Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is a non-profit organization that serves as a central coordinating body for American Jewish organizations. Founded in 1956 by Jewish leaders such as Abba Eban, Golda Meir, and Jacob Blaustein, the organization aims to promote Jewish unity and advance the interests of the American Jewish community in Washington, D.C. and Jerusalem. The organization has worked closely with Israeli Prime Ministers like David Ben-Gurion, Menachem Begin, and Yitzhak Rabin, as well as United States Presidents such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton. The organization's efforts have been supported by prominent Jewish philanthropists like Michael Steinhardt, Charles Bronfman, and Sheldon Adelson.

● History

The organization was established in 1956, during a period of significant change in the Middle East, with the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Revolution taking place. The founding of the organization was influenced by Zionist leaders such as Theodor Herzl and Chaim Weizmann, who had worked to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The organization's early years were marked by efforts to support the young State of Israel, which had been established in 1948 with the help of United Nations leaders like Ralph Bunche and Trygve Halvdan Lie. The organization worked closely with American Jewish Committee leaders like Jacob Blaustein and John Slawson, as well as Anti-Defamation League leaders like Arnold Forster and Nathan Perlmutter. The organization also collaborated with other Jewish organizations like the American Jewish Congress, led by Rabbi Stephen Wise and Rabbi Joachim Prinz, and the Jewish Labor Committee, led by Matthew Woll and Adolph Held.

● Membership

The organization's membership includes over 50 American Jewish organizations, such as the American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith International, and Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. These organizations represent a diverse range of Jewish perspectives and interests, from Orthodox Judaism to Reform Judaism, and from Zionism to non-Zionism. The organization's members also include Jewish community federations like the Jewish Federation of North America and the United Jewish Appeal, which work to support Jewish communities across the United States. Other member organizations include the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Jewish National Fund, and the World Jewish Congress, which was led by Edgar Bronfman and Ronald Lauder.

● Leadership

The organization is led by a Chairman and a Executive Vice Chairman, who are elected by the organization's members. Past leaders of the organization have included Malcolm Hoenlein, who served as Executive Vice Chairman, and Robert G. Sugarman, who served as Chairman. The organization's leadership has also included prominent Jewish leaders like Mortimer Zuckerman, James Tisch, and Alan Solow. The organization's staff includes experts on Middle East policy, Jewish affairs, and interfaith relations, who work to advance the organization's goals and objectives. The organization has also been advised by prominent Jewish scholars like Rabbi Joseph Telushkin and Rabbi David Wolpe.

● Activities

The organization engages in a range of activities, including advocacy and lobbying on behalf of the American Jewish community. The organization works to promote United States-Israel relations and to support the State of Israel in its efforts to achieve peace and security in the Middle East. The organization also works to combat anti-Semitism and hatred around the world, in partnership with organizations like the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Yad Vashem museum in Jerusalem. The organization has also been involved in efforts to support Jewish education and Jewish cultural heritage, in partnership with organizations like the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and the Yeshiva University.

● Policy Positions

The organization has taken a range of policy positions on issues affecting the American Jewish community and the State of Israel. The organization has been a strong supporter of United States-Israel relations and has worked to promote bipartisan support for Israel in the United States Congress. The organization has also been a vocal critic of anti-Semitism and hatred around the world, and has worked to promote interfaith understanding and cooperation. The organization has taken positions on a range of issues, including Iran's nuclear program, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which has been opposed by AIPAC and other pro-Israel organizations. The organization has also worked to support Jewish refugees from Arab countries and Iran, in partnership with organizations like the World Organization of Jews from Arab Countries and the Justice for Jews from Arab Countries.