ISRAEL – From May
15–20, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) hosted its annual Lauder Fellowship
Diplomacy Summit, convening 23 Fellows from 14 countries for a week of
high-level discussions and community engagement in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Israel and rising global
antisemitism, the summit focused on Jewish resilience, diplomacy, and
leadership. Fellows engaged directly with diplomats, Jewish communal leaders,
and policymakers, while also participating in the 17th WJC Plenary Assembly, the
organization’s highest decision-making forum.
The summit began
in Tel Aviv, where Fellows were welcomed with an opening session by Yoni
Hammerman, Director of WJC NextGen, and a keynote address by Dr. Daniel
Aschheim, Director of the Diplomatic Cadet
Course at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, who spoke about the history of diplomacy and representing
Israel on the local, national, and global stages.
On Friday, the
Fellows explored diplomacy in action, meeting with H.E. Radu Ioanid, Ambassador
of Romania, and H.E. Zoltán Szentgyörgyi, Ambassador of Hungary. Later, at the
ANU Museum, a session led by Tracy Frydberg, Director, Tisch Center for Jewish
Dialogue, addressed Jewish pride and resilience in the wake of October 7,
followed by a museum tour and a visit to Hostage Square. The day transitioned
into Shabbat with a reflective beachside session, Shabbat services, and a
communal dinner at the International Synagogue.
The Fellows sat down for a Q&A session on Saturday with Sylvan Adams, President of
WJC-Israel Region, followed by a roundtable discussion with Chella Safra, WJC Treasurer.
The day concluded with a visit to the Ben-Gurion House for a session on
diplomacy, and a Havdalah ceremony to mark the transition to Jerusalem.
On Sunday, the
delegation began the day at Mount Herzl with a guided tour and participation in
the daily memorial service for the fallen. At the World Zionist Organization
(WZO) headquarters, they were welcomed by Tova Dorfman WZO president, who
offered insight into the National Institutions and the World Zionist Congress.
Additional briefings followed with Yigal Palmo, Head of the International
Relations Unit and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Jewish Agency
for Israel, and Silvio Joskowicz, Head of the Zionist Enterprises Department at
the WZO.
Later that
evening, the Fellows attended the Opening Ceremony of the 17th Plenary Assembly
of the World Jewish Congress, joining over 300 Jewish community leaders from 70
countries and hearing opening remarks from WJC President Ronald S. Lauder and
WJC-Israel Region President Sylvan Adams.
The delegation then joined
the Plenary breakout sessions on antisemitism as a warning sign for democracies
and Jewish resilience, followed by a program on combatting
online hate with WJC’s Technology and Human Rights Institute (TecHRI) initiative.
The day continued with the Plenary Assembly Formal Session, where delegates
elected WJC’s leadership and deliberated on key policy resolutions, shaping the
organization’s priorities for the next four years. A keynote address by Israel President
Isaac Herzog and WJC President Ronald S. Lauder underscored the urgency of
global Jewish unity and collective action.
The final day of
the program featured a WJC TedTalk-style series on storytelling,
alliance-building, and reclaiming Jewish identity. Following the Assembly’s
closing session, Fellows gathered for a final discussion to share reflections
and next steps. The summit concluded with a joint WJC–EJC forum focused on
strengthening Israel–Diaspora relations, marking a powerful end to a week of
leadership, connection, and purpose.
The 2025 Diplomacy
Summit reinforced the Lauder Fellows’ role as emerging Jewish leaders,
equipping them with the tools, insights, and relationships to lead their
communities with strength and vision in an increasingly complex world.
