WIZO Life President passes away
The World Jewish Congress mourns the passing of Raya Jaglom, Honorary Life President of World WIZO (Women’s International Zionist Organization), and a long-serving member of the WJC’s Executive Committee.
Raya Jaglom
“Raya Jaglom was a trailblazer for Jewish women leadership and a veritable institution in Jewish communal life worldwide,” said WJC CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer. “The Jewish world has lost a tremendous figure.”
“As an active member of WIZO since 1941, 26 years of which she served as president, Raya devoted her life to social justice and set the path for generations of Jewish leaders, both men and women.
“Raya was the first representative of a women’s organization to be invited to sit as a member of the WJC Executive Committee, under then President Nahum Goldmann, and she remained a member for years to come.
“On a personal note, I will always remember Raya as a vibrant and impressive woman who had a deep influence on me and many other young Israeli and Jewish leaders worldwide.
“Raya will be deeply missed and her contributions to the Jewish world forever cherished. May her memory be a blessing,” said Singer.
World president of WIZO Esther Mor visited Australia last week.
She said: “Raya Jaglom was born in Bessarabia and in 1939 immigrated to Eretẓ Israel, where she studied at The Hebrew University. After her marriage in the following year to Joseph Jaglom, an industrialist, she was joined by her parents and grandmother. She first became active in WIZO in 1941, and apart from a period of 18 months in 1947–48 when she served in the Haganah, she devoted the whole of her activity to WIZO, visiting almost every country in the world on its behalf, including the U.S.S.R. at the invitation of the Soviet Women’s Committee in Moscow.
In February 1971 she headed the WIZO delegation to the World Conference on Soviet Jewry held in Brussels. She was elected chairman of the World WIZO Executive in 1963 and president in 1970, and represented WIZO on the Executive of the Jewish Agency from 1964. She served as WIZO president for 26 years, and subsequently as Honorary Life President. Such was her stature that if you mention the name Raya Jaglom to Israelis or non-Israeli leaders of Diaspora Zionist organizations who are middle-aged and older, the immediate association will be WIZO.
In addition, Raya Jaglom held other public offices, including membership on the Board of Governors of both the Hebrew and Tel Aviv universities, on the Executive of the World Zionist Organization, on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency, on the international council of the Israel Museum and on the international board of Tel Aviv Museum.
Raya z”l was a WIZO pioneer, a social activist for women’s rights and a fundraising genius. Her commitment to WIZO was total and unconditional. She was always immaculately dressed and groomed even after a grueling working day.
Raya z”l maintained a keen interest in WIZO and as Honorary Life President continued to attend the annual conferences and other important WIZO events even after being confined to a wheel chair. Raya z”l attended the 2017 MOR that took place in January earlier this year.
She is survived by a son, a daughter and grandchildren.
98 years is an exceptional long life.