Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO)

2025-12-31 11:35:PM <br/> Tags: #WorldJewry #Israel #organization #EarlyZionism ![[image-209.png|462x302]] # Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) - The Women's International Zionist Organization is one of the largest Jewish women's organizations globally. - WIZO's stated purpose is the "social development of women and children in Israel and Jewish Education in the diaspora."[^1] - WIZO functions through a global federated system, with active chapters in 38 countries. - WIZO's global membership numbers over 100,000. - WIZO describes the goal of its global chapters and their members as "strengthening Israel’s society."[^9] - Every four years, WIZO delegates from each chapter arrive in Israel for a large WIZO Congress-style conference where leaders are chosen and policy is set. ![[image-210.png|698x328]] *Map of countries WIZO is active in. Notice the strong presence in Europe and Latin America. Sourced from the [WIZO website](https://www.wizo.org/our-federations/).* #### Founding and Early Zionism - WIZO was founded in England in 1920 by "a group of strong women, whose husbands were involved in Zionist activity."[^3] - WIZO's central founding purpose was to assist the Zionist project to build a Jewish state in Palestine. - From the beginning WIZO worked closely with the [[World Zionist Organization]], eventually sending delegates to the WZO's World Zionist Congress. - WIZO's founders were:[^2] - Vera Weizmann - Married to [[Chaim Weizmann]] who is arguably the most prominent early Zionist. - Rebecca Sieff - Married to [[Israel Sieff]]. - Edith Eder - Married to British Zionist leader David Eder. - Romana Goodman - Noted "staunch feminist" who "assisted in the creation of the first [[B'nai B'rith]] women's lodge in England in 1919."[^4] - Henrietta Irwell - Directly prior to the founding of WIZO, Weizmann, Eder, and Sieff joined the [[Zionist Commission]] on a visit to the [[Yishuv]]. *The Yishuv was the term for pre-statehood Jewish Palestine.* - The women were "shocked to the core" when they discovered the terrible conditions of the Jewish settlements, thus impelling them to form WIZO. [^5] - WIZO quickly began working with Jewish women's groups in Palestine including the Hebrew Women's Organization, the League of Women for Equal Rights in Eretz Israel (a suffrage organization), and [[Hadassah]]. [^5] - In the interwar years WIZO established a significant prescence in Europe, Palestine, South Africa and Latin America.[^7] - In 1949, after the Israeli declaration of statehood and the [[1948 Arab Israeli War]], WIZO moved its headquarters from London to Israel. - Rebecca Sieff, the longtime head of WIZO, became the first official World WIZO president in 1949. [^2] - In 1949, WIZO participated in the first Israeli elections. - WIZO won one seat in the Knesset; the seat was held by Rachel Cohen-Kagan. - Cohen-Kagan lost her seat in 1951, returning in 1961 under the Liberal Party. - In 1965, the Liberal Party merged with the [[Revisionist Zionism|Revisionist]] [[Herut]] Party and a few smaller center-right parties to form [[Gahal]]. [^6] *Rachel Cohen-Kagan was one of seven who broke from the liberal party in opposition to an alliance with the right wing Herut party.* - In 1973, [[Gahal]] merged with a number of smaller parties to form [[Likud]]. - In Canada, Hadassah and WIZO operate as one - Hadassah-WIZO Canada. - This merger took place in the 1920s. #### Israel - In the first decades of Israeli statehood, WIZO mobilized to aid the country's development. - WIZO ran vocational classed for women, operated immigrant services for new Jewish arrivals, opened nurseries, clothing centers, and kitchens, and provided Hebrew language courses for Jewish women. - WIZO became involved in managing [[Youth Aliyah]] schools during this time. - In the 1960s WIZO became one of few Israeli organizations to achieve NGO consultive status in the United Nations. [^3] *Under the 1960 tab on the footnote.* - Beginning in 1975 WIZO's president Raya Jaglom became a sitting member of the [[World Jewish Congress]] executive committee, becoming the first representative of a women's organization to do so.[^10] - Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, WIZO was heavily involved in promoting pro-women social change in Israel. - WIZO established shelters for women and children, advocated against domestic violence, and ran public awareness campaigns regarding male violence against women. - In the mid-1990s WIZO partnered with [[Elie Wiesel]] to found the Elie Wiesel Beit Zipora Educational centers in Ashkelon and Kiryat Malachi.