WIZO History

1918

1918 – 1929

WIZO was founded in Great Britain in 1918 by Rebecca Sieff, Vera Weizmann, and Romana Goodman with a focus on caring for people and helping them to achieve a better life.

1920

Early WIZO Child Care Centre in the 1920’s

1920

WIZO Nahalal Agricultural School in the 1920’s (Chaim Weizmann 3rd from left)

1921

British delegation to the first World WIZO conference in 1921

1930

1930 – 1939

WIZO members witnessed the annihilation of Jewish communities in Europe and the dissolution of WIZO Federations in countries under the Nazi regime. The large migration of Jews from Eastern and Central Europe to Latin America created 19 new Latin American WIZO Federations.

1940

1940 – 1949

The United Nations resolved to partition the former British mandate over Palestine, setting up a Jewish and an Arab state. WIZO’s Head Office was transferred from London to Israel and Rebecca Sieff was elected 1st President of World WIZO.

1950

Kitchen training at the Anne Jaffe WIZO Vocational School in the 1950’s

1950

1950 – 1959

WIZO worked with new immigrants, hosting families, providing educational and welfare services. The Equal Rights for Women law was passed, and the first WIZO advice bureau opened. WIZO was recognised as a non-governmental organization (NGO) and given consultative status with ECOSOC.

1952

Nurses arriving with babies in 1952 at Mothercraft Training Centre

1953

WIZO Babies Home site in 1953 with Esther Hodess, Rebecca Sieff, Dr Helena Kagan, and Dora Goldstein

1955

Opening of JBH in 1955 with Prime Minister, Moshe Sharett, and his wife Rosa Ginossar with nurses from Mothercraft Training Centre

1960

1960 – 1969

WIZO was given a seat in the Executive, and voting rights, at the 26th World Jewish Congress. WIZO assisted the Six Day War effort and built new Day Care Centres in Jerusalem.

1970

1970 – 1979

WIZO helped in the rehabilitation of Israeli victims of war and terror.

1980

WIZO Day Care Centre children in the 1980’s

1980

1980 – 1989

WIZO responded to the mass immigration of Jews with absorption programmes across Israel.

1989

The Margaret Gold Music Centre in Tiberias in 1989. Today it is a hub for young people interested in studying music, regardless of their socio-economic background.

1990

1990 – 1999

WIZO responded to victims of violence and terror, opened the 1st school for political leadership and played a major role in the fight against sex trafficking.

1991

Jewish Women’s Week Launch in 1991. L to R: Susan Cresswell, Jackie Kalms, Valerie Chalfen, Lady Jacobowitz, Sylvia Kopolowitz, Eileen Jacobs, Gina Monty

1993

WIZO 75th Anniversary Luncheon at the Mayfair Hotel in 1993. L to R: Barbara Amiel, Ruth Sotnick Chair Michal Modai, and Luci Abraham lighting Chanukah candles

2000

2000 – today

WIZO launched the first emergency national hotline for women suffering from violence in the family and children at risk and built the 1st protected Day Care Centre against Kassam missiles in Sderot. WIZO also sheltered Jewish and Arab residents from the Katyusha rockets in Lebanon. In 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown, WIZO opened a third emergency shelter to protect women suffering from domestic violence. In 2022, WIZO welcomed 75 Ukrainian refugee youth to its youth villages, giving them a home, education, love and therapy to help ease their trauma.

2022

First emergency national hotline for women suffering from violence in 2022

2022

WIZO welcomed 75 Ukrainian refugee youth to its youth villages in 2022

2023

WIZO responds to the horrors of October 7th and the subsequent war

WIZO immediately provided practical and emotional assistance to the displaced and vulnerable after the October 7^th attacks. WIZO’s emergency appeal put into practice comprehensive and tailored emotional and psychological therapy to the thousands in our care suffering from the ongoing trauma of the war.