Women's International Zionist Organization
A global volunteer Zionist women's organization focused on social welfare, women's advancement, childcare, and Jewish education.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Women's International Zionist Organization, commonly known as WIZO or Vitzo, is an international volunteer movement founded in Britain in 1920 to support Jewish communities and provide practical social services in Mandatory Palestine. Its work has developed around several connected purposes: improving the welfare of children and families, advancing the status of women, strengthening Jewish education and identity, and supporting Israel and Jewish communities in the diaspora. Although it is associated with Zionist public activity, WIZO's principal work is social and educational rather than commercial. The organization was established on 7 July 1920 by Rebecca Sieff, Vera Weizmann, Edith Eder, Romana Goodman, and Henrietta Irwell. Its early projects in Mandatory Palestine included infant-health services, known as Tipat Halav clinics, clothing-distribution centers, and other forms of assistance for women, children, immigrants, and families in need. In 1927, WIZO opened what is described as the first day-care center in the country, creating a model for childcare that enabled mothers to work while their children received supervised care. WIZO expanded through branches in Europe, Latin America, and other Jewish communities. European branches were heavily disrupted or closed after Nazi occupation and during the Holocaust, while branches in Latin America continued operating during the Second World War. Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the world organization's headquarters moved to Israel in 1949, and Rebecca Sieff became president of the worldwide movement. Leadership subsequently passed through figures including Rosa Ginossar, Raya Jaglom, Michal Har'el, Evelyn Sommer, and other elected or appointed presidents. WIZO has also had a limited political role. It contested Israel's first Knesset election in 1949 as an independent list, won 1.2 percent of the vote, and secured one seat for Rachel Cohen-Kagan. Cohen-Kagan later entered the Knesset through the Liberal Party and subsequently became associated with the Independent Liberals. In the international arena, WIZO representatives participated in efforts to oppose the 1975 United Nations characterization of Zionism as racism, though that resolution was adopted despite their lobbying and was revoked in 1991. In contemporary Israel, WIZO operates a large network of childcare and welfare services. The organization's stated activities include approximately 180 day-care centers serving about 14,000 children, summer camps, support and educational programs for single-parent families, and therapeutic settings for children removed from their homes by court order. Its work also encompasses women's empowerment, family support, immigrant integration, and Jewish education. WIZO has maintained a worldwide federated structure, with member countries sending delegates to its international bodies and supporting its Israeli programs through fundraising and volunteering. The organization received the Israel Prize in 2008, jointly with two other women's organizations, for lifetime achievement and a special contribution to society and the State of Israel. As of the reference material, Anat Vidor is the World WIZO president, having succeeded Esther Mor in January 2024. WIZO remains an active, service-oriented organization rather than a listed company, and its identity is defined by volunteerism, international Jewish solidarity, and direct social provision.
History
WIZO was founded in London on 7 July 1920 by Rebecca Sieff, Vera Weizmann, Edith Eder, Romana Goodman, and Henrietta Irwell. Its original purpose was to provide community and welfare services for residents of Mandatory Palestine. The founders created an organization able to mobilize Jewish women internationally while directing resources toward practical needs in Palestine. During its early decades, WIZO developed infant and maternal welfare services, clothing-distribution centers, and other community programs. Its Tipat Halav well-baby clinics became an important part of its early social-welfare activity. In 1927, the organization opened the first day-care center in Tel Aviv, linking childcare provision with the economic and social participation of women. These services established a durable institutional model: international fundraising and volunteering supported direct programs for children, women, immigrants, and disadvantaged families. WIZO expanded through branches in Europe, Latin America, and other Jewish communities. The European network suffered extensive damage during the rise of Nazism, the Second World War, and the Holocaust. Many branches were closed after Nazi occupation, while branches in Latin America continued to function during the war. The destruction and disruption of European Jewish communities changed the movement's operating environment, but did not eliminate its international federated structure. After Israel was established in 1948, WIZO moved its world headquarters to Israel in 1949. Rebecca Sieff became president of the worldwide organization and remained a central figure until her death in 1966. Rosa Ginossar had served as acting president from 1963 and later succeeded Sieff. Subsequent presidents included Raya Jaglom, Michal Har'el, Evelyn Sommer, Esther Mor, and Anat Vidor. The movement continued to rely on national federations, branches, volunteers, donors, and professional staff. WIZO briefly entered electoral politics in Israel. It formed an independent list for the first Knesset election in 1949, obtained 1.2 percent of the vote, and won a single seat held by Rachel Cohen-Kagan, then WIZO's chairwoman. Cohen-Kagan later stood for election as part of the Liberal Party and was associated with the group that formed the Independent Liberals. This parliamentary episode was distinct from WIZO's continuing emphasis on social services and women's advancement. The organization also took part in international advocacy. In 1975, WIZO presidents Evelyn Sommer and Ilana Ben Ami attempted to persuade Mexican president Luis Echeverría not to support the proposed UN resolution equating Zionism with racism. Their efforts did not prevent adoption of Resolution 3379, which was supported by Arab states, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Soviet bloc. The resolution was eventually revoked by UN General Assembly Resolution 46/86 in 1991. In the contemporary period, WIZO's principal activities have centered on social welfare, childcare, family support, women's status, and Jewish education in Israel and the diaspora. The organization reports operating 180 day-care centers in Israel serving about 14,000 children, including children of working mothers, new immigrants, and families in need. It also operates summer camps, programs for single-parent families, and therapeutic frameworks for children placed outside their homes by court order. WIZO received the Israel Prize in 2008, jointly with two other women's organizations, for lifetime achievement and a special contribution to society and the state. Its international network continued to convene member countries and support Israeli services; in 2008, delegates from 36 member countries reportedly gathered in Israel for the organization's 88th anniversary. As of the supplied reference material, Anat Vidor became World WIZO president in January 2024, succeeding Esther Mor. WIZO remains an active international volunteer organization whose public identity combines Zionist affiliation with direct welfare, educational, and women's-support work.
