World Jewish Congress
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Non- Governmental and Other Organisations
- Judaism
- Congrès juif mondial; Congreso Judío Mundial; Juedischer Weltkongress; Congresso Judaico Mundial; Congresso Ebraico Mondiale
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501 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, USA
4 Washington Street, Jerusalem 9418704, Israel
- worldjewishcongress
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish.- Show
Aim
Foster the unity and represent the interests of the Jewish people, and ensure the continuity and development of its religious, spiritual, cultural, and social heritage; enhance solidarity among Jewish communities throughout the world and strengthen the bonds of Jewish communities and Jews in the Diaspora with Israel; secure the rights, status and interests of Jews and Jewish communities and defend them wherever they are denied, violated or threatened; encourage and assist the creative development of Jewish social, religious, and cultural life throughout the world, support Jewish education and the development of Jewish values, and ensure Jewish continuity and the transmittal of Jewish legacy from one generation to another; assist Jewish communities in strengthening their Jewish identities and in confronting problems in the political, legal, social, religious, cultural or economic spheres; represent and act on behalf of Member Communities and the Jewish people as a whole vis-à-vis governments, governmental authorities, international and intergovernmental organisations and authorities, non-governmental organisations, inter-faith groups, other faiths and civic bodies; preserve the memory of the Holocaust and of the millions of Jews and countless Jewish communities destroyed during the Shoah, and advocate on behalf of its survivors and their families; combat anti-Semitism in all its manifestations and raise the consciousness of the public at large to the dangers inherent in any incitement to religious, racial, or ethnic intolerance, oppression or persecution; foster, support and participate in inter-faith dialogue; encourage and promote gender equality and the involvement of younger Jews in Jewish communal and organisational leadership; cooperate with governments, nations, organisations, and individuals, to accomplish the above goals in the spirit of peace, freedom, equality and justice.
History
230 delegates representing Jewish communities in 32 countries met in in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 1936 to establish the World Jewish Congress. As a successor to the Committee of Jewish Delegations, it was initially set up to mobilise Jewish people and democratic forces against the Nazi onslaught.
IRD Activities
- Promoting Interfaith Dialogue - Christian Faith
The WJC has well established relations with the Catholic Church, and has played a leading role, both directly and within the framework of ICJIC, in an ongoing dialogue over many decades. This has produced positive results in many cases. The recently adapted Latin text of the Good Friday prayer is a contentious issue. Ongoing discussions to resolve the issue should not impede this important liaison. Progress, however, is slow with regard to the Orthodox and Protestant Churches. The decentralised nature of these churches and certain political issues related to the Middle East conflict are obstacles to advancement. Dialogue with the other Christian churches is an important mechanism for increasing understanding between the faiths and for increasing mutual theological knowledge
- Promoting Interfaith Dialogue - Muslim Faith
Whilst combating the threats posed by 'Radical Islam' it is important to embrace the proponents of 'Moderate Islam' and to engage with them in open and constructive dialogue. Dialogue should not only be limited to a theological debate, but also to exchanges of views on sociological, cultural, diplomatic and political issues. In July 2008, the Muslim World League held an interfaith meeting to which representatives of many religions were invited. 'The International Conference for Dialogue' was an initiative of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, and was a significant step forward in opening the possibility of a dialogue between Abrahamic faiths and with other major religions. The WJC was amongst the Jewish organisations that were represented at the meeting. All religions, and especially the three Abrahamic faiths, can work together to respond to the challenges posed by developments in modern society, especially to discuss and promote shared values. Cooperation between faith-based organisations in local communities can respond to the challenges posed by a changing world (environmental, globalisation, violence, terrorism, decline of values etc.) and can show that religions have viable answers to these challenges in the contemporary world.
Main Focus Countries of Activities
Afghanistan - Albania - Algeria - Argentina - Armenia - Australia - Austria - Azerbaijan - Bahamas - Bahrain - Barbados - Belarus - Belgium - Bermuda - Bolivia - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Botswana - Brazil - Bulgaria - Canada - Cayman Islands - Chile - China - Colombia - Congo - Costa Rica - Croatia - Cuba - Cyprus - Czechia - Denmark - Dominican Republic - Ecuador - Egypt - El Salvador - Estonia - Ethiopia - Fiji - Finland - France - French Guiana - Georgia - Germany - Gibraltar - Greece - Guadeloupe - Guatemala - Haiti - Honduras - Hungary - India - Indonesia - Iran - Iraq - Ireland - Israel - Italy - Jamaica - Japan - Kazakhstan - Kenya - Kyrgyzstan - Laos - Latvia - Lebanon - Libya - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Macedonia - Malta - Martinique - Mexico - Moldova - Monaco - Montenegro - Morocco - Mozambique - Myanmar - Namibia - Nepal - Curaçao - Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba - Sint Maarten - New Caledonia - New Zealand - Nicaragua - Norway - Panama - Paraguay - Peru - Poland - Portugal - Puerto Rico - Romania - Russian Federation - Serbia - Singapore - Slovakia - Slovenia - South Africa - South Korea - Spain - Suriname - Sweden - Switzerland - Syria - Tahiti - Tajikistan - Thailand - Netherlands - Philippines - Tunisia - Turkey - Turkmenistan - Ukraine - UK - USA - Uruguay - United States Virgin Islands - Uzbekistan - Venezuela - Viet Nam - Yemen - Zambia - Zimbabwe - Afghanistan - Albania - Algeria - Argentina - Armenia - Australia - Austria - Azerbaijan - Bahamas - Bahrain - Barbados - Belarus - Belgium - Bermuda - Bolivia - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Botswana - Brazil - Bulgaria - Canada - Cayman Islands - Chile - China - Colombia - Congo - Costa Rica - Croatia - Cuba - Cyprus - Czechia - Denmark - Dominican Republic - Ecuador - Egypt - El Salvador - Estonia - Ethiopia - Fiji - Finland - France - French Guiana - Georgia - Germany - Gibraltar - Greece - Guadeloupe - Guatemala - Haiti - Honduras - Hungary - India - Indonesia - Iran - Iraq - Ireland - Israel - Italy - Jamaica - Japan - Kazakhstan - Kenya - Kyrgyzstan - Laos - Latvia - Lebanon - Libya - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Macedonia - Malta - Martinique - Mexico - Moldova - Monaco - Montenegro - Morocco - Mozambique - Myanmar - Namibia - Nepal - Curaçao - Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba - Sint Maarten - New Caledonia - New Zealand - Nicaragua - Norway - Panama - Paraguay - Peru - Poland - Portugal - Puerto Rico - Romania - Russian Federation - Serbia - Singapore - Slovakia - Slovenia - South Africa - South Korea - Spain - Suriname - Sweden - Switzerland - Syria - Tahiti - Tajikistan - Thailand - Netherlands - Philippines - Tunisia - Turkey - Turkmenistan - Ukraine - UK - USA - Uruguay - United States Virgin Islands - Uzbekistan - Venezuela - Viet Nam - Yemen - Zambia - Zimbabwe