmeriCARenée Dayan Shabot

internAtionAl CounCil oF Jewish womenSara Winkowski

women’s internAtionAl zionist orgAnizAtionTova Ben-Dov

world ortEmil Kalo

viCe Presidents Serge Berdugo

Rabbi Yaakov Dov BleichEduardo Elsztain

Robert Goot Shai HermeshAriel MuzicantGod Nisanov

Marcos PeckelMoshe Ronen

Rabbi Arthur SchneierTamar Shchory

memBers of the exeCutiveSebastian AzerradCatherine Gentilini

Andi GergelyLior Herman

Rodrigo Slelatt

treasurerChella Safra

PoliCy CounCil Moshe Kantor Robert Goot Chairman Co-Chairman

Jack TerpinsPresident, Latin American Jewish Congress

Shai HermeshChairperson, WJC Israel

reGional Chairs

Evelyn SommerChairperson, WJC North America


Message from WJC President Ronald S. Lauder

As world Jewry faced a “new reality” in 2014 and 2015, the need for the World Jewish Congress (WJC), hailed as the foreign ministry of the Jewish people, has never been more urgent.

Virulent anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism reached deadly heights across Europe and

elsewhere, leaving Jews with justifiable anxiety and uncertainty about their future. Israel

faced a new wave of terror and remains subject to physical and political attacks and biased

treatment at the United Nations. Prospects for a nuclear Iran loom large. Neo-Nazi parties

claimed major gains in several European parliaments. Centuries-old Jewish customs and tra-

ditions faced legal challenges. Justice for Holocaust victims and their heirs remains elusive.

The WJC wasn’t always here. It was born in 1936 out of necessity. And it is the World

Jewish Congress, uniquely positioned through our member communities in more than 100

countries on six continents, our Regional Affiliates—Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, European

Jewish Congress, Latin American Jewish Congress, WJC Israel, WJC North America—as well

as myriad other international partners, that is relied upon to put our influential voice, com-

manding diplomacy and determined activism to work on behalf of our global Jewish family.

And the WJC has risen to the challenge at every turn: standing shoulder-to-shoulder

with Israel during Operation Protective Edge; defending the Jewish state at the United

Nations and before the Human Rights Council; combatting the Boycott, Divestment and

Sanctions (BDS) movement; reaching out to beleaguered Jewish communities in Belgium,

France, Denmark and wherever they are in peril; advocating internationally with govern-

ment officials to achieve greater penalties for anti-Semitic crimes and hate speech; spurring

the Greek government into action against the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party; accelerating

movement by the German government on the issue of Nazi looted art; preserving the

memory of the Holocaust; standing up for persecuted minorities and enhancing our inter-

faith relationships.

Only a brief overview of the WJC’s acclaimed activities and accomplishments can be

covered in these pages. But what will become evident is that from the smallest countries

where only a handful of Jews remain, to the largest Jewish populations in Europe, the Amer-

icas and beyond, the WJC is on the front lines—thoughtful, engaged and energized.

As radical Islam, the Iranian threat and other complex dangers emerge, protecting and

defending world Jewry will require nothing less than the WJC’s extraordinary brand of expe-

rience, expertise and tenacity.

In our solidarity there is strength. Stand with us. Together, we will move the world

forward.

Ronald S. Lauder

worldjewishcongress.org | 32 | 2014-2015 global review

As bitter hatred toward Israel and the Jewish people has flared anew, the

unsurpassed diplomatic and communal outreach of the World Jewish

Congress, and its ability to respond rapidly whenever and wherever Jews

are threatened, have been a saving grace and a beacon of hope. The WJC

is a most distinguished organization, whose passion and unwavering com-

mitment to Jewish security and human rights define its global mission.

David de RothschildChairman of the GoverninG Board

By bringing Jews together under one tent, the World Jewish Congress

has the unique ability to act and react to global events with strength and

unity. Skillfully defending our Jewish communities, and the people and

state of Israel, WJC’s courageous work, firmly rooted in traditional Jewish

values and ideals, is indispensable in the world today.

Chella Safratreasurer


With each passing year, world affairs become increasingly complex and tumultuous. At the same time, the World Jewish Congress grows stronger, more respected, more influential and more effective in the international arena working on behalf of Israel and world Jewry.

The global Jewish community is facing deeply disturbing challenges we haven’t

had to confront since the WJC’s earliest days. Growing anti-Semitism has led to its nat-

ural consequence—a wave of terrorism. Israel struggles with brutal attacks, defamation,

demonization and delegitimization. Indeed, the daunting prospect of a nuclear Iran casts

a pall on Israel’s very survival.

The WJC seizes every opportunity to speak truth to power, foment change and

stand in solidarity with our Jewish communities, the backbone of our common enterprise.

Through our newly created National Community Directors Forum, we bring our global

Jewish communities even closer together. Our strength comes from our unity, collabora-

tion, credibility and depth of knowledge.

Our extraordinary professional staff and dedicated lay leaders around the world work

tirelessly to uplift and strengthen the Jewish people and defend the state of Israel. We

are reaching out everywhere—at the United Nations; with political, religious and ethnic

leaders; in traditional and social media; and we are training and challenging our young

people, tomorrow’s leadership, to carry forward the WJC’s essential work.

Rabbi Tarfon taught: “It is not your responsibility to finish the work [of perfecting the

world], but neither are you free to desist from it.”

Our work is far from over. Please join us and help shape history.

Robert Singer

Robert SingerChief exeCutive offiCer and

exeCutive viCe President


Ominous statistics released by the FRA foreshadowed the dangers soon to come as Jews in Europe faced a chilling barrage of deadly attacks fueled by Islamic extremism. At a moment’s notice, the World Jewish Congress was there, working closely with our member communities, standing in solidarity and speaking out at the highest levels to ensure that the safety and security of the Jewish people and our communal institutions were of highest priority.

Following the deadly shooting at the Jewish museum of Belgium in May 2014,

the World Jewish Congress organized a solidarity mission to Brussels, led by WJC President

Ronald S. Lauder, bringing together nearly 40 representatives from Jewish communities

around the world.

The WJC delegation met with Belgium’s Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, Foreign Min-

ister Didier Reynders, Justice Minister Annemie Turtelboom and other senior government

officials, as well as Maurice Sosnowski, head of the Coordinating Committee of Jewish

Organizations in Belgium. Heeding the WJC’s call for improved measures to ensure the

safety of Jews and Jewish institutions, Prime Minister Di Rupo agreed to set up a joint

commission of the government, the WJC and the Jewish community of Belgium to identify

measures to improve security; fight growing hatred, including on the internet; strengthen

Holocaust education in schools and improve intelligence-sharing on a European and

worldwide level.

In January 2015, after the fatal terrorist attacks at the office of Charlie Hebdo and

a kosher market in paris, the World Jewish Congress again sprang into action. “Three

years after the massacre at a Jewish school in Toulouse, and eight months after the deadly

attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels, we are faced with an Islamist terror campaign in

Western Europe,” said President Lauder. “We must not be intimidated by this campaign. If

we stand united in defense of freedom and against hatred and intolerance, we will win.”

In the wake of the attack, the WJC participated in the unprecedented Unity Rally,

which drew nearly 4 million marchers in Paris and across France, including world leaders.

President Lauder met privately with French President François Hollande at the Elysee

Palace, where he received assurances that Jewish sites in France would be protected by

police and, if necessary, by the French military. The WJC president also met with Israeli

EuRoPEan union agEnCy foR fundaMEntaL RightS (fRa) 2013 SuRvEy on anti-SEMitiSM in Eight Eu MEMbER StatES

> 66% of Jews surveyed across Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Sweden and the United Kingdom consider anti-Semitism to be a problem.

> 75% of all respondents believe online anti-Semitism is a problem.

