Women\' S International Zionist Organization

The Women' S International Zionist Organization , more known under the initials WIZO (in Hebrew: ויצו, Vitzo ), is an international organization who works for the promotion of the women in the Jewish company as well in Israel as in the Diaspora.

The WISO is founded in England in 1920 by five women, Rebecca Sieff, Vera Weizman (woman of the future first president of Israel, Chaim Weizmann), Edith Eder, Romana Goodman and Henrietta Irwell, with an aim of helping the Jewish population of the new British protectorate of Palestine.

In the following years, many branches of the WISO are created through Europe. The rise of the Nazism and the beginning of the Holocauste involve their closing or their entry in clandestinity. Other branches continue to open in Latin America.

After the independence of Israel in 1948, the WIZO installs there its seat and Rebecca Sieff obtains the international presidency. It occupies this station until 1966, date on which it yields the place to Rosa Ginossar. Since, Striped Jaglom and Michal Modai occupied this station.

Since the Sixties, the WIZO opened subsidiary companies with the the United States, with HongKong, in Hungary and Czech Republic.

Political activity in Israel

The WIZO is presented to the first elections with the Knesset in 1949. It obtains 1,2 % of the voices and takes down a seat, entrusted to Rachel Cohen-Kagan, then chairwoman of the WIZO. The WISO will not since then have any more any seat at the Parliament, although Rachel Cohen-Kagan is again elected appointed in 1961, but under the banner of the Liberal party.

External bonds

WIZO France
the WIZO on the official site of Knesset (in English)

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