Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor, president of the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC) and chairman of the European Jewish Fund (EJF), congratulated Ronald Lauder on his victory at the election conference of the World Jewish Congress in New York City, Sunday, June 10. Kantor is considered by observers to be the front runner for President of the European Jewish Congress on June 26. Kantor stated “the new WJC president’s active and constructive approach will make a considerable contribution to supporting Jewish people throughout the world. I am sincerely glad that Ron Lauder won, since he is a committed and hardworking leader, devoted to his people. He is a man who remembers the lessons of the past and faces the future with confidence. He has a clear program for actions to strengthen the Jewish nation, consolidate Jewish communities all over the world and increase Jewish influence in the world community. The European Jewish Fund is looking forward to expanding cooperation with the WJC and contributing to the security and well-being of the Jewish people.”
RONALD LAUDER TO LEAD WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS

New York – President of the Jewish National Fund Ronald Lauder, a well-known industrialist, community leader and philanthropist, won the June 10 election for president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC).

The post of WJC president is one of the most influential and prestigious in the Jewish world. Mr. Lauder has set for himself the far–reaching goal of further developing the congress. According to Lauder, “[n]ow it is time for the World Jewish Congress to look forward… [A]lways remembering history, it is time to focus on the future and move the World Jewish Congress forward together.” He also added that he intends to make the WJC what it once was and will be again: one of the leading representative organizations of Jews everywhere.

The World Jewish Congress was founded in 1936 in Geneva with branches in more than one hundred countries on six continents. Its main task is to protect the interests of Jewish communities and world Jewry and promote popularization of the cultural, spiritual and social heritage of the Jewish people.