Helena Glaser Presidente WIZO mondiale eletta Chairperson del Zionist General Council

Helena Glaser, President of World WIZO, was today (16th June, 2010) unanimously elected as the Chairperson  of the Zionist General Council, during the 36th World Zionist Congress, which is being held in Jerusalem.

16/06/2010

The Zionist General Council bears responsibility for carrying out the resolutions of the Zionist Congress, and for the management of the Zionist movement.  Mrs. Glaser will be the first woman, and the first representative of the Zionist organizations, to hold this prestigious position.

In 2004, Mrs. Helena Glaser was elected to the position of President of World WIZO.  Her other positions include: Member of the Executive of the International Women's Organization, (IAW), Deputy President of the World Jewish Congress, and a Member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency.  She also served four terms as Chairperson of the Third Sector for Volunteerism and Non Profit Organizations.

Tonight the 36th World Zionist Congress, will mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Theodora Herzl, the visionary of the Jewish State, at a Gala event being held in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, HE Shimon Peres, and the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Nir Barkat.

The Zionist General Council was established following a decision taken at the 11th Zionist Congress.  It is comprised of members who are elected at the Zionist Congress, and representatives of Zionist organizations, numbering a total of 25-30 members.  Its main purpose was to serve as the body responsible for implementing the decisions taken at the Zionist General Council, and to be responsible for the management of the Zionist movement.  It authorizes budgetary and monetary matters and the appointment of a substitute Member of the Presidium, or a Member of the Presidium, for any reason that may arise, between one Congress and the next.

The Zionist General Council is comprised of representatives from alliances, representatives of the Jewish organizations and 19 chairpersons of Zionist federations (with the same status as the Jewish organizations) whose countries had three or more delegates at the last Zionist Congress.  The total number of members in the Zionist General Council is 185.