ISRAEL - From May 15–20, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) hosted its annual Lauder Fellowship Diplomacy Summit, convening 23 Fellows from 14 countries for a week of high-level discussions and community engagement in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Israel and rising global antisemitism, the summit focused on Jewish resilience, diplomacy, and leadership. Fellows engaged directly with diplomats, Jewish communal leaders, and policymakers, while also participating in the 17th WJC Plenary Assembly, the organization’s highest decision-making forum.
The summit began in Tel Aviv, where Fellows were welcomed with an opening session by Yoni Hammerman, Director of WJC NextGen, and a keynote address by Dr. Daniel Aschheim, Director of the Diplomatic Cadet Course at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who spoke about the history of diplomacy and representing Israel on the local, national, and global stages.
On Friday, the Fellows explored diplomacy in action, meeting with H.E. Radu Ioanid, Ambassador of Romania, and H.E. Zoltán Szentgyörgyi, Ambassador of Hungary. Later, at the ANU Museum, a session led by Tracy Frydberg, Director, Tisch Center for Jewish Dialogue, addressed Jewish pride and resilience in the wake of October 7, followed by a museum tour and a visit to Hostage Square. The day transitioned into Shabbat with a reflective beachside session, Shabbat services, and a communal dinner at the International Synagogue.
The Fellows sat down for a Q&A session on Saturday with Sylvan Adams, President of WJC-Israel Region, followed by a roundtable discussion with Chella Safra, WJC Treasurer. The day concluded with a visit to the Ben-Gurion House for a session on diplomacy, and a Havdalah ceremony to mark the transition to Jerusalem.
On Sunday, the delegation began the day at Mount Herzl with a guided tour and participation in the daily memorial service for the fallen. At the World Zionist Organization (WZO) headquarters, they were welcomed by Tova Dorfman WZO president, who offered insight into the National Institutions and the World Zionist Congress. Additional briefings followed with Yigal Palmo, Head of the International Relations Unit and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and Silvio Joskowicz, Head of the Zionist Enterprises Department at the WZO.
Later that evening, the Fellows attended the Opening Ceremony of the 17th Plenary Assembly of the World Jewish Congress, joining over 300 Jewish community leaders from 70 countries and hearing opening remarks from WJC President Ronald S. Lauder and WJC-Israel Region President Sylvan Adams.
The delegation then joined the Plenary breakout sessions on antisemitism as a warning sign for democracies and Jewish resilience, followed by a program on combatting online hate with WJC’s Technology and Human Rights Institute (TecHRI) initiative. The day continued with the Plenary Assembly Formal Session, where delegates elected WJC’s leadership and deliberated on key policy resolutions, shaping the organization’s priorities for the next four years. A keynote address by Israel President Isaac Herzog and WJC President Ronald S. Lauder underscored the urgency of global Jewish unity and collective action.
The final day of the program featured a WJC TedTalk-style series on storytelling, alliance-building, and reclaiming Jewish identity. Following the Assembly’s closing session, Fellows gathered for a final discussion to share reflections and next steps. The summit concluded with a joint WJC–EJC forum focused on strengthening Israel–Diaspora relations, marking a powerful end to a week of leadership, connection, and purpose.
The 2025 Diplomacy Summit reinforced the Lauder Fellows’ role as emerging Jewish leaders, equipping them with the tools, insights, and relationships to lead their communities with strength and vision in an increasingly complex world.
