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Isi Leibler chairs the Diaspora-Israel relations committee of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, and is a veteran Jewish international leader. His website is www.leibler.com
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By Isi Leibler
June 11, 2007
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The World Jewish Congress imbroglio is hopefully now at an end. After three harrowing years of ongoing scandal as layer after layer of corruption was exposed, there is hope that we are now about to enter a new era.
I am currently in New York where delegates to the WJC yesterday elected Ronald Lauder to the Presidency in a stunning landslide victory against his opponent Mendel Kaplan who had been a prime element in the cover ups which led to the seemingly unending scandals of the past three years.
Having supported Ronald Lauder's candidature for the presidency because of his track record of commitment and devotion to the Jewish people and Israel, I have every confidence that he will conduct the organization in a democratic manner and ensure that governance and financial transparency are applied at all levels.
With the retirement of long standing president Edgar Bronfman, the expulsion of the disgraced Israel Singer, the rejection of the candidacy of Mendel Kaplan, and the resignation of the controversial Secretary General Stephen Herbits, the newly elected president Ronald.Lauder faces the daunting challenge of healing the wounds of the past and trying to restore the World Jewish Congress to its former role as the prime global representative of the Jewish people.
On a personal note, having led the campaign to reform the WJC and introduce governance and transparency, which resulted in the struggle of the last three years, the intimidation and vindictive assaults on my character, not to mention being sued for an unprecedented $ 6 million, I do take personal pride and satisfaction, that at long last, there now is hope that the WJC may indeed have turned the corner.
The WJC elections were a battle to ensure that there would be genuine reform and governance and prevent those responsible for the scandals from continuing to undermine any such efforts.
The new president was elected for the first time in open, fair and transparent elections and is committed to working with and consulting the representing communities around the world.
And aside from American Jewry which is strong enough to stand alone, there is probably a greater need today for a powerful body strong enough to represent the interests of Jewish communities throughout the world than at any time since the Nazi era. If the World Jewish Congress collapsed, escalating anti-Semitism, existential threats against Israel, and the need for coordinated global strategies to confront these dangers would necessitate the creation of a new global Jewish body.
I am therefore delighted that notwithstanding the scandals of the past, there is hope that the WJC can be saved. It will still take time to restore and regain the confidence and support of the Jewish people. But, we should all hope for closure in relation to the scandals of the past, wish the incoming leadership every success in its endeavors, and look towards creating a new era in which the WJC regains its former glory.
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