NEW YORK – Members of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Jewish Diplomatic Corps (JDCorps) actively participated in a series of high-level meetings and events during the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week, advocating for the interests of Jewish communities worldwide. The JDCorps representatives engaged with national delegations, addressing critical issues such as combating antisemitism, promoting human rights, and fostering interfaith dialogue.
The participating JDCorps members—JD Elizabeth Chen (New York, US), JD Louise Lipsker (US/France), JD Danielle Murad Weiss (US/Mexico), JD Randall Fried (California, US), and JD Victoria Godik (Ukraine/Germany)—took part in diplomatic meetings aimed at strengthening international partnerships and conveying the WJC's policy positions. These efforts included notable meetings with the Hungarian and Mexican Missions, where the discussions focused on Jewish community challenges and enhancing cooperation.
WJC Executive Vice President Maram Stern, European Affairs Manager Dany Levin-Prist, and JD Elizabeth Chen (New York, US) met with the Hungarian Mission to explore avenues for cooperation and support for the Jewish community in Hungary. In a parallel engagement, WJC Representative to the UN Yfat Barak-Cheney, along with JD Danielle Murad Weiss (US/Mexico), met with the Mexican Mission to discuss communal ties and the issues facing Mexico’s Jewish community.
JD Elizabeth Chen (New York, US) joined a roundtable discussion with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other young Jewish leaders based in New York. The conversation focused on strategies to combat antisemitism through education and explored the broader situation in the Middle East.
Beyond these diplomatic engagements, the JDCorps members attended various UNGA side events, including the United Nations’ Summit of the Future Action Days, Her Power @ UNGA79, the SDGs Roundtable 2024: Interfaith Contributions and Civil Society Best Practices, and many more. They also participated in a WJC event honoring Czech President Petr Pavel for his continued support of the Jewish community in the Czech Republic and the State of Israel.
WJC Elevate hosted a roundtable featuring French Ambassador for Human Rights Isabelle Rome and Ayelet Samerano, mother of an Israeli hostage held captive in Gaza.
In a significant contribution to the week’s discussions, JDs Vladimir Bermant (US) and Julián Shocron (UK/US) organized a high-level panel at the United Nations General Assembly titled “Understanding Proportionality in Conflict: A High-Level UN Panel Discussion – Exploring Ethical and Legal Standards in Modern Conflict.” The panel featured JD Barrister Natasha Hausdorff (UK), Colonel John Spencer, Major Andrew Fox, Alan Dershowitz, and Colonel Richard Kemp, delving into complex issues of conflict ethics and legality. Watch Here.
