Key Facts
Key Information
About
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations representing over 100 countries across six continents. Founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 1936 in response to the rise of Nazism and European antisemitism, it was established to mobilize world Jewry against Nazi Germany and to represent Jewish interests globally. Serving as the "diplomatic arm of the Jewish people," the WJC's primary aims include combating antisemitism, advocating for Jewish and human rights worldwide, supporting the establishment and security of Israel, and fostering unity among Jewish people through democratic representation. Early in its history, the WJC played a pivotal role in alerting the world to the Holocaust via the 1942 Riegner Telegram and pressuring Allied leaders for action. It holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and engages with governments, parliaments, international bodies, and other faiths on behalf of Jewish interests, while remaining politically non-partisan. Headquartered in New York City, the WJC maintains offices in Brussels, Jerusalem, Paris, Moscow, Buenos Aires, and Geneva, coordinating global advocacy, policy development, and diplomacy from its New York base due to its proximity to the United Nations and media outlets. The organization conducts campaigns against antisemitism, supports Jewish community resilience, and promotes interfaith dialogue. Its funding comes from donations, including major donors such as Ronald S. Lauder and related foundations like the Adelson Family Foundation.