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OpEd | Bulgaria must repudiate resurgent ultra-nationalist extremism

"As a friend of Bulgaria who sincerely wishes your country well, it is my fervent hope that all Bulgarians repudiate the resurgence of xenophobic, far-right nationalism in their midst and, instead, continue down the path that has earned them the admiration of all good people throughout the world," writes WJC President Ronald S. Lauder in The Sofia Globe. Read More... 

World Jewish Congress dismayed at Polish court ruling against Holocaust historians

Commenting on the decision, President Lauder said,“This outcome does not bode well for the future of historical research in Poland and sends precisely the wrong message to those who seek to stifle the work of scholars.” Read More... 

OpEd | George Shultz was the best boss I ever had

"That we were able to have this man for 100 very active years was a blessing. Yes, he received so much from this country, but he gave back so much more," writes President Lauder in The Jerusalem Post. Read More... 

World Jewish Congress mourns the passing of former Secretary of State George Shultz

Reacting to the news Ambassador Lauder declared, “As Secretary of State, George Shultz not only guided the free world through the end of the Cold War, along with President Ronald Reagan, but he was also a loyal friend of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.” Read More... 

OpEd | Across Europe, antisemitism is sharply increasing

“Can people, who are justifiably worried about their futures because of the pandemic, honestly believe that because 76-years have passed since the liberation of Auschwitz, antisemitism is no longer a problem? I do not think so," writes WJC Executive Vice President Maram Stern in the German newspaper Die Presse. Read More... 

WJC and Israeli Consulate to host sixth annual Campus Pitch Competition

Students from around the world have submitted incredible new ideas for this year’s Campus Pitch Competition. Join us on February 16th to learn about their initiatives. Read More... 

Romanian PM appoints historian and lawmaker Alexandru Muraru as antisemitism coordinator

Muraru will represent and advise the prime minister on coordinating and developing policies to fight against domestic antisemitism, extremism and bigotry. He will also initiate policies that will increase public awareness and “encourage a culture of memory founded on democratic principles.” Read More... 

Despite COVID lockdowns, antisemitic incidents see only slight drop in Britain | JTA 

Of the 1,668 antisemitic incidents recorded in 2020 by the Community Security Trust 100 were violent assaults — a 39% drop in that category from 2019. Overall there was an 8% drop of antisemitic compared to 2019, which is still among the three highest tallies ever. Read More... 

OpEd | QAnon, conspiracy theories are no joke

More and more people seem ready to believe theories that not so long ago would have been dismissed as sheer nonsense. This isn't just a strange, laughable phenomenon — it's dangerous for democracy, says Martin Muno. Read More... 

Germany, Hungary back Israel in opposing ICC ruling on war crimes probe | Times of Israel

The statements came after the International Criminal Court ruled last week that the court has jurisdiction to open an investigation into alleged war crimes by Israel and the Hamas terror group. Read More... 

Don’t want to vaccinate? Israel set to limit access to cafes, culture and more | Times of Israel

Channel 12 News reported that officials are looking to limit access to gyms, hotels, restaurants and cultural and sports events for those who refuse to be vaccinated, while the inoculated will be able to enter freely. Read More... 

Morocco’s envoy arrives in Israel to reopen liaison office | Times of Israel 

The head of Morocco’s diplomatic mission to Israel met with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi before commencing his work in Israel. Morocco and Israel will initially open liaison offices in one another’s countries but plan to establish full embassies in the future. Read More... 

Israeli technologies changing the lives of those with disabilities

There are many new Israeli technologies that are improving the lives of people with disabilities around the world. The technologies range from helping with mobility to making everyday devices more accessible to improve quality of life. Watch Now... 

Canadian Jewish community calls for Nazi war criminal to face justice

CIJA CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel said, “Oberlander was a member of a Nazi death squad responsible for the murder of tens of thousands of Jewish women, men, and children...If he evades justice again, it will be a disgrace to our justice system and slap in the face of Holocaust Survivors and their descendants.” Read More... 

WebTalk | The Last Million: Europe's displaced persons from World War to Cold War

During the conversation Professor Nasaw stressed that, “for the survivors of the camps, mourning, apathy was not a choice. They refused to let Hitler win.” As a result, survivors were proactive in documenting their stories and creating communities. Read More... 

The Paper Brigade: Saving the archives of Jewish Vilna 

During the Holocaust, a group of writers and scholars in the Vilna ghetto were tasked by the Nazis with sorting through the city's Jewish archives. Knowing that books, manuscripts, and artworks would almost definitely be destroyed, they secretly worked to save them for future generations, even at the risk of their own lives. Watch Now... 

Iran producing uranium metal in violation of pact | The Hill

The move comes as Iran has resumed 20 percent uranium enrichment and the country’s Parliament passed a law that called for resuming uranium enrichment. Uranium metal is a core component of nuclear weapons.  Read More... 

UAE schools to teach religious tolerance

The UAE Ministry of Education included the principles of the Human Fraternity Document in its national curriculum. The move upholds the intrinsic values of tolerance and coexistence among all religions, said Minister for Education Hussein Al Hammadi. Read More... 

U.S. to reengage with U.N. Human Rights Council | Politico 

The U.S. will engage initially with the council in an observer status. Observer status will allow the U.S. to speak with the council, partner with other nations to introduce resolutions and participate in negotiations. Read More... 

European Parliament raises issue with UNRWA textbooks promoting hate | The Jerusalem Post

UNRWA recently handed out textbooks which glorified "martyrs" - people who died committing acts of terror against Israel, or in the name of Islam, including suicide bombers and mass murderers. The books also included calls for "jihad," to hundreds of thousands of students across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Read More... 

How Heschel and King bonded over the Hebrew prophets

Reflecting on the special bond between Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, A. James Rudin writes that "Even on the last night of his life, while speaking in Memphis, Tennessee, King spoke of Moses, who saw the Promised Land but could not enter it. “… And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you,” he said. Read More... 

OpEd | In an era of divisons, Jews must emphasize our ties to one another

“We have to delve deep into the question of what truly makes our mutual bond, and our mutual responsibility, one for each other. We must decide on what basis we will continue to walk together as brothers, as sisters, as family,” Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in The Forward. Read More... 

11 February 1986 | After decades as Soviet prisoner, Sharansky arrives home in Israel

Sharansky was released along the border of the still-divided Germany, where he met an Israeli official who presented him with his new passport. Greeting Sharansky when he landed in Israel were his wife and several senior government officials, including then Prime Minister Shimon Peres. Read More...