> 46% worry about becoming the victim of an anti-Semitic verbal insult or harassment; 33% fear a physical attack.

> 57% have heard claims that the Holocaust was a myth or had been exaggerated.

> Large proportions have considered emigrating because they do not feel safe as Jews.


Combatting anti-Semitism and terrorism

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder (center, right); Didier Reynders, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs (center, left); and leaders of WJC member communities on a solidarity mission to Brussels following the terror attack. ]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss responses to terrorism and the growing

threats facing the Jews of Europe.

two separate murderous terrorist attacks in Copenhagen in February 2015,

one targeting the city’s main synagogue, brought immediate condemnation and swift

response by the WJC as CEO Robert Singer travelled to Finland, Norway and Denmark to

analyze security issues with government officials, lawmakers and community leaders.

Following these chilling displays of anti-Semitism being played out across Europe,

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder testified in Congress before the Subcommittee on Africa,

Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, calling on the United

States to lead in the fight against rising global anti-Semitism. He was joined by WJC Vice

President Roger Cukierman, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions

of France (CRIF) and Dan Rosenberg Asmussen, president of the Danish Jewish community.

Throughout the year, the WJC engages with the European Union and its member

states, urging swift and effective measures to combat growing attacks against Jews, the

resurgence of political parties with neo-Nazi leanings, and to outline common steps

including intelligence sharing, cooperation between enforcement authorities and stronger

legislative and security procedures.

Through the auspices of its new Washington, DC office, the WJC North America

conducts highest-level diplomacy with officials at the White House, State Department,

National Security Council, Treasury and leading members of Congressional committees

on issues of, among others, security for Israel, the rise of global anti-Semitism and the

Iranian threat.


In coordination with its Regional Affiliate, the European Jewish Congress (EJC), the

WJC has made strides in training communities in crisis management, a service that is being

extended to Latin America and Eurasia.

The World Jewish Congress North America participated in a special consultation with

the Secure Community Network and representatives of the FBI and U.S. Department of

Homeland Security to assess the security situation of American Jewish communal insti-

tutions. The WJC North America sends security bulletins to all its member organizations

for distribution to their constituents, alerting Jewish organizations, synagogues and other

institutions about anti-Semitic incidents around the country and offering best-practices

for greater security.

The WJC also played an integral role in the first-ever Special Session held by the

United Nations General Assembly on the Rise of Anti-Semitism. Convened by UN Secretary

General Ban Ki-moon, in January 2015, presentations were made by noted philosopher

Bernard-Henri Lévy; Ambassador Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the

United States to the UN; Ambassador Ron Prosor, Ambassador of Israel to the UN and other

dignitaries. The WJC arranged for the participation of Rabbi Yaacov Monsonego of Tou-

louse, France, principal of the Ohr Torah School that fell victim to terrorism in 2012. Rabbi

Monsonego’s 8 year-old daughter, Miriam, was murdered in that attack.

vice President biden to wjc: “Your work reallY Matters”

Speaking at a reception of the World Jewish Congress annual Executive Committee

Meeting in Washington, DC, in May 2015, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden praised the organi-

zation for its tireless efforts to combat anti-Semitism in Europe and worldwide. “I spent a

lot of time in Austria, Munich and France talking about anti-Semitism in Europe and other

places around the world, and let me tell you that your work really matters,” the Vice Presi-

dent told the group of WJC leaders. “If you don’t consistently speak out every time it raises

its ugly head, if you let it sit for a minute, it’s like a boil that festers. I want to thank you all

for your constant, unrelenting oversight and for making sure that wherever anti-Semitism

rears its head, you speak.”

aMia: decades without justice

2015 marked the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attack against the Asociación Mutual

Israelita Argentina (AMIA) Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which killed 85

and wounded several hundred. Speaking at the commemoration in Argentina, WJC CEO

Robert Singer lamented the lack of progress in the investigation. “No matter how long it

takes, we will not rest until justice has been done.” He reiterated the WJC’s strong criticism

of the Argentine government in 2013 for signing a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. ]

WJC EStabLiShES gLobaL SECuRity dEPaRtMEnt

Following requests from member communities for assistance to protect their institutions from anti-Semitic attacks, the WJC established a Department of Security, to:

> Exert political and diplomatic pressure on governments and police forces to provide adequate resources and funding to their Jewish communities.

> Liaise with intelligence services.

> Inspect the protective infrastructure and equipment of communal buildings to identify and correct vulnerabilities.

6 | 2014-2015 global review


combatting anti-SemitiSm and terroriSm

““

“i tell you now with great sadness that 70 years after the end of World War ii,

the age-old virus of anti-Semitism has returned in all its evil and ugliness.

It has returned to the streets of Paris and Toulouse, to the streets of Brussels and

Copenhagen, it has even returned to Berlin. In Great Britain and Austria, the number

of anti-Semitic attacks doubled from the year before. You don’t have to be a mathematician

to see an obvious trend here.”

— Testimony of WJC President Ronald S. Lauder

Jews have lived in france for the last 2,000 years. In 1791, at the time

of the French Revolution, French Jews were given full French citizenship.

Today, in 2015, our synagogues and our Jewish schools have to be protected

by the police and even the army with machine guns.”

— Testimony of Roger Cukierman, WJC Vice President and Chairman, CRIF

you probably think of denmark as a small and peaceful country. And that is

basically also the way we think of ourselves. On February 15, the Jewish community

and the whole Danish society awoke to a brutal new reality. The terror attack in Copenhagen

did not happen by chance. It was the culmination of years of growing

anti-Semitism in a country where it has become widely acceptable to criticize and

question both Israel and Jews with a carelessness we did not expect or imagine

just a few years ago.”

— Testimony of Dan Rosenberg Asmussen, Chairman, Jewish Community of Denmark

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder testifies before Congress, joined by Roger Cukierman of France (l.) and Dan Rosenberg Asmussen of Denmark. ]


Iran to investigate the attack, later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of

Argentina.

More than 40 legislators attended the annual Meeting of Latin American Parlia-

mentarians in Buenos Aires, an initiative of the WJC Regional Affiliate, the Latin American

Jewish Congress (LAJC), that brings members of the government and civil society together

to strategize ways to fight the scourge of international terrorism. After attending the public

commemoration of the AMIA bombing, the group signed a “Declaration Against Terrorism”

and pledged to work cooperatively to combat anti-Semitism.

In an unprecedented video message recorded at the Vatican by the LAJC, Pope

Francis expressed solidarity with the Jewish community of Argentina and made an impas-

sioned call for justice. “Terrorism is lunacy,” the Pontiff said in Spanish. “Terrorism’s only

purpose is to kill. It does not build anything, it only destroys. Buenos Aires is a city that

needs to cry, that still hasn’t cried enough. May justice be done.”

MarginaliZing neo-naZis

As support for traditional political parties erodes amid economic crisis, far-right, xeno-

phobic and anti-Semitic parties, and those who align themselves with Nazi ideologies,

have made significant gains in European parliamentary elections. The WJC lent its sup-

port for a special committee of the European Parliament to establish a permanent body

that will fight the growth of hateful and racist groups in the EU, such as Jobbik in Hun-

gary and Golden Dawn in Greece. The WJC Executive continues to call for a “no platform”

policy toward such parties “to ensure that they are completely marginalized in any decision

making process.”

After mounting pressure from the WJC and others, Hungary’s nominated ambas-

sador to Rome—who once called Jews “agents of Satan, greedy, envious and ugly”—was

dropped by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government. The prime minister, addressing the

WJC Plenary Assembly in Budapest in 2013, pledged “zero tolerance” toward anti-Semitism.

After more than a year of debate and the urging of the WJC, European Commission

and the local Jewish community, the Greek Parliament approved a new law with stiffer

penalties for hatemongers and those who deny or praise the Holocaust, genocide or war

crimes against humanity.

