The World Jewish Congress is proud to announce the launch of the Jewish Women’s Alliance (JWA), a new initiative aimed at empowering and connecting women across the global WJC family. Last week, JWA kicked off with a webinar featuring former UK Member of Parliament Luciana Berger, titled "Women and Antisemitism in UK Politics."
Born out of discussions at a gathering held in Brussels in September 2024, the JWA recognizes the significance of creating a dedicated platform to address issues of gender, inclusion, and leadership within our diverse communities, a commitment that has taken on increased importance since Marie van der Zyl OBE was named WJC Commissioner on Gender Equality and Inclusion in 2022. In addition to organizing panels and roundtables at Executive Committee meetings and various other in-person events, WJC is introducing an online speaker series featuring thought leaders and experts from around the world. These sessions will explore critical topics with a focus on advancing gender equity, fostering meaningful dialogue, and providing opportunities for both learning and relationship-building.
During the inaugural session last Thursday, participants heard from Luciana Berger, who first entered the UK Parliament at the age of 28, enduring significant online and in-person antisemitic abuse as a young Jewish woman in politics, and was most recently nominated for a life peerage by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, becoming Baroness Berger last week.
In her remarks, Berger emphasized the broader challenges women face in politics, underscoring the importance of resilience in the face of adversity and the need for safer, more inclusive political spaces for women. In a follow-up discussion, Marie van der Zyl posed further questions about the personal and professional challenges Berger faced. Both of these passionate and dedicated women highlighted the fulfillment that can come from political engagement, despite the various obstacles women face.
The mission of this series is to create a space where best practices can be shared and new insights can be gained. Through these discussions, we aim to continue advancing gender equity and empowering women within the Jewish community worldwide.
