Women's International Zionist Organization

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This article is about the Jewish organisation. For the Carolingian scholar, see Candidus (floruit 793–802). For the band, see Wizo.
Women's International Zionist Organization
Formation London, 7 June 1920; 103 years ago (1920-06-07)
Type INGO
Purpose Political advocacy
President
 Tova Ben-Dov
Website wizo.org

The Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO; Hebrew: ויצו, Vitzo‎), is a volunteer organization dedicated to social welfare in all sectors of Israeli society, the advancement of the status of women, and Jewish education in Israel and the Diaspora.

History

Vera Weizman visiting a WIZO nursery in Rehovot in 1946

WIZO was founded in England on 7 July 1920 by Rebecca Sieff, Dr. Vera Weizmann (wife of Israel's first president, Dr. Chaim Weizmann), Edith Eder, Romana Goodman and Henrietta Irwell to provide community services for the residents of Mandate Palestine.

WIZO branches opened across Europe, such as that run by Julia Batino in Macedonia, but many were closed down in the wake of Nazi occupation and the Holocaust. Branches in Latin America continued to operate during the war.

In 1949, after the establishment of the State of Israel, WIZO moved its headquarters to Israel and Sieff became president of the world WIZO organization. In 1966, she was replaced by Rosa Ginossar. Other past presidents include Raya Jaglom and Michal Har'el Modai, former Miss Israel and wife of Israeli politician, Yitzhak Moda'i.

Among WIZO's early social welfare projects in Mandatory Palestine were the establishment of Tipat Halav well-baby clinics and clothing distribution centers, many still in operation today.[1] WIZO opened the country's first day care center in Tel Aviv in 1926.

In 2008, WIZO, together with two other Women's organizations, received the Israel Prize for its lifetime achievements and special contribution to society and the State of Israel.[2][3]

Political activity in Israel

WIZO formed a party and ran for Knesset in Israel's first elections in 1949, receiving 1.2% of the vote. It won one seat and was represented by Rachel Cohen-Kagan, chairwoman of WIZO at the time. Cohen-Kagan later ran in the fifth Knesset as a member of the Liberal Party (though she was a member of the group that broke away to form the Independent Liberals).

Today

WIZO book fair in Strasbourg, France, 2009

Today, WIZO runs 180 day care centers in Israel,[4] caring for 14,000 children of working mothers, new immigrants and needy families. The organization also runs summer camps, courses for single-parent families and therapeutic frameworks for children removed from their homes by court order.[5]

WIZO is now the largest women's Zionist organization in the world. In 2008, 36 member countries sent delegates to Israel to celebrate the organization's 88th birthday.[6]

The current World WIZO president is Tova Ben-Dov,[4] who replaced Helena Glaser in 2012.[7]

See also

References

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External links

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