The WJC also published and widely disseminated its updated report, “Neo-Nazism

in Modern Europe,” to expose the threats posed by neo-Nazi and other extremist political

parties.

Latin aMERiCan JEWiSh CongRESS (LaJC) fightS anti-SEMitiSM on thE WEb

Developed in conjunction with AMIA and DAIA, the LAJC Observatoria Web combats hate speech on Spanish websites. Working in cooperation with the Buenos Aires District Attorney’s Office, this initiative led to the arrest of a former federal police officer and his son for possession and distribution of Nazi literature and unauthorized weapons.

[ David de Rothschild, Chairman of WJC’s Governing Board (l.) shares a moment with Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a WJC Board Meeting in Berlin. ]


stand uP: saY no to anti-seMitisM

On September 14, 2014, WJC President Ronald S. Lauder and German Chancellor Angela

Merkel were keynote speakers at a national rally in Berlin to speak out against anti-Semi-

tism. The rally, held in front of the landmark Brandenburg Gate, was organized in response

to a sharp rise in anti-Semitic attacks and growing hostility toward Israel.

Chancellor Merkel told the thousands gathered that Jewish life is “a part of our

society” and that the Jewish population of Germany is “a gift….That people in Germany

are threatened or abused because of their Jewish appearance or their support for Israel is

an outrageous scandal that we won’t accept.”

Protecting jewish custoMs and traditions

The World Jewish Congress, working with Israeli diplomats, successfully lobbied the

Council of Europe to reconsider its earlier resolution banning religious circumcision. The

intergovernmental body that proposes policy re-worded its motion to recognize the prac-

tice as “a religious rite which does not present risks for children and should be respected

as a longstanding religious tradition.”

Following months of heightened exposure and a multi-faceted campaign by the

World Jewish Congress and others, Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal found the ban on

religious slaughter, shechita, unconstitutional. Previously, the Polish Parliament—the

Sejm—rejected a government bill that would have kept shechita legal.

Addressing the troubling trend of bans against kosher slaughter and religious cir-

cumcision across Europe, the WJC delivered a compelling statement before the United

Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to recognize bans or limitations on the corner-

stones of Jewish religious practice as violations of religious freedom.

[ The WJC takes center stage at a landmark rally in Berlin against anti-Semitism, featuring keynote presentations by (from l. to r.) WJC President Ronald S. Lauder; German President Joachim Gauck; Dieter Graumann, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. ]

combatting anti-SemitiSm and terroriSm

“the danger of extremist religious and political ideologies, which promote racism, anti-Semitism and neo-nazism, is currently underestimated and trivialized. This apathy poses an existential threat to the soul of Europe.” — Moshe Kantor, President, European Jewish Congress


def

end

ing

isr

ael

As Israel pursues its quest for peace and security, the Jewish state faces physical dangers, including the threat of a nuclear Iran, overwhelming hostility at the United Nations, trade boycotts and ongoing assaults on its very legitimacy. All of these issues are high on WJC’s agenda as we work to achieve our goals through painstaking diplomacy, advocacy, public educational initiatives and strategic media efforts.

One of the most active international Jewish organizations engaged in the defense

of Israel, the WJC stood side-by-side with the Jewish state during its 50-day war against

Hamas militants in Gaza, including a solidarity mission to Israel during the height of hos-

tilities. Led by WJC President Ronald S. Lauder, 80 leaders from 22 member countries met

with government officials and local residents, visited areas under attack, travelled to an

Iron Dome installation and spoke with children at an ORT school specially built to protect

students from rocket fire.

As the conflict spilled over into Europe and anti-Zionism turned to hatred of Jews,

the WJC spoke out at every turn and organized large-scale demonstrations worldwide to

condemn the wave of anti-Semitic attacks. WJC leaders met with European authorities to

call for decisive action to strengthen police protection of Jewish sites and ban or disband

violent rallies.

The World Jewish Congress North America, in consultation with the American-Israeli

Cooperative Enterprise and Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, addressed the troubling

issue of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel attitudes on American college campuses. The group

explored diverse ways to reach out to Jewish students, university faculty and adminis-

tration, to offer support and encouragement to stand up against those who promote

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder expresses support and

appreciation to members of the Israel Defense Forces. ]


divisiveness, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism on campus. The WJC North America works

actively with the WJC’s Jewish Diplomatic Corps and the Consulate General of Israel in New

York to find innovative ways to promote peaceful coexistence and understanding among

different groups on campus.

diPloMacY in action

The WJC’s diplomatic activities have increased dramatically over the past two years, as the

organization has taken the lead on issues of Israel’s delegitimization and the BDS move-

ment, the rise of anti-Semitism and religious discrimination, the situation in the Middle

East and the threat of ISIS.

The World Jewish Congress continues to focus attention on Iran as a leading sponsor

of international terrorism; a prime manipulator of Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria; an ongoing

threat to Israel, global peace and security and a systematic violator of the human and civil

rights of its citizens. Following the agreement signed with Iran, in August 2015, WJC CEO

Robert Singer attended an intimate meeting of Jewish leaders with U.S. President Barack

Obama, where concerns regarding the agreement and its implementation, the relationship

between Israel and the United States in the aftermath and Iran’s support of terrorism were

discussed in depth.

During the UN General Assembly opening sessions in 2014 and 2015, WJC leaders

from New York and around the world met with dozens of delegations and heads of state,

including: Foreign Minister John Baird of Canada; Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davu-

toglu; Helga Schmid, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service;

President of Hungary Viktor Orban; President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos; Min-

ister of Foreign Affairs of Austria Sebastian Kurz; President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev;

President of Croatia Grabar-Kitarović; President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis; President of

Marshall Islands Christopher Loeak; President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela; President

of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko; President of Uruguay Tabaré Vázquez and Archbishop Richard

Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Vatican.

“our diplomatic efforts at the united nations on the iranian threat, Palestinian incitement, fair treatment of israel and the rising tide of global anti-Semitism have put the international body on notice: The World Jewish Congress is a vigilant observer and is holding world leadership accountable for the security of Israel and our global Jewish communities.” — Evelyn Sommer, Chairperson, WJC North America

[ WJC CEO Robert Singer meets with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. ]


The WJC has significantly increased its presence in the United Nations and its associ-

ated bodies, including the Human Rights Council, and developed working relationships

with many relevant agencies such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cul-

tural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

WJC leaders also meet regularly with Permanent Representatives to the UN in New York

and Geneva. In the UN, the WJC highlights bias towards Israel and the numerous resolu-

tions against Israel passed in all UN bodies, advocates for fair treatment of Israel and calls

for the removal of Israel-related discussions, such as Agenda Item 7 of the Human Rights

Council, the only agenda item dedicated to a single issue, Israel-Palestine.

Discussions with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova on anti-Israel activity, the

politicization of UNESCO and Holocaust education projects led to Bokova’s decision to

block the Liberation Graphics Collection of Palestine Posters from being accepted into

UNESCO’s Memory of the World Program, marking the first time such a nomination has

been vetoed by the Director-General.

The WJC scored another major victory in the removal of a critical reference from a

UNESCO resolution sponsored by Arab countries that would have declared the Western

Wall in Jerusalem, the holiest Jewish place of prayer, to be a Muslim site. Prior to UNES-

CO’s vote, WJC President Ronald S. Lauder appealed to all 58 member countries on the

UNESCO Executive to vote against the proposal. WJC CEO Robert Singer wrote to Bokova,

urging her to do all in her power to prevent the adoption of this offensive resolution. The

original draft resolution, sponsored by Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia and the

United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Palestinians, was deplored by Bokova, who again

took the unusual and courageous step to publicly oppose her board members. Following

the vote, President Lauder called Bokova to express appreciation for her efforts to ensure

that UNESCO is not turned into a battleground for conflicts between religions.