[^8] *Ashkelon and Kiryat Malachi are Israeli cities a few miles north of the Gaza Strip.* - In 2008, WIZO was awarded the Israel Prize, the state of Israel's most prestigious award.[^2] - During times of conflict in Israel WIZO provides 24/7 childcare for the children of Israeli soldiers along with other forms of emergency assistance. [^15] --- - WIZO is a member of the [[World Zionist Organization]], the [[Jewish Agency]], and the [[World Jewish Congress]], and sits on the governing board/executive committees of each one. [^11] - WIZO maintains a lobby in the Israeli Knesset. - WIZO often works in partnership with [[Na'amat]], another large women's organization. [^14] - WIZO lobbies for legislation related to child welfare, women's issues, sexual assault and domestic violence, social justice, etc. #### United States - In 1982, WIZO USA was formally launched.[^8] - WIZO had long refrained from operating in the U.S. given the existence of [[Hadassah|Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America]] - WIZO USA has a strong presence in Florida, California, and New York. *These are also the three most heavily Jewish states.* - WIZO is a member of the [[Conference of Presidents]].[^20] #### Funding and Donors - WIZO, unlike some organizations, does not publish public donors lists. - WIZO has however received support from a number of notable benefactors both individual and institutional. - In the mid 20th century, Israeli institutions including [[Keren Hayesod]] and the [[Jewish Agency]] provided funding for WIZO. - The Sieff family has backed WIZO since its founding. - Rebecca Sieff was the primary founder of WIZO. Her husband [[Israel Sieff]] and their children have backed WIZO projects and initiatives. --- - WIZO USA reports an average of $5-10 million in annual revenue.[^17] - In 2024 WIZO USA reported $6.7 million in revenue. - WIZO USA's 2024 form 990 schedule G tax filing reveals over 50% of WIZO USA's funding comes from large fundraising events. [^18] - WIZO USA reported a total of 14 fundraising events with the largest two titled "Annual Florida Gala" and "NY Fashion Show." #### Notable Figures - Rebecca Sieff - First WIZO president - 1949-1966 *Sieff had been mostly leading the organization since its 1920 inception.* - Rosa Ginossar - Second WIZO president - 1963-1970 *Ginossar had been acting president from 1963 given Rebecca Sieff's poor health.* - Raya Jaglom - Third WIZO president - 1970-1996 - Longest serving WIZO president. Oversaw WIZO's establishment in the United States. Brought WIZO closer to the [[Jewish Agency]] and [[World Jewish Congress]]. - Upon her death in 2017, Jaglom was praised by [[World Jewish Congress]] CEO [[Robert Singer]].[^19] - Michal Modai - Fourth WIZO president - 1996-2004 - Helena Glaser - Fifth WIZO president - 2004-2012[^12] - Since 2010, Glaser has served as the chair of the [[World Zionist Organization]]-World Zionist Congress's Zionist General Council.[^13] - Tova Ben-Dov - Sixth WIZO president - 2012-2016 - Esther Mor - Seventh WIZO president - 2016-2024 - Anat Vidor - Eighth WIZO president - 2024-present - Mireille Manocherian - Current WIZO USA president - Manocherian's husband Ephraim is listed as a [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)]] donor in the USHMM's 2006-7 annual report.[^16] #### References [^1]: “4-Day Confab Stresses WIZO Role in Latin American Jewish Communities,” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, [https://www.jta.org/archive/4-day-confab-stresses-wizo-role-in-latin-american-jewish-communities](https://www.jta.org/archive/4-day-confab-stresses-wizo-role-in-latin-american-jewish-communities). [^2]: “Women’s International Zionist Organization,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_International_Zionist_Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_International_Zionist_Organization). [^3]: “WIZO History,” _WIZO – Women’s International Zionist Organization_, [https://www.wizo.org/wizo-history](https://www.wizo.org/wizo-history). [^4]: “Romana Goodman (1885–1955),” _Jewish Women’s Archive_, [https://jwa.org/taxonomy/term/13197](https://jwa.org/taxonomy/term/13197). [^5]: “WIZO History: 1920,” _WIZO – Women’s International Zionist