**Jewish organizations** constitute a diverse and historically significant network of institutions dedicated to supporting Jewish communities worldwide through philanthropy, advocacy, education, and humanitarian aid. These organizations have roots extending back to the 19th century and earlier, evolving through critical historical moments to address the needs and rights of Jews globally.
One of the earliest formal international Jewish organizations was the **Alliance Israélite Universelle**, founded in 1860 to protect Jewish rights and promote education. This was followed by others like the **Anglo-Jewish Association** and the **American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)**, which played major roles in welfare and relief efforts[3].
A landmark organization, the **World Jewish Congress (WJC)**, was established in 1936 in Geneva amid rising Nazi persecution. Its mission was to unite Jews globally, defend their political and economic rights, and advocate for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. During World War II, the WJC alerted the world to the Holocaust via the 1942 Riegner Telegram and actively lobbied Allied governments to aid Jewish refugees, securing the liberation of concentration camp inmates and coordinating relief efforts[1].
In North America, the **Federation system** originated in 1895 with the creation of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston, a pioneering model that centralized fundraising and distributed aid efficiently. This model spread widely, with nearly 200 federations today supporting local Jewish communal needs and philanthropy[2].
Modern Jewish organizations also encompass advocacy and social justice groups. The **American Jewish World Service (AJWS)**, founded in 1985, exemplifies this by focusing exclusively on global human rights, supporting grassroots organizations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to combat poverty, promote civil rights, and respond to crises[5]. The **Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations** plays a prominent political role, influencing U.S. policy on Israel, combating antisemitism, and aiding endangered Jewish communities[