The WJC has also met with the Commissioner General for UNRWA, Pierre Krähenbühl,

raising concerns about politicization of the organization, use of its facilities by Hamas and

anti-Israel and anti-Semitic posts by its staff in Israel.

thE gLobaL CoaLition foR iSRaEL (gC4i)

This WJC-led coalition brings Israeli government ministries and Jewish organiza-tions from around the world together for collaboration on critical issues facing Israel and the Jewish people.

The WJC co-sponsored an international GC4I event in London, hosted by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the goal of synchronizing efforts to combat the delegitimization of Israel and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

“We are here today to tell the united nations human Rights Council: Stop applying double standards toward Israel—it’s unfair.

Stop portraying Israel as a serial violator of human rights—it’s wrong. Stop putting the democratic state of Israel on the same level

as the terror regime of Hamas—it’s an insult.” — WJC CEO Robert Singer



defending iSrael

a rallY For Fairness

At a WJC-organized rally in Geneva, some 1,000 participants—including members of more

than 80 WJC partner organizations from around the world, Jews and Christians—gathered

on June 29, 2015 to express their support for Israel as the UN Human Rights Council held

another debate on Israel and on the Commission of Inquiry Report into the 2014 Gaza

conflict.

The WJC continues to call for the United Nations, and the Human Rights Council, to

fulfill their mandates and apply the same standards to every country in a fair and unbiased

manner.

At the rally, WJC CEO Robert Singer called for the United Nations to end its “obses-

sion” with Israel. “This obsession is destructive, and it stands in the way of an effective

human rights policy that is so badly needed.”

The Human Rights Council has consistently dealt with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

more extensively than with any other subject. To date, the Council has issued more one-

sided condemnations of Israel—sixty-one—than of all the other countries in the world

combined.

jews FroM arab countries

For the third time, along with the Mission of Israel to the United Nations, the Conference of

Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and Justice for Jews in Arab Countries,

the WJC North America hosted a program at the United Nations to raise awareness of the

850,000 Jewish refugees from Arab countries who were forcibly expelled or forced to flee

upon the establishment of Israel, forfeiting their homes, assets and institutions.

[ WJC-sponsored rally in Geneva calling for the fair treatment of Israel in the United Nations. ]


[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder speaks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. ]

Highlighting the struggles faced by these Jewish refugees, WJC Israel and the Israel

Council on Foreign Relations hosted “The Imperiled Legacy of Iraqi Jewry,” to draw sup-

port for efforts to block the return to Iraq of a trove of Jewish documents and holy books

rescued after the fall of Saddam Hussein and brought from Baghdad to Washington, DC.

Member of Parliament Irwin Cotler, Canada’s former Minister of Justice and Attorney Gen-

eral, told a capacity audience that it is “high time that the forced exodus of Jews from Arab

lands be introduced to the international agenda after the unconscionable neglect of the

issue for six decades.” The WJC North America is working to garner support for bills in the

U.S. Congress to recognize the cause of Jewish refugees from Arab countries and forestall

the return of the Iraqi Jewish archives.

Cooperating with like-minded organizations, the WJC successfully lobbied the

Knesset to set November 30 as the date to annually commemorate the expulsion of Jews

from Arab lands.

Fighting the boYcott, divestMent and sanctions MoveMent (bds)

Popular American Jewish singer Matisyahu expressed his personal appreciation to WJC

President Ronald S. Lauder for the organization’s successful efforts to fight intense pressure

by an anti-Israel BDS group that tried to block his appearance at Europe’s largest reggae

festival in Spain. Matisyahu was disinvited from the concert after refusing to sign a declara-

tion stating his unequivocal support for the Palestinians. Following immediate outrage by

the WJC and its member organization, the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain, the

organizers of the Rototom Sunsplash Festival publicly apologized and re-invited the singer.

In Reykjavik, Iceland, a motion by the City Council to boycott all Israeli products was

withdrawn following strong reaction by the WJC and others.

advancing the cause oF Peace

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, in the Jordanian capital

of Amman in August 2015, where he reaffirmed the organization’s support for the Israel-

Palestinian peace process and expressed appreciation for Jordan’s efforts in this regard.

King Abdullah stressed the important role that the WJC can play in reviving the peace talks.

In January 2015, President Lauder met in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah

al-Sisi to discuss the need for global cooperation to combat the scourge of terrorism.

Making iSRaEL’S CaSE

Following a decision by soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, to proceed with a Palestinian motion to suspend the membership of the Israeli Football Association, the WJC and a number of its affiliated Jewish community organizations successfully stepped in with the heads of their respective national soccer asso-ciations to defend Israel’s membership and seek a rejection of this blatant and divisive attempt to misuse FIFA for political ends.

“Let’s not forget that Jews and arabs have no alternative but to live together in this small land. The law must protect all citizens. The sanctity

of human life is a supreme moral value that preserves us as a nation.” — Shai Hermesh, Chairperson, WJC Israel



defending iSrael

“now is a time for bold action because the stakes are too high for anything else. It is not enough to be united. We must also be solution-oriented. I want to be very clear: No serious discussion about peace for the Jewish people of Israel can take place without a strong agreement for a viable two-state solution.” — WJC President Ronald S. Lauder

President Lauder praised a speech given by al-Sisi in which he urged tolerance, acceptance

of others and the need to confront terrorism through deeds, not only words. The Egyptian

president called for international efforts against terrorism that are not limited to military

and police activities but include economic, social and cultural considerations.

Leaders of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), a WJC member com-

munity, met with President Jacob Zuma to discuss the upsurge in anti-Semitic incidents

in South Africa since the conflict in Gaza and prospects for Middle East peace. President

Zuma, noting that South Africa has sent envoys to the region to meet with Israeli and Pal-

estinian leaders, reiterated his government’s support for a negotiated two-state solution.

In August 2015, leaders from the WJC Regional Affiliate, the Latin American Jewish

Congress (LAJC), met in Buenos Aires with Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the PLO and

chief negotiator for the Palestinians. Exchanging views on the situation in the Middle East

and discussing relations between Jewish and Palestinian communities in Latin America,

the LAJC urged that negotiations persist until a permanent agreement is reached that

offers both sides peace and security.

[ WJC CEO Robert Singer with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. ]


WJC

Pro

gra

mm

atic

in

itia

tive

sjewish diPloMatic corPs (jdcorPs)

The flagship program of the World Jewish Congress, the Jewish Diplomatic Corps is a

leadership development program designed to build, strengthen and empower the next

generation of Jewish leaders.

The program provides more than 150 successful professionals, age 27 – 40, from

more than 30 countries, with the necessary skills, experience, networks and confidence

to impact and lead within their own communities or globally. The non-partisan group

engages in research, international diplomacy and public policy formulation on various

issues of importance to Israel and the Jewish people.

The JDs participate throughout the year in unique experiences through training

programs and engagement with governments, foreign embassies, religious organizations

and regional and international bodies, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific

and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the Council of Europe; the Organization of American

States (OAS) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Among

other activities, the JDs have delivered statements to the UN Human Rights Council in

Geneva on issues of religious freedom, persecution of minorities, human rights violations

in Iran, the state of racial discrimination worldwide, the protection of children in armed

conflicts and the phenomenon of cyber-hate.

Working actively to expand the ranks of the JDCorps, the WJC has held a series of

recruitment events in Washington, DC; New York City; Montreal and Toronto as well as

Odessa, Ukraine. Events are also being planned in Los Angeles, Mexico City, Buenos Aires,

London, Berlin and Moscow.

