World Jewish Congress: material re first congress

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1936 as an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations. According to its mission statement, the World Jewish Congress' main purpose is to act as "the diplomatic arm of the Jewish people." Membership in the WJC is open to all representative Jewish groups or communities, irrespective of the social, political or economic ideology of the community's host country. The World Jewish Congress is supported by those communities and individual members who, as concerned Jewish citizens, want their voices to be heard on matters of concern to the Jewish people. The World Jewish Congress has special credentials and recognition at the United Nations and within many of its institutions, commissions and sub-bodies. Its headquarters are in New York City, USA, and the organization maintains international offices in Brussels, Belgium; Jerusalem, Israel; Paris, France; Moscow, Russia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Geneva, Switzerland. This collection includes letters, declarations and other material regarding the first meeting of the World Jewish Congress held in Geneva between 8 and 14 August 1936. Correspondents and contributors in this collection include Chaim Weizmann, David Ben Gurion, Simon Dubnow, Lord Robert Cecil, Sir Neil Malcolm, Stephen Wise, Dr Nahum Goldmann, Henri Berenger, Dr J Niemirower. Open