Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1901-2007 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
11.7 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Federation of Women Zionists of Great Britain and Ireland was founded in 1918. It is the British Branch (British WIZO) of the World Women's International Zionist Organisation (World WIZO). The Federation's founder and first President was Rebecca Sieff.
Rebecca Sieff (born Marks) spent most of her childhood in Manchester, which in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was a centre for Zionism in Britain. Chaim Weizmann (later the first President of Israel) lived there from 1904 and gathered around him many Zionist supporters including Rebecca, her husband Israel Sieff and members of the Marks family. Women were at this time not encouraged to contribute to the cause any more than joining in the fund raising and supporting activities.
During the First World War Rebecca Sieff joined the Manchester Daughters of Zion and raised funds for Polish Jewish Relief. In 1917, the year of the Balfour Declaration, Rebecca and other like-minded women formed the "Ladies Committee" of the English Zionist Federation. Some members of this Committee went onto serve as members of the EZF Council. From her work on the EZF Rebecca came into contact with the small number of women's Zionist societies which did exist and realised that there were comparatively few active female Zionists.
Following discussions with sympathizers, notably Vera Weizmann, Olga Alman and Romana Goodman, Rebecca Sieff asked the Council of the EZF to allow the formation of a separate women's federation which would incorporate the existing small women's groups. Such an organisation, it was believed, would encourage Jewish women to support Zionism in more active ways. After some debate, permission was given and the Federation was created. It was founded as a non-party organisation which sought to attract members from all sections of the Jewish community. In 1920, following Rebecca Sieff's first visit to Palestine, the Federation of Women Zionists called a conference of women from Europe, the United States and South Africa in London. The resolution was passed to "form the Women's International Zionist Organisation to promote the welfare of women and children in Palestine and to carry out specific works in the reconstruction of Palestine". Thus WIZO itself was born.
WIZO aimed to train Jewish women in Palestine and the Diaspora for work in a Jewish homeland and provide care for mothers and children in Palestine. During the 1920s British WIZO raised the funds to found an agricultural school, a domestic science training hostel, child welfare centres and other facilities in Palestine. Members were also encouraged to promote and publicise the Zionist cause. The headquarters of the movement was based in London but numerous affiliated societies were set up around the country. Following the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 British WIZO became involved in providing a wider variety of help. In the decades that followed the organisation flourished and was by the 1960s "..probably the most alive and most admired Jewish organisations in the country" (Chaim Bermant, Troubled Eden, p.118) and raised thousands of pounds every year for Israel.
At the end of the twentieth century British WIZO has some 200 affiliated societies with around 14,000 members and continues to be one of the country's most significant Jewish (and Zionist) organisations. Historians have noted that WIZO's growth has encouraged Jewish women to participate in communal political life on a national and international stage.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 LMA/4175 1901-2007 Collection 11.7 linear metres British Women's International Zionist Organisation
The Federation of Women Zionists of Great Britain and Ireland was founded in 1918. It is the British Branch (British WIZO) of the World Women's International Zionist Organisation (World WIZO). The Federation's founder and first President was Rebecca Sieff.
Rebecca Sieff (born Marks) spent most of her childhood in Manchester, which in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was a centre for Zionism in Britain. Chaim Weizmann (later the first President of Israel) lived there from 1904 and gathered around him many Zionist supporters including Rebecca, her husband Israel Sieff and members of the Marks family. Women were at this time not encouraged to contribute to the cause any more than joining in the fund raising and supporting activities.
During the First World War Rebecca Sieff joined the Manchester Daughters of Zion and raised funds for Polish Jewish Relief. In 1917, the year of the Balfour Declaration, Rebecca and other like-minded women formed the "Ladies Committee" of the English Zionist Federation. Some members of this Committee went onto serve as members of the EZF Council. From her work on the EZF Rebecca came into contact with the small number of women's Zionist societies which did exist and realised that there were comparatively few active female Zionists.
Following discussions with sympathizers, notably Vera Weizmann, Olga Alman and Romana Goodman, Rebecca Sieff asked the Council of the EZF to allow the formation of a separate women's federation which would incorporate the existing small women's groups. Such an organisation, it was believed, would encourage Jewish women to support Zionism in more active ways. After some debate, permission was given and the Federation was created. It was founded as a non-party organisation which sought to attract members from all sections of the Jewish community. In 1920, following Rebecca Sieff's first visit to Palestine, the Federation of Women Zionists called a conference of women from Europe, the United States and South Africa in London. The resolution was passed to "form the Women's International Zionist Organisation to promote the welfare of women and children in Palestine and to carry out specific works in the reconstruction of Palestine". Thus WIZO itself was born.
WIZO aimed to train Jewish women in Palestine and the Diaspora for work in a Jewish homeland and provide care for mothers and children in Palestine. During the 1920s British WIZO raised the funds to found an agricultural school, a domestic science training hostel, child welfare centres and other facilities in Palestine. Members were also encouraged to promote and publicise the Zionist cause. The headquarters of the movement was based in London but numerous affiliated societies were set up around the country. Following the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 British WIZO became involved in providing a wider variety of help. In the decades that followed the organisation flourished and was by the 1960s "..probably the most alive and most admired Jewish organisations in the country" (Chaim Bermant, Troubled Eden, p.118) and raised thousands of pounds every year for Israel.
At the end of the twentieth century British WIZO has some 200 affiliated societies with around 14,000 members and continues to be one of the country's most significant Jewish (and Zionist) organisations. Historians have noted that WIZO's growth has encouraged Jewish women to participate in communal political life on a national and international stage.
Deposited in multiple accessions between 1998 and 2012.
Records of the British Women's International Zionist Organisation, including minutes of the organisation with a few volumes of minutes from affiliated groups; administration including correspondence and conference reports; publications and printed material including some audio-visual items; donors' certificates for the Jerusalem Babies Home and WIZO Vocational Schools in Israel.
Records arranged in four sections: Committees (LMA/4175/01); Administration (LMA/4175/02), Publications and Printed Material (LMA/4175/03) and Jerusalem Baby Home and Vocational Schools (LMA/4175/04)
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
English with some items in German
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
For further information please consult the LMA Information Leaflet: "Records of the Anglo-Jewish Community at London Metropolitan Archives"; available to download here: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/Visitor_information/free_information_leaflets.htm (URL correct Feb 2010).
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Description prepared in March 2010, updated May 2015. Religious institutions Religious organizations Publicity Awareness-raising activities Awareness-raising campaigns Groups Campaign groups Sex Sex distribution Women Religious groups Jews Political doctrines Zionism Political sociology Political behaviour Political participation Jewish Cultural identity Judaism Ancient religions Religions Interest groups Pressure groups Advertising Social welfare Religion Sieff , Rebecca Dora , 1890-1966 , feminist and Zionist British Women's International Zionist Organisation Federation of Women Zionists of Great Britain and Ireland Communication process
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited in multiple accessions between 1998 and 2012.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the British Women's International Zionist Organisation, including minutes of the organisation with a few volumes of minutes from affiliated groups; administration including correspondence and conference reports; publications and printed material including some audio-visual items; donors' certificates for the Jerusalem Babies Home and WIZO Vocational Schools in Israel.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Records arranged in four sections: Committees (LMA/4175/01); Administration (LMA/4175/02), Publications and Printed Material (LMA/4175/03) and Jerusalem Baby Home and Vocational Schools (LMA/4175/04)
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English with some items in German
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English