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder with members of the

Jewish Diplomatic Corps. ]



wjc international Yiddish center

The WJC views the revival of the Yiddish language as an instrumental component to regen-

erating and re-energizing Jewish life in Europe, particularly as it has almost disappeared

from the curricula of universities and other academic institutions around the world.

The World Jewish Congress International Yiddish Center based in Vilnius, Lithuania,

was established in June 2014 with the goal of educating teachers and students about the

rich history of the Yiddish language and culture that their ancestors left behind in Europe.

After one year of operation, the Center has engaged over 2,900 students through

seminars by noted Yiddish lecturers in Vilnius, the former Soviet Union, Austria, the United

States, Canada, Argentina and Uruguay. Many of its activities are held in partnership with

major organizations, such as Yad Vashem, Beit Hatfutzot, Tel Aviv University, Bar Ilan Uni-

versity, YIVO and the Israeli Ministry of Education.

“We must and we will defend Jewish communities and Jewish interests, but we must also look forward…Rejuvenating our communities on the one hand while standing strong against anti-Semitism requires us to be proactive and engage with the world around us.” — Julius Meinl, President, Euro-Asian Jewish Congress

[ Israeli teachers participate in a “Pearls of Yiddish” seminar at the Jewish Public Library in Vilnius. ]


The WJC International Yiddish Center has created a dedicated website (Yiddishcenter.

org) that features information on its various activities, and maintains a Facebook page that

is regularly updated with content on topics related to Yiddish learning and heritage.

israel council on Foreign relations (icFr)

Established in 1989 and operating under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress, the

ICFR is a non-partisan forum for the study and debate of foreign policy. Under its new

president, veteran Israeli statesman Dan Meridor, the ICFR has cemented its reputation as

a premier institution for international affairs.

In 2014–2015, the ICFR hosted numerous visiting foreign statesmen, including Czech

Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek, German Opposition Head Gregor Gysi, Albanian For-

eign Minister Dimitar Bushati, Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, Romanian

Diaspora Minister Angel Tîlvăr, Mayor of Buenos Aires Mauricio Macri and Lithuanian Prime

Minister Algirdas Butkevičius.

Among its events featuring distinguished speakers, the ICFR held international

conferences on “The Allied Powers’ Response to the Holocaust;” “Anti-Semitism and the

Islamist Challenge;” U.S.–Israeli relations and terror litigation in U.S. courts against the gov-

ernments of Libya, Iran and Saudi Arabia. The ICFR continued its tradition of organizing an

annual seminar on diplomacy for Ben-Gurion University students.

The flagship publication of the ICFR, the highly acclaimed Israel Journal of Foreign

Affairs, is now in its 10th year. The journal, appearing three times a year, focuses on many

of the WJC’s core agenda issues. Since January 2015, a publishing agreement with London-

based Taylor & Francis/Routledge has significantly increased its reach worldwide, in print

and digital editions.

[ Participants in ICFR’s Young Diplomats Forum meet at the Knesset with Ambassador Lars Faaborg-Andersen, head of the EU Delegation in Israel (5th from r.). ]



WJc Programmatic initiativeS

[ ICJP Chairman Eliot Engel (standing) with WJC President Ronald S. Lauder and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) during an ICJP Steering Committee meeting. ]

The ICFR Israeli–European Young Diplomats Forum enables young European diplo-

mats posted in Israel and their Israeli counterparts to exchange ideas on issues of common

interest. Of late, the ambassadors to Israel of the EU, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Nether-

lands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland hosted policy talks, as did the

Knesset and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

the international council oF jewish ParliaMentarians (icjP)

The International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP), an initiative of the World Jewish

Congress, brings together a global network of Jewish parliamentarians and government

ministers to share knowledge and enhance understanding of the diverse challenges facing

Jewish communities in Israel and the diaspora.

In its quest to support Israel and the cause of peace in the Middle East, and combat

racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, terrorism and Holocaust denial, the ICJP promotes dia-

logue, the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The ICJP is comprised of nearly 300 Jewish members of parliament and 100 members

of Knesset. Congressman Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) is Chairman of the ICJP. Member of Parlia-

ment Irwin Cotler, Canada’s former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, is Deputy

Chairman.


Auschwitz is not only the world’s biggest graveyard, it is also the primary symbol of the Holocaust—the largest organized mass murder in human history. To commemo-rate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp, the World Jewish Congress, in partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, brought a historic delegation of 101 survivors from 22 countries, together with family members, to Auschwitz to participate in the official observance, held on January 27, 2015, under the auspices of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and the International Auschwitz Council.

The ceremony, broadcast live to tens of millions of households around the world,

hosted dignitaries from, among 40 international delegations, Poland, France, Germany,

Austria and Belgium. Steven Spielberg, Founder of the USC Shoah Foundation, was among

the notable guests.

Delivering a keynote address next to the gate and railroad tracks that marked the

final journey for the more than 1 million murdered at Auschwitz, WJC President Ronald

S. Lauder offered cautionary remarks shaped by the murderous attacks that had recently

taken place in Paris.

WJC CEO Robert Singer expressed gratification that so many aging survivors were

able to attend the event. “This may be the last major anniversary we will be able to

[ Auschwitz survivors attending the commemoration of the liberation, with WJC President Ronald S. Lauder and Steven Spielberg, Founder, USC Shoah Foundation. ]


remember with those who experienced the Holocaust firsthand. From this historic event,

their voices will echo across the generations.”

The WJC Regional Affiliate, the European Jewish Congress (EJC), marked the day with

a ceremony held at the Theresienstadt concentration camp in the Czech Republic.

The WJC North America participated in a commemoration sponsored by the Holo-

caust and United Nations Outreach Program, with a special presentation by Israeli President

Reuven Rivlin.

A WJC leadership delegation also travelled to Lower Saxony, Germany, on April 26,

2015, to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen camp where

more than 50,000 people were murdered, the vast majority Jews. A Displaced Persons

Camp—the largest in post-war Germany—was later established nearby where an esti-

mated 2,000 children were born.

[ World leaders, including French President François Hollande (5th from r.), listen as WJC President Ronald S. Lauder delivers a keynote address at the Auschwitz commemoration. ]

“for a time, we thought that the hatred of Jews had finally been eradicated. But slowly, the demonization of Jews started to come back. Once again, young boys are afraid to wear yarmulkes on the streets of Paris and Budapest and London. Once again, Jewish businesses are targeted. And once again, Jewish families are fleeing Europe.” — WJC President Ronald S. Lauder

holocaust Remembrance and Restitution


Joining German President Joachim Gauck at the commemoration at the Bergen-Belsen

Memorial, President Lauder praised Jewish resilience. “From the ashes of this terrible place, the

Jewish people rose up and moved on. But tragically,” he warned, “seventy years later, the world

is not moving on; it is moving backward.”

On April 12, 2015, President Lauder delivered a stirring speech before thousands

attending the March of the Living in Budapest, organized each year with the support of the

WJC partner organization MAZSIHISZ (the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary).

“When Jews are part of a society, any society, countries prosper. Jews win Nobel prizes. Jews

create jobs and they cure diseases. Jews build, they don’t tear down. Anti-Semites tear down,

they destroy, they create nothing, they save no one.”

reMeMbering the shoah: the icrc and the international coMMunitY’s eFForts in resPonding to genocide and Protecting civilians

As the abhorrent denial or trivialization of the Holocaust and the glorification of the Nazi era

are becoming increasingly fashionable, the WJC actively promotes education for younger gen-

erations and advocates for legislation around the world to outlaw Holocaust denial and other

forms of anti-Semitism.

On April 28, 2015, the WJC Geneva office, together with the International Committee of

the Red Cross (ICRC), sponsored a major program titled “Remembering the Shoah” to share

lessons learned by the ICRC and the international community regarding the development of

legal and political tools to prevent and respond to large-scale atrocities. The ICRC, although

particularly active during the Second World War, acknowledged that it failed to adequately

address the plight of victims of the Nazi regime and its allies.

