View this message in a browser

“There’s something evil that pulls a lot of young people into these antisemitic or neo-Nazi movements”

In an exclusive interview, WJC President Ronald S. Lauder reflects on his role as head of the global Jewish body, saying “The job of the President of the World Jewish Congress is to represent Jewish people all over the world. That’s a big job.” Read More... 

World Jewish Congress expresses solidarity with CRIF in response to Halimi verdict

The Chief Rabbi of France, Haïm Korsia, the President of CRIF and WJC Vice President, Francis Kalifat, and other French Jewish leaders have called for supporters of Halimi’s family to participate in a rally scheduled to take place in Paris on Sunday, April 25th at 2:00pm to protest the court’s decision. Read More...

To read our statement in French click here.

Incubator program elevates the ideas, voices of the next generation of Jewish leaders

The WJC and the World Union of Jewish Students launched NextGen Inc. encourages young Jewish leaders to submit ideas for events, activities, or initiatives that include new and innovative approaches to supporting their Jewish community. Read More...

WebTalk | Priorities of Greece's IHRA presidency

Incoming International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Chair and Greece Ambassador Chris Lazaris discusses Greece’s aspirations and priorities during their current tenure leading IHRA. Watch Now...

To learn more about the IHRA click here. 

OpEd | Bergen-Belsen and the Nazis’ crimes, 76 years later

WJC Associate Executive Vice President Menachem Z. Rosensaft writes “For the past 76 years, the survivors of Bergen-Belsen and the other Nazi German death and concentration camps have been the living reminders of the genocide of European Jewry by the Third Reich and its multinational accomplices." Read More... 

OpEd | There cannot be law without justice 

Head of France’s Jewish community Francis Kalifat writes that the high court ruling that the killer of Sarah Halimi could not go on trial because he was high on drugs not only deprives the victims family of a “trial essential to their mourning work, but also deprives the People of France of a necessary trial of antisemitism.” Read More... 

Jewish community calls for ‘Al Quds March’ to be banned | The Berlin Spectator

Central Council of Jews in Germany President and WJC Vice President Josef Schuster said the march is “dominated by antisemitism and hatred towards Israel,” adding that participants are exploiting Germany’s freedom of speech to spread hatred. Read More... 

FBI director says US far-right extremists traveled to network in Europe | JPost

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee that the agency considers right-wing militants in the United States to be the domestic extremists with the most extensive international ties. Read More... 

EU will unveil antisemitism strategy as part of anti-racism conference | Euractiv

Outlining the plan European Union Commissioner Margaritis Schinas said, “[The strategy] will provide a comprehensive framework to complement and support member states’ effort on preventing and combating antisemitism, educating on the Holocaust remembrance and fostering Jewish life in Europe." Read More... 

Warsaw unveils monument to secret underground archive that documented the Holocaust’s horror | JTA

The monument centers on a transparent cube containing a copy of an archival document. The commemoration was timed to the 78th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising on Monday. Read More... 

OpEd | The nation of the dry bones

“In April 1945, the BBC’s Patrick Walker described to the world one of the most remarkable Jewish prayer services in the history of Judaism. It took place on a Friday afternoon, on the eve of the Sabbath in Bergen-Belsen, only days after the concentration camp had been liberated,” writes Rabbi Meir Y. Soloveichik in Commentary Magazine. Read More... 

Israel and Greece sign their largest-ever defense procurement deal | JPost

As part of the agreement, the Israeli Defense ministry and Elbit Systems will establish an International Flight Training Center for the Hellenic Air Force. The agreement is worth about NIS 5.4 billion ($1.65b.) and will span more than 22 years. Read More... 

Sudan officially annuls 63-year Israel boycott law | Times of Israel

The move to formally repeal the law was confirmed by Sudanese Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari, following a joint session between the ruling sovereignty council and the cabinet on Monday. Read More... 

Israel readying for new vaccination drive in 6 months, including kids | Times of Israel

Israeli media reported that the country agreed to pay for a total of 18 million shots from the two American companies, with the option to purchase millions more after those have been used. Read More... 

Croatian reality series removes scenes of contestant with Nazi tattoo 

In a statement, RTL Croatia said that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the glorification of Nazis and their ideology, adding that in a private conversation with the contestant, he repeatedly denied supporting Nazi ideology and supports the networks decision. Read More... 

Canadian Jewish community disappointed with Quebec Court’s decision to largely uphold ban of public religious symbols   

“It is our view that the government failed to make the case that Quebec’s secularity faces a threat that justifies invocation of the notwithstanding clause,” said CIJA’s Quebec Vice President, Eta Yudin. “CIJA will continue to voice our community’s steadfast opposition to Bill 21.” Read More... 

The wisdom of Italian Holocaust survivor Liliana Segre

Liliana Segre is one of Italy’s most active Holocaust survivors speaking publicly about the dangers of hatred and advocating for tolerance and compassion. Despite the challenges – opposition from politicians, receiving online threats, and even the pandemic - she remains a leader in her mission. Watch Now... 

OpEd | The Muslim Ramadan and the Jewish Yom Kippur

"The fasts of Ramadan and Yom Kippur allow us to be compassionate to others, by experiencing the shortages and limitations that they forcibly face because of poverty, the pandemic or other situations," writes WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps Member Eric Scharf. Read More... 

Sudan’s only Jewish cemetery restored | Algemeiner 

Sudan’s new Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments Nasreldin Mufreh, granted permission to restore the cemetery in January 2020. The cemetery is located in Khartoum, where there was once a small but thriving Jewish community mostly composed of Jews from Muslim countries. Read More... 

Commander warns about Iranian drone threat during House Armed Services Committee hearing | Jewish Insider

Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, emphasized the danger posed by small and medium-sized armed Iranian drones, saying, “Sometimes it is very difficult for us to detect [the drones] until it is too late...it remains a very concerning priority of mine.” Read More... 

19 April 1943 | Jewish inmates revolt in Warsaw Ghetto 

While ultimately unsuccessful, the uprising is often credited with inspiring other revolts in extermination camps, such as Treblinka and Sobibor, and ghettos, such as Bialystok. Approximately 7,000 Jews perished during the act of resistance. Read More...