Women's International Zionist Organization
Encyclopedia
The Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO; ), 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
.
WIZO was founded in England
on July 7, 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 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 Modai.
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. 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.
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
).
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.
The current World WIZO president is Helena Glaser.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and the Diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
.
History
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on July 7, 1920 by Rebecca Sieff, Dr. Vera Weizmann (wife of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's first president, Dr. Chaim Weizmann
Chaim Weizmann
Chaim Azriel Weizmann, , was a Zionist leader, President of the Zionist Organization, and the first President of the State of Israel. He was elected on 1 February 1949, and served until his death in 1952....
), Edith Eder, Romana Goodman and Henrietta Irwell to provide community services for the residents of Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine existed while the British Mandate for Palestine, which formally began in September 1923 and terminated in May 1948, was in effect...
.
WIZO branches opened across Europe but many were closed down in the wake of Nazi occupation and the Holocaust. Branches in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
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 Modai.
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. WIZO opened the country's first day care center in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
in 1926.
In 2008, WIZO, together with two other Women's organizations, received the Israel Prize
Israel Prize
The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
for its lifetime achievements and special contribution to society and the State of Israel.
Political activity in Israel
WIZO formed a party and ran for KnessetKnesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
in Israel's first elections
Israeli legislative election, 1949
Elections for the Constituent Assembly were held in newly independent Israel on 25 January 1949. Voter turnout was 86.9%. Two days after its first meeting on 14 February 1949, legislators voted to change the name of the body to the Knesset...
in 1949, receiving 1.2% of the vote. It won one seat and was represented by Rachel Cohen-Kagan
Rachel Cohen-Kagan
Rachel Cohen-Kagan was a Zionist activist and Israeli politician, and one of only two women to sign the Israeli declaration of independence.-Biography:...
, chairwoman of WIZO at the time. Cohen-Kagan later ran in the fifth Knesset
Israeli legislative election, 1961
Elections for the fifth Knesset were held in Israel on 15 August 1961. Voter turnout was 81.6%.-Results:¹ Eight MKs broke away from Mapai to establish Rafi² Herut and the Liberal Party merged to form Gahal...
as a member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Israel)
The Israeli Liberal Party was a political party in Israel and is one of the ancestors of the modern-day Likud.-History:The Liberal Party was formed on 8 May 1961, towards the end of the fourth Knesset, by a merger of the General Zionists and the Progressive Party, with the new party having 14...
(though she was a member of the group that broke away to form the Independent Liberals
Independent Liberals (Israel)
The Independent Liberals were a political party in Israel between the 1960s and 1980s.-History:The Independent Liberals party was formed during the fifth Knesset in the aftermath of the merger of the Liberal Party and Herut. Seven of the 17 Liberal Party MKs led by former Minister of Justice,...
).
Today
Today, WIZO runs 170 day care centers in Israel, 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.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.
The current World WIZO president is Helena Glaser.