World Jewish Congress

A big group works to help Jewish people.

They started a long time ago. They began in a place called Geneva.

This group was made to help people stay safe. They wanted everyone to be treated fairly. They also wanted to help people find a home.

Many people from many lands joined them. They work in many cities now. One big office is in New York.

They talk to leaders around the world. This helps them share important ideas. They work to keep their people united.

It is a very large and helpful group.

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is a large group of Jewish communities.

It acts as a voice for Jewish people to talk to world leaders. The group started in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 1936. People formed it to fight against the rise of Nazism. They also wanted to fight against anti-Semitism. This is when people are treated unfairly because they are Jewish.

In the beginning, the WJC wanted to help Jewish people find equal rights. They also worked to help create a Jewish state in Palestine. During World War II, the group moved its main office to New York City.

They worked hard to help refugees who were fleeing danger. The WJC even set up special groups to support people in different countries.

Today, the WJC has many offices around the world. One main office is in New York City. They also have offices in places like Jerusalem and Paris.

The group helps keep Jewish communities united and safe.

The World Jewish Congress, or WJC, is a large group of Jewish communities.

It works as a diplomatic voice for Jewish people. This means they talk to world leaders and governments. The group wants to help Jewish people everywhere. They bring different groups together to act as one. This helps them speak for millions of people at once. The WJC has a special role at the United Nations too.

Before the WJC started, other groups tried to help. One group was the American Jewish Congress. Another was the Comité des Délégations Juives. This group started in March 1919. A leader named Leo Motzkin headed it. They worked to protect Jewish rights in many places. They even helped with rights in Turkey in 1920. Leaders also held meetings in London and Zurich. In 1927, 65 people from 13 countries met in Switzerland.

The WJC was officially founded in August 1936. This happened in Geneva, Switzerland. People formed it because of the rise of Nazism. They also wanted to fight against anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is when people are treated unfairly because they are Jewish. The first big meeting had 230 delegates. These people came from 32 different countries.

A man named Stephen Wise was a leader. He said the group was for people who chose to defend Jewish rights.

During World War II, things became very difficult. The WJC moved its main office to New York City. They also had an office in London. In 1939, they started a group called RELICO. This group helped Jewish refugees who were fleeing danger. They worked with the Red Cross to keep people safe. In 1942, they formed a council in New York City. This council helped people from many different countries. They wanted to make sure Jewish people had help after the war ended.

Today, the WJC is still very active. Their main headquarters is in New York City. They have many other offices around the world. These are in Brussels, Jerusalem, Paris, Moscow, Buenos Aires, and Geneva. The group helps keep Jewish communities united. They still work to protect rights and support Jewish life. They connect people from many different lands. This work helps them stay a strong voice for the Jewish people.

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations.

It serves as a diplomatic arm for the Jewish people. This means the group acts as a representative voice to world governments. Membership is open to all representative Jewish groups. This includes communities regardless of their host country's political or economic ideology. The organization maintains its headquarters in New York City. It also operates international offices in Brussels, Jerusalem, Paris, Moscow, Buenos Aires, and Geneva.

Furthermore, the WJC holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

The history of the WJC began with several precursor organizations. One was the American Jewish Congress (AJC). Another was the Comité des Délégations Juives, established in March 1919. This committee represented Jewish communities at the Paris Peace Conference. It was led by the Russian Zionist Leo Motzkin. The committee advocated for minority rights in many regions. For example, it helped negotiate rights in Turkey through the Treaty of Sèvres in 1920. The AJC also played a major role. In December 1917, the AJC passed a resolution to convene a World Jewish Congress once peace was declared in Europe.

Before the official founding, several preparatory steps took place. In 1923, Leo Motzkin visited the United States. He urged the AJC to find ways to protect Jewish rights globally. This led to conferences in London in 1926 and Zurich in 1927. In August 1932, a First Preparatory World Jewish Conference was held in Geneva. Nahum Goldmann led the preparatory committee for this meeting. Goldmann wanted to create a permanent address for the Jewish people. He believed the group should speak for 16 million Jews to the nations of the world.

The World Jewish Congress was officially established in August 1936. This founding occurred in Geneva, Switzerland. The creation was a direct reaction to the rise of Nazism and increasing anti-Semitism in Europe. The First Plenary Assembly included 230 delegates from 32 different countries.

The assembly used democratic principles to elect its members. For instance, 1,000 representatives from 99 communities in 32 U.S. states attended an Electoral Convention in Washington, D.C., to choose American delegates. Stephen S. Wise served as the chairman of the WJC Executive. Julian Mack was named the honorary president. The group's main goals were to promote Jewish unity and support a Jewish National Home in Palestine.

During the early years, the WJC used two main strategies to fight anti-Semitism. First, they worked in the political and legal spheres. This involved lobbying the League of Nations and making public statements. Second, they organized a boycott of products from Nazi Germany. However, these efforts faced challenges. The League of Nations was often weak against Germany. Additionally, the Nazi regime successfully resisted economic boycotts. Following the Kristallnacht pogroms in November 1938, the WJC issued strong protests. They condemned the violent attacks on Jewish shops and synagogues.

The outbreak of World War II in September 1939 forced the WJC to change its operations. The organization moved to Geneva to help communicate with European communities. By the summer of 1940, most of Europe was under Nazi occupation. The WJC then moved its headquarters to New York City. They also established a special office in London. In 1939, the WJC created a relief committee called RELICO. This committee assisted Jewish war refugees.

The WJC also worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross. In 1942, they formed the Advisory Council on European Jewish Affairs in New York. This council included 18 committees representing exiled European Jewish communities. These committees provided moral and material support to people facing persecution.

The WJC continues to function as a vital international entity. It connects diverse Jewish groups to address common concerns. By acting as a unified representative body, it can influence global policy. The organization remains focused on the survival and political influence of the Jewish people. Through its many international offices, it maintains a global presence. This allows the WJC to address issues ranging from refugee security to cultural education.