The Jewish People Challenges Conference of the World Zionist Organization was held on Tuesday, February 27th at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem in the presence of 500 Jewish leaders from 38 countries. The conference was held in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, Chairman of the World Zionist Organization Yaakov Hagoel, his deputies, Dr. Yizhar Hess and Gael Gruenwald and the organization's President Tova Dorfman.
The leaders heard reviews and discussions from the spokesperson of the Israel Defense Force Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, former head of IDF Intelligence Major General (ret.) Tamir Hayman, and were moved to hear Thomas Hand whose daughter was held hostage by Hamas.They also sat down for in-depth discussions on the fight against anti-Semitism and the future of the Jewish People in the Diaspora.
Yaakov Hagoel, Chairman of the World Zionist Organization expressed :
"It is exciting to see so many leaders from all over the world who, despite travel warnings, despite the complex situation, came to Israel to discuss the many challenges and the future of the Jewish people. The time has come for us all to be together, and each one in his/her field - we will invest in the future, in the eternity of our people - united, identified and more connected to their roots, tradition and land.'
President Isaac Herzog said : “There is a terrible rise in antisemitism. People taking off mezuzot in modern Western democracies! Jewish schools and synagogues being attacked. We know that in each generation they rise up to annihilate us - and now we see it coming true in our generation. But there is a silver lining - and that is the unity of the Jewish people. Now is the time for Jews to unite all over the world together, to fight back, not to be fearful, to fight in the legal arena, to fight in the public arena, and all over.
The Jewish world is facing one of its greatest challenges, definitely since the Second World War. Now is the time to work together and fight back.”
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The World Zionist Organization is committed to promoting Zionism & the Zionist idea and the Zionist enterprise through Israel Education as vital and positive elements of contemporary Jewish life, in accordance with the principles articulated in the Jerusalem Program. This manifesto is dedicated to instilling the centrality of Israel and Jerusalem its capital deep within Jewish consciousness, encouraging the return to Zion, fashioning an exemplary society in the Jewish state, expanding Zionist education including Hebrew language instruction, settling the land, and combating Anti-Semitism.
The WZO strives to enhance the impact of Zionist ideology and activity in Jewish communities around the world, including Israel, both by working through shlichim of the Zionist Federations and their constituent bodies and by influencing the agenda of the organized Jewish community, particularly through its involvement with the Jewish Agency for Israel.
About the World Zionist Organization
The World Zionist Organization was founded at the initiative of Theodore Herzl at the First Zionist Congress which took place in August 1897 in Basle, Switzerland.
When it was founded, the goals of the Zionist movement were stated in a resolution that came from that Congress and came to be known as the “Basle Program.”
Zionism aims at establishing for the Jewish people a legally assured home in Eretz Yisrael. To achieve this purpose, the following means shall be employed:
Promoting the settlement of Jewish farmers, artisans, and tradesmen in Palestine.
Organizing and uniting the whole of Jewry through effective local and international means in accordance with the laws of each country.
Strengthening of the Jewish national sentiment and national consciousness through Israel education with shlichim.
Preparatory steps toward obtaining the consent of governments, where necessary, in order to achieve the goals of Zionism.
The WZO consists of the following bodies: The World Zionist Unions, Territorial Zionist Federations; and International Organizations that define themselves as Zionist, such as WIZO, Hadassah, Bnai-Brith, Maccabi, the World Sephardi Federation, the three major streams of world Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform), a delegation from the CIS – Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union), the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS), and more.
Photo credit Shlomi Amsalem.
President Isaac Herzog with(to his right) Yaakov Hagoel Chairman World Zionist Organization and Mark Wilf Chairman Board of Governors Jewish Agency for Israel along with members of the World Zionist Organization Executive at the Jewish People Challenges Conference held in Jerusalem
