800 women from 40 Jewish communities worldwide gathered in Tel Aviv on Sunday for the world Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) general conference.
The representatives are Jewish community leaders in their countries and represent the 250,000 WIZO members around the world.
During the 4-day conference entitled “Creating a New Tomorrow", they will plan the policy of the movement and its goals “for the benefit of the Israeli society”, during the next decade.
Israel’s President Shimon Peres, top ministers and members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, as well as representatives from the academic world and media will participate in the meeting of the largest women’s organization in Israel.
"This show of strength of WIZO women is giving a loud and clear message about the position of women at the forefront, and as leaders of the Zionist and Jewish ethos. The recent events surrounding the exclusion of women intensifies the challenges that confront the existence of the State of Israel as a state of equality and democracy," said Helena Glaser, outgoing President of World WIZO.
"WIZO, supported by the Jewish communities in the world, will not let women in Israeli society be pushed aside, therefore damaging the character of the State," she added.
Beside the status of women in Israeli society, the conference will cover a wide range of subjects including: Israel’s world image and coping with the problem of delegitimization, Israel-Diaspora relations, ways of improving the State and economic resilience in Israel, fundraising in an environment of economic crisis…
Special attention will be paid to the status and image of Israel in the world and its importance to world Jewry, and coping with Israeli advocacy.
Within the framework of the events, a festive fashion show will be held featuring Israeli fashions by leading designers in the country.
WIZO is the largest women’s volunteer movement in the world. It was founded in London in 1920 to lead changes to improve the society in Israel, placing emphasis on the advancement of the status of women, equality in education, family welfare and providing support for the needy population.