In his keynote address at the event, ICRC President Peter Maurer noted that “the ICRC

failed to protect civilians, most notably, the Jews persecuted and murdered by the Nazi regime.

It failed as a humanitarian organization because it lost its moral compass.” Stressing that his

organization has learned from its past failures, he emphasized that “for the ICRC, somehow,

‘never again’ resonates with difficulty because of what we see and experience on the ground

every day. We cannot guarantee that a humanitarian catastrophe of the extent of the Holo-

caust will not happen again. On the contrary, we witness a catalogue of atrocities, every day,

in wars across the globe.”

The commemorative event was attended by more than 200 guests, including senior

members of Geneva’s diplomatic corps. It also featured a panel discussion with Amer-

ican Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt and Canadian physician, writer and activist

James Orbinski.

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder and ICRC President Peter Maurer. ]

[ WJC Treasurer Chella Safra (r.) lights a candle at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin as Charlotte Knobloch, WJC Commissioner for Holocaust Memory, looks on. ]



“there should be no statute of limitations in the case of nazi-looted art, just as there is no statute of limitations for genocide. For almost every stolen painting, a felony murder was committed and a family was destroyed. — WJC President Ronald S. Lauder

HolocauSt remembrance and reStitution

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder presents WJC award to actress Helen Mirren for helping to publicize the issue

of Nazi-looted art through her role in “Woman of Gold.” ]

hoLoCauSt EduCation thRough thE aRtS

Co-sponsored by the WJC North America, the United Nations Outreach Program and the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations, this special educational event featured presentations by accomplished artists in dance, literature, film and music.

looted art

For the World Jewish Congress, restitution and compensation of European Jewish assets

are primarily issues of justice, morality and human dignity. As a founding member of the

World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO), currently chaired by WJC President Ronald

S. Lauder, the WJC is committed to preserving the memory of those who perished in the

Shoah and strives to ensure that those who survived its unimaginable anguish, and the

heirs of those who did not, have returned to them what is rightfully theirs.

The WJC continues to shape the debate on the issue of looted art. After launching

major public and diplomatic campaigns for the return of artwork stolen by the Nazi

regime, the German government agreed to accelerate provenance research, establish

a task force on the Gurlitt trove and has begun to return Nazi-looted art to its rightful

owners. In ongoing talks with Germany, the WJC is working to ensure that public and pri-

vate museums and art galleries respect the 1998 Washington Principles on this issue and

introduce legislation to allow for the return of looted works of art, eliminating its 30-year

statute of limitations on stolen property cases, a major stumbling block in many restitu-

tion cases.

Speaking at the Documentation Center ‘Topographie des Terrors’ in Berlin following

a meeting with senior German government officials, WJC President Ronald S. Lauder noted

that Germany has already negotiated compensation on “the difficult issues of slave labor,

stolen bank deposits and insurance policies. I encourage Germany to deal with Nazi-looted

art, the last prisoners of World War II, in the same comprehensive manner.”


Pro

moti

ng

in

terf

aith

dia

log

ue

For nearly 80 years, the World Jewish Congress has been a pioneer in furthering relations, enhancing understanding, advancing mutual respect and building coalitions with inter-religious groups around the globe.

WJC Israel reaches out on an ongoing basis to Evangelical Christians, an important

reservoir of support for the Jewish state. Each year, in partnership with the Knesset Chris-

tian Allies Caucus (KCAC), the WJC hosts “Night to Honor our Christian Allies” to pay tribute

to Christian leaders who have been steadfast in their commitment to Israel. In addition, a

delegation to Poland helped to launch the first Christian Allies Caucus in the Sejm (Polish

Parliament).

Together with the Israel Allies Foundation and the International Christian Embassy in

Jerusalem (ICEJ), WJC Israel co-sponsored the annual Chairman’s Conference, a gathering

of pro-Israel parliamentarians from 20 countries to address the most pressing issues facing

Israel and the Jewish people, including strategic border implications, the BDS movement

and religious persecution in the Middle East.

The WJC Regional Affiliate, the Latin American Jewish Congress (LAJC), brought 15

Argentine Jewish, Catholic and Muslim leaders to the Middle East, where they met with

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder presents a gift to Pope Francis

at the Vatican. ]



then-Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Ham-

dallah, to illustrate the model of religious coexistence in Argentina.

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder gave the keynote address at the ICEJ annual gath-

ering of more than 5,000 supporters of Israel from 90 nations gathered for the Feast of

Tabernacles in Jerusalem. President Lauder was met with a standing ovation for his spirited

defense of the imperiled Christian population in the Middle East.

Separately, the WJC president published a highly quoted op-ed in the New York

Times on August 19, 2014, titled “Who Will Stand Up for the Christians,” condemning the

barbarous slaughter of thousands of Christians in the Middle East and Africa and calling

for international action. “Christians are dying because of their beliefs, because they are

defenseless and because the world is indifferent to their suffering. The Jewish people

understand all too well what can happen when the world is silent.”

President Lauder also addressed the European Israel Allies Summit in Budapest,

which was attended by 25 members of parliament and 12,000 Christian supporters. The

event was broadcast live on Hungarian television and to more than one million people

around the world.

Marking the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, a declaration adopted by the Second

Vatican Council in 1965 that transformed and greatly improved relations between Jews and

Catholics, more than 100 global leaders of the Governing Board of the World Jewish Con-

gress, led by WJC President Ronald S. Lauder, met with Pope Francis in Rome on October

28, 2015. The Pope, expressing unequivocal support for the Jewish people, issued a strong

condemnation of anti-Semitism.

“To attack Jews is anti-Semitism, but an outright attack on the State of Israel is also

anti-Semitism,” Pope Francis told the WJC delegation. “There may be political disagree-

ments between governments and on political issues, but the State of Israel has every right

to exist in safety and prosperity.”

During his public audience that day in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope stressed that

Nostra Aetate helped to turn “enemies and strangers” into “friends and brothers,” adding

that the declaration “paved the way…for the rediscovery of the Jewish roots of Christianity,

and [said] no to any form of anti-Semitism and condemnation of any insult, discrimination

and persecution derived from that.”

Latin aMERiCan JEWiSh CongRESS (LaJC) honoREd foR intERfaith WoRk

In July 2015, the parliament of Bueno Aires presented LAJC with a special declaration that read: “…In the context of a society fractured by politics, the LAJC’s actions contribute to the construction of diversity and pluralism.” At another ceremony attended by the envoy of Pope Francis, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, LAJC accepted the Ecumenical Social Forum’s Latin American Award for NGO Social Responsibility, for its “efforts to promote dialogue and the promotion of human rights.”

The Opinion Pages | OP-ed cOnTribuTOr

by rOnald S. lauder auG. 19, 2014

Who Will Stand up for the christians?

“if we can establish firm ways of understanding between Jews and Catholics, we will leave our children a more fraternal world than the one we received.” — Jack Terpins, President, Latin American Jewish Congress


Leveraging our leadership, visibility and influence as the most respected and influential diplomatic voice of the Jewish people, the message of the World Jewish Congress is heard worldwide, through a strong and growing presence both in traditional news media and social media.

The WJC led the international Jewish community’s response to the barbaric terror

attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions in Brussels, Paris and Copenhagen, and raised

its voice to support embattled Jewish communities in Greece, Hungary and elsewhere.

WJC leaders continued to speak out boldly in support of Israel and unequivocally against

BDS and the escalating global campaigns seeking to demonize and delegitimize the

Jewish state.

