JERUSALEM – World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder delivered a landmark keynote address to more than 350 delegates representing over 70 Jewish communities at the WJC’s Plenary Assembly in Jerusalem. In his remarks, Lauder laid out a bold vision for Jewish resilience and unity in the post-October 7th world.
“Just as Israel failed to anticipate Hamas’ surprise assault, we failed to anticipate the all-out offensive on the mindset of the free world,” Lauder said. “Because of this, Israel didn’t just suffer the attack on October 7th — the entire Jewish world was attacked on October 8th.”
Calling for a renewed global effort, Lauder declared: “What is needed now is a new project for the Jewish people — one that educates millions of children, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. We must go school by school to remove anti-Israel and antisemitic teachers and administrators. This will not be easy, but the World Jewish Congress must lead the way.”
Lauder, who has served as WJC President since 2007, was unanimously re-elected by delegates of the Plenary. Chella Safra was elected Chair of the WJC Governing Board, Aaron Frankel was named Treasurer, and David Koshitzky, Chair of WJC North America, was tapped to lead the WJC Policy Council. Results of the WJC Executive Committee elections will be announced on Tuesday morning.
Lauder’s speech followed a special ceremony in which Israel’s President Isaac Herzog awarded Lauder with the country’s Presidential Medal of Honor, recognizing his decades-long dedication to Israel and the Jewish people.
Addressing Lauder’s extensive contributions to the Jewish world, President Herzog said “This moment, reflecting on the public labors of a lifetime, of one of the foremost Jewish leaders of our generation, gives me enormous pleasure and pride.”
He added, ”your work within the World Jewish Congress has positioned it as a global organization with enormous reach and influence. It is an organization which I hold in the highest regard as a core diplomatic arm of the Jewish People, and Jewish communities everywhere.”
Delegates at the Assembly also voted on a comprehensive slate of policy resolutions. Read more about the full set of resolutions below:
Unwavering Support for Israel
Zionism as the Heart of Jewish Identity
Taskforce on Islamist Extremism
Confronting Online Hate
Remembering and Safeguarding the Holocaust
Jewish Unity Through Shared Responsibility
Empowering Young Jewish Leaders
Expanding Leadership in Jewish Communities
Fighting Antisemitism in Latin America
Strengthening Israel-Diaspora Partnership
Jewish - Catholic Relations
WJC Strategic Priorities 2025–2029
About the World Jewish Congress
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