Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations (CoP) is the unofficial umbrella body of the American Jewish community, formed to articulate a communal consensus, generally to the Executive Branch of the United States federal government. In the 21st century, it has also become a representative communal voice to Israel and other countries. Together with the Jewish Federations of North America, Hillel International, the Anti-Defamation League, CoP represents the mainstream of the American Jewish community. Its chairperson functions as the community's de facto spokesperson on international affairs, especially regarding srael, owing to the CoP's capacity to forge consensus among the largest Jewish organizations and speak for the majority of affiliated American Jews. ==History==

Formation The Conference of Presidents was formed when Jewish groups felt a need to respond to the perceived tilt of the Eisenhower administration away from Israel. In 1954, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Henry Byroade attempted to intimidate Israel, B'nai B'rith president Philip Klutznick invited the leaders of 16 American Jewish organizations to meet in New York City as the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. In March 1955, the conference had 20 members and met in Washington, D.C. to discuss the Middle East. The 1955 conference was the first public forum that enabled the American government to hear the opinions of the largest representative body of American Jews after World War II. At the forum, the Conference of Presidents declared its goals as three-fold: 1) the defense of American and the welfare of its people, 2) the spread of freedom and attainment of peace throughout the world, and 3) the attainment of peace, development, and security for the people of Israel in their ancestral homeland. By 1990, the group grew to 48 members and 8 official observers. By then, its mission was to "strengthen the US-Israel alliance and protect and enhance the security and dignity of Jews abroad." On February 12, 2009, a CoP delegation met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican to re-assert the importance of Jewish–Catholic relations in the wake of the controversy over controversial comments by Society of St. Pius X bishop Richard Williamson. 2020s On August 4, 2019, William Daroff was announced as CEO, succeeding Hoenlein after 33 years in the role. Daroff was previously a senior official at the Jewish Federations of North America. The Conference of Presidents co-organized the March for Israel on November 14, 2023. Daroff claimed that more than 290,000 people attended the rally, making it "the largest pro-Israel gathering in US history". Progressive Jewish groups have floated leaving the Conference, particularly after the Conference declined to extend membership to liberal group J Street in 2014. In 2023, progressive group The Workers Circle withdrew from the Conference over what The Workers Circle claimed as policy differences. CoP CEO William Daroff stated that The Workers Circle owed $15,000 in membership fees and had not raised any concerns prior to its announcement. Other left-leaning Jewish groups expressed that they would remain in the Conference. speaks at the CoP on 28 May 2019 As of 2022, the CoP comprised 53 American Jewish groups from across the political spectrum. According to CEO William Daroff, the CoP represents the views of liberal groups critical of Israel like J Street, but explicitly anti-Zionist groups like Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow were "beyond the pale." ==See also==