The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations. As an umbrella group it represents Jews from the entire political spectrum and from all Jewish religious denominations. Serving as a diplomatic arm of the Jewish people to world governments and international organizations it tries to preserve the principle of unity in diversity and always seeks consensus.

The Congress’membership includes more than 100 communities organized in regional frameworks: North America, Latin America, Europe, Euro-Asia, Israel and the Asia-Pacific. The Congress has offices in New York (headquarters), Jerusalem (where the WJC’s research institute is located), a European office in Paris, and a Latin American office in Buenos Aires and a United Nations liaison office in Geneva.

Since 1987 the WJC sponsors the Israel Council on Foreign Relations, which is directed by the organization’s Israel office. The WJC strives to co-ordinate the common interest of its members, defend Jewish rights and status without interfering in domestic affairs. The plenary assembly, convened every five years, is the supreme authority of the Congress, the governing board meets between the assemblies, and its executive committee conducts the affairs of the organization.