Hundreds of millions of people around the globe saw, or read, what WJC President

Ronald S. Lauder told the survivors and many statesmen present at the main commemo-

rative event in January 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz:

“World silence led to Auschwitz. World indifference led to Auschwitz. World anti-Semitism

led to Auschwitz. Do not let this happen again.” The major American and international

news networks, including NBC, CNN, BBC and others, carried this message to the world.

Furthermore, the World Jewish Congress was prominently featured in thousands of

articles in top-tier U.S. and global news outlets. WJC leaders offered interviews and expert

commentary on the pressing issues of the day and were cited in broadcasts and periodicals

around the world. The WJC’s far-reaching contacts allowed for unprecedented exposure

and the ability to advocate for the Jewish people in diverse places and forums.

In a series of opinion pieces, interviews and press releases, WJC President Ronald S.

Lauder successfully pushed Germany to undertake more concerted efforts to return Nazi-

looted art to its rightful owners. Further, an op-ed penned by the WJC President in the New

York Times on August 19, 2014, entitled “Who Will Stand Up for the Christians,” brought the

plight of thousands of Christians slaughtered throughout the Middle East and Africa into

the global spotlight.

Effectively using the internet to help counter the dramatic rise of online anti-Semi-

tism, the WJC rapidly grew its presence on social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube

and Twitter, now reaching up to 100 million people through these platforms. With more

than 150,000 fans, the WJC’s Facebook page is now one of the biggest of any Jewish non-

profit in the U.S.

facebook.com/wjc.org

youtube.com/worldjewishcongress

#worldjewishcong


WJC

th

eod

or

her

zl a

war

d

Theodor Herzl was the father of modern political Zionism. Established in 2012, the World Jewish Congress Theodor Herzl Award recognizes individuals who carry forward Herzl’s ideals for a safer, more tolerant world through international support for Israel and enhanced understanding of Jewish history, cul-ture and peoplehood.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger was honored at a dinner gala held

on November 11, 2014, in New York City. The 91-year-old laureate was presented with the

Herzl Award by journalist Barbara Walters and WJC President Ronald S. Lauder.

President Lauder hailed Dr. Kissinger, America’s first Jewish Secretary of State, as a

man “who brought an unusual combination of knowledge, brilliance and skill to the office

of Secretary of State. From his boyhood in Germany, and through this one man’s life, we

see the entire Jewish story of the 20th century.”

President Lauder spoke of the establishment of the WJC in 1936 to draw global atten-

tion to the growing threat coming out of Nazi Germany. “This past summer looked more

like 1936 at times than 2014. Huge anti-Israel demonstrations throughout the Middle East

and Europe quickly turned into the lowest form of anti-Jewish riots. The irrational hatred

of Jews has returned, along with the growing ignorance and intolerance that fuel it. When

things turn ugly, they can turn very quickly. Just ask Henry Kissinger, who had to leave his

very secure home at the age of 15.”

In accepting the WJC award, Dr. Kissinger addressed some of the crises currently

facing America and Israel. “There is enormous upheaval. The Jewish people have again,

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder, Barbara Walters and Theodor Herzl Award honoree Henry Kissinger. ]

| 2014-2015 global review 28

in some countries, become the object of severe attacks. In the years ahead, the United

States needs to keep in mind what it will defend, even if it has to do so alone; what it has to

achieve together with allies, and finally, what is beyond its capacity. The survival of Israel

and the maintenance of its capacity to build a future is a principle we will pursue, even if

we have to do it alone.”

On April 27, 2015, the WJC also paid tribute to Lord George Weidenfeld, co-founder

of the renowned publishing firm Weidenfeld & Nicolson and Chief of Cabinet to Israeli

President Chaim Weizmann in 1949.

The 95-year old statesman, scholar and publisher was feted at the Victoria and Albert

Museum in London. WJC President Ronald S. Lauder presented the award. “There are some

people in our world—just a few—who have the courage and temerity to stand up for what

is right and speak out when they see injustice. George Weidenfeld is one of these rare

men.” President Lauder recalled his own work with Lord Weidenfeld to expose former UN

secretary general and later Austrian President Kurt Waldheim’s Nazi past, as well as Lord

Weidenfeld’s “constant efforts on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people.”

Previous WJC Theodor Herzl Award recipients include Shimon Peres, Elie and Marion

Wiesel, and, posthumously, Ronald Reagan and Axel Springer.

[ WJC President Ronald S. Lauder with Lord George Weidenfeld. ]

“When Jews need protection and when israel needs political help, there is a number they can call. The World Jewish Congress will always answer. We travel the world to meet with presidents, prime ministers and kings to make it very clear that any anti-Semitic behavior in their borders is unacceptable, intolerable and will not go unchallenged. — WJC President Ronald S. Lauder



World Union of Jewish StudentsThe Jewish Diplomatic Corps

African Jewish Congress Israel Council on Foreign RelationsAnti-Defamation League B’nai B’rith International Conference of European Rabbis Conference on Jewish MaterialClaims Against Germany

Hillel International Association ofJewish Lawyers and Jurists

International Councilof Jewish Women

International Councilof Jewish Parliamentarians

International Jewish Committee onInter-Religious Consultations

World Mizrachi Movement World Union for Progressive Judaism World Zionist OrganizationLimmund FSU Maccabi World Union Women’s InternationalZionist Organization

Jewish Agency for Israel World ORT World Jewish CongressInstitute for Research and Policy

WJC Affiliated

WJC Member

World Jewish Congress


World Union of Jewish StudentsThe Jewish Diplomatic Corps

African Jewish Congress Israel Council on Foreign RelationsAnti-Defamation League B’nai B’rith International Conference of European Rabbis Conference on Jewish MaterialClaims Against Germany

Hillel International Association ofJewish Lawyers and Jurists

International Councilof Jewish Women

International Councilof Jewish Parliamentarians

International Jewish Committee onInter-Religious Consultations

World Mizrachi Movement World Union for Progressive Judaism World Zionist OrganizationLimmund FSU Maccabi World Union Women’s InternationalZionist Organization

Jewish Agency for Israel World ORT World Jewish CongressInstitute for Research and Policy

WJC Affiliated

WJC Member

Organizations and Related Bodies

Communities Affiliated with:

Regional affiliates & Communities


Staff and Regional affiliate Executives 2015

senior Professional staffRobert Singer

CHIEF ExECUTIVE OFFICER AND ExECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

*Maram Stern DEPUTY CEO FOR DIPLOMACY

Sonia Gomes de Mesquita CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER

*John Malkinson CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Chaim Reiss CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Randi Dubno ACTING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

*Michael Thaidigsmann DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS

Aliyana Traison DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS; SENIOR U.S. AND ISRAEL PRESS OFFICER

Shira Copans HEAD OF ExECUTIVE OFFICE

Menachem Rosensaft GENERAL COUNSEL

Michael Schneider SPECIAL ADVISOR

reGional affiliate exeCutivesHaim Ben Yaakov

CEO, EURO-ASIAN JEWISH CONGRESS

Betty Ehrenberg ExECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS NORTH AMERICA

Claudio Epelman ExECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LATIN AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS

Sam Grundwerg DIRECTOR GENERAL, WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS ISRAEL

Raya Kalenova ExECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN JEWISH CONGRESS

neW york offiCeCheryl Bailes

DIRECTOR OF DIRECT MAIL

Yfat Barak Cheney INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/POLICY ANALYST

Sarah Khedouri ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Susan Manoukis DATABASE MANAGER

David Meluskey ASSISTANT TO CEO

Ornit Michael OFFICE MANAGER/DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

David Nagel CONTROLLER

Vivian Pollack ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/BOOKKEEPER

Dov Strulowitz ACCOUNTANT

Cory Weiss JEWISH DIPLOMATIC CORPS COORDINATOR, NORTH AMERICA; ASSISTANT TO CPO

Janice Wolpo DIRECTOR, CAMPAIGN RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