Organization_, [https://www.wizo.org/wizo-history/1920/#:~:text=photo%3A%20Rebecca%20Sieff)-,In%201918%2C,-three%20of%20the](https://www.wizo.org/wizo-history/1920/#:~:text=photo%3A%20Rebecca%20Sieff\)-,In%201918%2C,-three%20of%20the). [^6]: “Israeli Liberal Party,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Liberal_Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Liberal_Party). [^7]: “WIZO History,” _WIZO UK – Women’s International Zionist Organization_, [https://wizouk.org/wizo-history](https://wizouk.org/wizo-history). [^8]: “WIZO Florida,” _WIZO – Women’s International Zionist Organization_, [https://www.wizo.org/our-federations/florida/](https://www.wizo.org/our-federations/florida/). [^9]: “Our Federations,” _WIZO – Women’s International Zionist Organization_, [https://www.wizo.org/our-federations/](https://www.wizo.org/our-federations/). [^10]: “WJC Mourns Passing of Long-Time WIZO President Raya Jaglom,” _World Jewish Congress_, August 4, 2017, [https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/wjc-mourns-passing-of-long-time-wizo-president-raya-jaglom-8-4-2017](https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/wjc-mourns-passing-of-long-time-wizo-president-raya-jaglom-8-4-2017). [^11]: “Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO),” _Jewish Virtual Library_, [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/women-s-international-zionist-organization#:~:text=Emergency%20Fund%20(UNICEF).-,WIZO,-is%20a%20member](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/women-s-international-zionist-organization#:~:text=Emergency%20Fund%20$UNICEF$.-,WIZO,-is%20a%20member). [^12]: Steve Linde, “Women of Valor Creating a New Tomorrow,” _Jerusalem Post_, January 15, 2012, [https://www.jpost.com/opinion/op-ed-contributors/women-of-valor-creating-a-new-tomorrow](https://www.jpost.com/opinion/op-ed-contributors/women-of-valor-creating-a-new-tomorrow). [^13]: “Zionist General Council,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionist_General_Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionist_General_Council). [^14]: “Legal Milestones & WIZO Activities Promoting Policy and Legislation in the Knesset over the Years,” _WIZO UK – Women’s International Zionist Organization_, [https://wizouk.org/legal-milestones-wizo-activities-promoting-policy-and-legislation-in-the-knesset-over-the-years#:~:text=in%20collaboration%20with-,Na%E2%80%99amat,-and%20Mavoi%20Satum](https://wizouk.org/legal-milestones-wizo-activities-promoting-policy-and-legislation-in-the-knesset-over-the-years#:~:text=in%20collaboration%20with-,Na%E2%80%99amat,-and%20Mavoi%20Satum). [^15]: “WIZO History: 1990,” _WIZO – Women’s International Zionist Organization_, [https://www.wizo.org/wizo-history/1990/#:~:text=hospitals%20remain%20open-,24%20hours,-a%20day%20to](https://www.wizo.org/wizo-history/1990/#:~:text=hospitals%20remain%20open-,24%20hours,-a%20day%20to). *Mentions the [[First Gulf War]] in specific, but WIZO provides emergency assistance during all times of Israeli conflict* [^16]: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, _Annual Report 2006–07_ (Washington, DC: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 2007), 45, [https://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/20080102-06-07-annual_report.pdf](https://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/20080102-06-07-annual_report.pdf). [^17]: “Womens International Zionist Organization,” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133041381](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133041381). [^18]: “Schedule G (Supplemental Information) - IRS Form 990: Womens International Zionist Organization,” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133041381/202503219349310705/IRS990ScheduleG](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133041381/202503219349310705/IRS990ScheduleG). [^19]: “WJC Mourns Passing of Long-Time WIZO President Raya Jaglom,” _World Jewish Congress_, August 4, 2017, [https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/wjc-mourns-passing-of-long-time-wizo-president-raya-jaglom-8-4-2017](https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/wjc-mourns-passing-of-long-time-wizo-president-raya-jaglom-8-4-2017). [^20]: “Member Organizations,” _Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations_, [https://conferenceofpresidents.org/member-organizations/](https://conferenceofpresidents.org/member-organizations/).