- 2024
Anat Vidor becomes World WIZO president
[1]Anat Vidor replaces Esther Mor as president of World WIZO.
- 2008
Israel Prize awarded to WIZO
[1]WIZO receives the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement and a special contribution to society and the State of Israel.
- 1991
UN Resolution 3379 is revoked
[1]The UN General Assembly revokes the 1975 resolution that had characterized Zionism as racism.
- 1975
International advocacy over the UN Zionism resolution
[1]WIZO representatives campaign against the proposed UN resolution equating Zionism with racism.
- 1949
World headquarters move to Israel
[1]Following the creation of Israel, WIZO transfers its international headquarters to Israel and Rebecca Sieff becomes world president.
- 1949
WIZO wins a Knesset seat
[1]WIZO's independent list wins 1.2 percent of the vote in Israel's first election and sends Rachel Cohen-Kagan to the Knesset.
- 1927
First Tel Aviv day-care center
[1]WIZO opens the country's first day-care center in Tel Aviv, connecting childcare with support for working mothers.
- 1920
WIZO is founded in Britain
[1]Rebecca Sieff, Vera Weizmann, Edith Eder, Romana Goodman, and Henrietta Irwell establish WIZO on 7 July to support community services in Mandatory Palestine.
Products and positioning
A global volunteer Zionist women's movement positioned at the intersection of social welfare, childcare, women's rights, Jewish education, and community support in Israel and the diaspora.
Childcare · 1927
WIZO day-care centers
A network of childcare centers in Israel serving children of working mothers, new immigrants, and families requiring support. The centers represent one of WIZO's longest-running service areas and extend the day-care model first established in Tel Aviv in 1927.
Health and social welfare
Maternal and infant welfare services
Early WIZO programs included Tipat Halav well-baby clinics and related support for mothers and infants in Mandatory Palestine. These services formed part of the organization's original practical welfare mission.
Social welfare
Family-support programs
WIZO provides programs for single-parent families, disadvantaged households, immigrants, and other groups requiring social assistance. The programs combine community support, education, and practical services rather than commercial products.
Child and family services
Therapeutic frameworks for children
The organization operates therapeutic settings for children removed from their homes by court order. These frameworks are intended to provide care and structured support for vulnerable children within Israel's welfare system.
Education
Jewish education and youth programs
WIZO supports Jewish education in Israel and the diaspora, alongside summer camps and related youth activities. These programs connect education and community identity with the organization's international Zionist mission.
Marketing campaigns
- 1975Opposition to UN Resolution 3379
Israel · International
WIZO leaders Evelyn Sommer and Ilana Ben Ami sought to persuade Mexico's president not to support the UN measure that described Zionism as racism.
Outcome. The resolution was adopted in 1975 despite the effort and was revoked by the UN in 1991.
Brand decisions
1949
Relocation of the world headquarters to IsraelStrategyBackground
The establishment of the State of Israel changed the organization's institutional center of gravity.
Action taken
WIZO moved its world headquarters to Israel and continued operating through an international federation of member organizations.
Aftermath
Israel became the principal base for the worldwide movement and its direct welfare programs.
1949
Formation of an independent electoral listOtherBackground
WIZO entered Israel's first national election while maintaining its identity as a women's Zionist organization.
Action taken
It contested the election independently and won one Knesset seat for Rachel Cohen-Kagan.
Aftermath
Cohen-Kagan later pursued Knesset representation through the Liberal Party and the Independent Liberals rather than through a continuing WIZO parliamentary list.
Sources2 sources
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