WashinGton, dC*Mark Levin

WASHINGTON ADVISOR

Geneva offiCeTom Gal

WJC GENEVA CONSULTANT

Arielle Godin JEWISH DIPLOMATIC CORPS COORDINATOR, EUROPE, FSU REGION,

ISRAEL AND SOUTH AFRICA

Lauren Rose UN GENEVA REPRESENTATIVE

Brussels offiCe*Myriam Glikerman

DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY RELATIONS

*Morgan Meldrum DIRECTOR, IT AND COMMUNICATIONS

*Isabella Nespoli DIRECTOR, INTERFAITH AFFAIRS

*Serge Weinber GLOBAL EVENTS ADMINISTRATOR

israel offiCeLaurence Weinbaum

DIRECTOR, ISRAEL COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS Yvette Shumacher

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ISRAEL COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Oranit Weiner ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Buenos aires offiCeVeronica Machtey

DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC PROJECTS

Valeria Grimberg PROGRAM DIRECTOR, NEW GENERATIONS

Ariel Seidler SOCIAL MEDIAL MANAGER

Ezequiel Kupervaser PRESS SECRETARY

vilnius – WJC international yiddish Center

*Yitzchak Averbuch DIRECTOR

Lev Milner CEO

Rosita Rybokaite PROGRAM COORDINATOR

*Mordahey Yushkovsky PEDAGOGICAL DIRECTOR

GloBal ProJeCt manaGers*Gabriela Jiraskova

WJC CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROJECT COORDINATOR

Omri Segelman DIRECTOR, GLOBAL JEWISH SECURITY

*Mladen Petrov SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

*Indicates that the staff member is a consultant

Erwin AbramsLowell AdelsonKenneth AdinAlice R. AldermanMaurice AmzalakBruce ApothekerNathan AppelbaumSimon and Beatrice AppleSonia G. AtkinsonSophie AxkelHerbert and Selma AzifKurt BaerRena A. BaffGerald BagnerMilton N. BakerMolly BarrettLila R. BathPauline A. BeckerRobert H. BellGeorge BennettMarlene BergCurtis Frederick BergenEmil BergerLouis BergerCharles BermanBenjamin BernsteinMartin BlaifederMiriam Markowitz BlattSylvia BlecknerJerome G. BlockLeroy BlockPeter BlumbergRoslyn BlumbergDavid Meyer BlumenthalSol BlumenthalMarvin BogdanoffFlorence BolatinClarice BorodkinIrvin BregmanPercy A. BrillElaine Brimer, Ph.D.David E. BrodyBarbara F. BrownEvelyn B. BruyereHarry BuginLillian BurgemanMerle CahnMax CanterAdrea Z. CarterRuth ChapmanJoseph T. CharneyJefferson CohenMilton and Ruth CohenSander CohenBen ColloffRuth CrumLeslie A. DavisEzra DelsonHerbert DenenbergSheila DeutschThelma DobrowolskiLawrence DoppeltNorma DuboffIlse EarlEstherlea EckmannAbraham Edelman

Louis and Gretchen KlaffHarold J. KleinHarry H. KleinSaul KleinMoses R. KlipperGrace KoenigsbergSamuel M. KoenigsbergJacob KornClara KoropshinskySidney KrakowerMyer S. KripkeSylvia E. KroneJoseph R. KuhElaine LampertPaul LappeSamuel J. LashinskyDavid LeavittPauline W. LedeenMiriam LengyelHarry S. LesterFrances LeventrittAvis LevinEsther LevinDiane LevineHerbert LevineMorton J. LevinsonMiriam LevyHerman LipsitzRebecca ListerHelen Galland LoewusErvin B. LondonJack LuchsSuzy MahlerFlorence G. MaioIsabel K. MallerEdith MallonHarold MargolisIda Mae MargolisRosalind MarimontClara D. MarkowitzMelody MarksSusi T. MarxEsther Shady MastersMarcia Z. MehrThelma MermelsteinMax P. MiliansHarold MillerShirley MillerSonia Ann MillerRuth MossManuel NathanSylvie M. NathansonNeiman FamilyJanet NemerofskyO. OnwaezeWalter OppenheimMorton A. PackelHarold A. PelterSteven A. PerlbergMiriam PerryJoseph PoluskyReuben PortonHarold PuttermanCelia P. RitterLillian RobbinsSara Roberts

Aaron EdenSara and Max EfronRomaine EfrosThelma May EidelmanLevite EvelynIsidore and Dora FelberIda Lee FeldmanCecil FinegoldDouglas A. FinkelstoneLinda FishJean V. FleischerMark ForrestFrances W. FranckJudith B. FrankelAbraham FreedmanLillian FreudmannEdna FriedSidney C. FriedHarold B. FriedlandBenjamin FullettEsther GalinskyDorothy Y. GarberShelley GardinerRebecca S. GilbertAaron B. GlicksbergJack M. GoldbergLouis Jay GoldenbergBeatrice GoldfarbGerson M. GoldmanMorton GoldsmithDoris M. GoodmanPeryl GottesmanIrving James GottliebEsther GouldCatalina GradyAnne GreenbaumLouise B. GreenbergLenore GreimanHerbert E. GroskinAbraham J. GrossCharlotte A. GunzburgerRudolph and Lucille GuttmannBernard and Rhoda HermanGisela HerzlLouis P. HeymanD. H. HirsbergIrving L. HorowitzDavid L. IchelsonJohn F. IgnatzRose L. JacobsStanley N. JacobsBertha M. JacobsonRichard JacobsonArnold JacobyBernard H. JaffeeDavid L. JosephLevin JosephMathilda KamermanEdith KatzHenry and Sara KatzFlorence Glass KaufmanRoma Fineberg KaufmanSarah KaufmanBertram C. KayMinna KayeRuby Kelton

Kay RoseGeorge RosenfeldHelen Jean RosenzweigJune Rosner and FamilyEmanuel N. RotterHenry SachsmanRegina SalomonMichael SamekAllan and Edith SchechterSigna ScherHans L. SchlesingerLuise SchlesingerCharlotte SchlossHerbert SchneiderManuel SchneiderIsidore SchnurDenise K. SchorrMorris SchultzH. Paul SchwadelMarsha SchwartzRose SeltzerMarion C. ShamosMeyer ShapiroVincent ShermanPhilip R. SiegelbaumNorman SilvermanSarah SilvermanIda SimonBetty SolodarCari SommerSandra SosnickDennis SteinEdna SteinbergerBernard SternHyman StollerGertrude StoneRhoda SturmakMarianne SufrinDruria SylvesterRuth N. TaubEthel TaylorMax and Sylvia TennebaumSolodare TheodoreHerman A. TolzArthur VamosVarhegyi Family TrustMartin VirsotskyLouis J. WalinskyLeonard J. WarrenRichard WatonTrudi WeimerMilton P. WeinsteinIrving and Rita WeinstockAlma WeisbergArlene W. WeissFrances WinklerMartin F. WitkinJulius WittmanLiese-Lotte WolfLenny WorthDorothy YashonHenrietta ZackinMartha ZeffPhyllis W. ZierlerMax ZimmerByron Zuckerman

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Founded in 1936 in Geneva, the World Jewish Congress

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in more than 100 countries across six continents.

Working as the permanent address on behalf of world Jewry

with foreign governments and international agencies, the

World Jewish Congress:

> safeguards Jewish security

> combats anti-Semitism, bigotry and extremism

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> advocates on issues of human rights

> promotes and enhances interfaith relations

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GLOBAL REVIEW WRIttEn By: Janice WolpoARt DIREctIOn: Laura Anne Shay-Hupé, LASH Arts

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