The World Jewish Congress Paris Office records

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is an international organization founded by resolution of the First World jewish Congress, which took place in August 1936 in Geneva. The organization goal is to defend the political, social, and economic rights of Jews throughout the world. Its governing bodies were elected at the First World Jewish Congress: the executive committee headed by Stephen Wise (also the organization’s chairman), an administrative committee, headed by Nahum Goldman, and a central council headed by Louis Lipsky. At the first session of the executive committee, Sept. 6, 1936, it was decided to establish regional offices of the WJC in Geneva, New York, and London, and a central bureau in Paris. The central bureau coordinated the WJC’s work, collected information on the situation of Jews in various countries, published materials, and also lobbied at the League of Nations. In 1940, with the Second World War under way, the central bureau was transferred to New York, and a European office was established in London. Contains correspondence, reports, and other materials related to the work of the Paris Office of the World Jewish Congress, including correspondence with a variety of organizations including including non-governmental (NGOs), governmental, and Jewish groups. Also contains reports and other records related to the following subjects: the search for missing Jews; liberated Jews; restitution and compensation claims; situation of Jews during the war; and Jewish affairs in France and North Africa. The bulk of materials in this collection are from 1945-1954. Copyright Holder: World Zionist Organization. Central Zionist Archives