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World Jewish Congress applauds Council of the European Union’s declaration to universalize fight against antisemitism

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder: “This declaration is a significant step forward in making Europe a better place for Jews. The responsibility now falls on Member States to apply the policies and understanding laid out by the European Union in each of their countries, to ensure that the scourge of antisemitism is dealt with...” Read More... 

WJC reports detail antisemitic phenomena related to conspiracy myths, QAnon movement 

“COVID-19 is not the only disease that has spread widely across the globe this year,” said President Lauder. “Conspiracies surrounding false child abuse scandals or assumptions that Jews are to blame for the creation and spread of COVID-19 are not only spreading hatred and contempt, but putting far more lives in danger.” Read More... 

Women in Contemporary Judaism: Jewish Unity and Religious Diversity

In partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, WJC will bring together Jewish women leaders from across the religious spectrum to celebrate their diversity of opinions, acknowledge the challenges faced by Jewish women and address how to best meet these challenges going forward. Read More... 

TikTok and WJC partner to tackle antisemitism

After extensive engagement, TikTok laid out steps the company is undertaking to tackle antisemitism spanning all areas of the platform's work, from the moderation of content to supporting the creation and dissemination of educational information. Read More... 

WebTalk | Middle East spotlight: Jewish community of Cairo and safeguarding of Jewish heritage of Egypt

In a conversation with President of the Jewish Community of Cairo Magda Haroun and Israeli Professor Yoram Meital viewers heard about the extensive archival materials that have been found in Egyptian synagogues dating back to about the time of Maimonides, or almost a millennia ago. Read More... 

The legacy of Jewish communities across the Middle East and North Africa

Jewish communities across the Middle East and North Africa have long been underrepresented in wider conversations about the rich cultural heritage of this complex region. With that in mind, the World Jewish Congress is pleased to provide you with a glimpse of these communities' culture and history. Read More... 

Premier League adopts IHRA working definition of antisemitism | Times of Israel

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl applauded the decision, saying, "The ugliness of antisemitism has no place in the beautiful game. Our gratitude also goes to Lord John Mann for his indefatigable work towards this tremendous outcome.” Read More... 

22% of hate crimes in Europe in 2019 were against Jews | JTA

According to the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights report, antisemitic incidents made up the second-largest number of incidents after Racist and Xenophobic incidents. Those targeted for their gender or sexual orientation (1,277 cases) made up the third-highest group, followed by Christians (573) and Muslims (507). Read More... 

Australian Jewish community issues annual antisemitism report   

According to the report, there were 331 antisemitic incidents, including 188 attacks and 143 threats, over the course of a year. While the number of overall antisemitic incidents declined 10% from the previous year, the total number of recorded incidents was substantially higher than the average recorded incidents since 2013. Read More... 

November 2020: Antisemitism in review 

Among the dozens of concerning incidents and reports, were the defacing of a memorial honoring a former chief rabbi of France, German protestors comparing the government’s COVID-19 restrictions to Nazi Germany, and the issuing of an FBI report finding that hate crimes and antisemitism are surging to record highs. Read More... 

Israel in negotiations with Novavax to purchase COVID-19 vaccine | Jpost

News of the potentially new contract comes on the same day that the number of red and orange zones across Israel increased, and the Health Ministry shifted the criteria for labeling cities within the traffic light program on Wednesday. Read More... 

Saudi Arabia officially approves Israeli flights over its airspace | Jpost

The decision will dramatically shorten flying times to the east of Israel and follows a preliminary decision in September, which declared, without explicitly mentioning Israel, that civilian flights would be allowed to fly over its airspace. Read More... 

More than 300 Ethiopian immigrants airlifted to Israel in Operation Rock of Israel Land | Times of Israel

Upon arrival, some passengers kissed the ground. Approximately 100 more members of the Falash Mura community are expected to arrive shortly, reaching a total of 2,000 by the end of January 2021. Read More... 

Parallel reality of the Palestinian resolutions in the UN 

“Why is it that the Israeli-Palestinian issue has been filling the UN’s agenda practically since its very inception? One brief and simple answer to that query could be that it is all due to the fact that more than 70 years ago, the Arab states rejected the UN General Assembly’s Partition Plan...Simple answers, however, are completely out of this discourse,” writes Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Tomáš Petříček in The Jerusalem Post. Read More... 

UN chief underlines collective duty to remember victims of the Second World War

During a commemorative ceremony in the General Assembly Hall, UN Secretary-General António Guterres honored the millions of lives lost on the battlefield during WWII and in the Holocaust, saying, “It is our collective duty to remember them and to bear witness to their lives and deaths as we vow: Never again.” Read More... 

Holocaust analogies are hurtful no matter what

“The deepest, darkest moments of our history shouldn’t be used to score political points or elicit cheap laughs....It’s clear that irrespective of the intention of those making comparisons, the effect on the Jewish community is the same: hurt, disbelief and anger," writes President of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies Mary Kluk in the South African Jewish Report. Read More... 

Slovenia declares all of Hezbollah a ‘criminal and terrorist organization’ | The Times of Israel

The decision followed the recommendations by the Permanent Coordination Group for Restrictive Measures. The Group, which is headed by a Slovenian Foreign Ministry official, presented the government with a report on Hezbollah’s activities and mode of operation. Read More... 

Parents of murdered US journalist Daniel Pearl appeal acquittals | The Times of Israel

The appeal was filed by Pearl's family last Saturday after a Karachi court acquitted British-born militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three other men previously convicted for their role in Pearl’s 2002 kidnapping and beheading. In a video message, Pearl’s father, Judea Pearl, said, “We are standing up for justice not only for our son but for all our dear friends in Pakistan.” Read More... 

WJC mourns passing of former Board of Deputies of British Jews President Eldred Tabachnik

“Eldred was a dedicated public servant of Anglo Jewry who will always be remembered for his eloquence and dignity. A gifted barrister, he was an unwavering champion of the Jewish people and was the embodiment of the Talmudic credo “Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh,” President Lauder said. Read More... 

Religions for Peace: How our Faith should Inspire Peaceful and Inclusive Societies 

As part of the United Against Racism Global Conference, a 10-day virtual training program organized by the WJC JDCorps, WJC hosted Religions for Peace International Secretary-General Professor Azza Karam to discuss how faith could inspire peaceful and inclusive societies. Watch Now... 

29 November 1947 | United Nations adopts Partition Plan, envisioning Jewish and Arab states 

Following the adoption of the Partition Plan, thousands of Israelis wept tears of joy and danced in the streets until sunrise. Arab leaders, however, reiterated their disdain for the resolution, arguing that giving any land to Jews was wrong and proceeded to launch an invasion of the State of Israel when it declared statehood. Read More... 

2 December 1763 | Dedication of oldest standing US synagogue

The Newport synagogue, which is the sole surviving synagogue built in Colonial times, was designated as a “National Historic Site,” in 1946. Explaining the decision, United States President Harry Truman said that doing so is, “symbolic of our national tradition of freedom, which has inspired men and women of every creed, race, and ancestry to contribute their highest gifts to the development of our national culture.” Read More...