Yoni Hammerman

Director, US Advocacy @WorldJewishCong | Being colorblind is a personality trait | Views mine, RT definitely not endorsement

[Yoni Hammerman @YoniHammerman]

There's still so much to do, but it's always great to take a look back at nine decades of impact.

Happy (few days early) 90th Birthday @WorldJewishCong!

And thank you @LeonSaltiel for this perspective.

https://t.co/xyHuLJ0gig

[Yoni Hammerman @YoniHammerman]

Let's not repeat history maybe?

It's important that we all show up for these discussions and take real action -- the Muslim Brotherhood poses a true threat to our society.

[World Jewish Congress @WorldJewishCong]

Later today, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Federal Courts subcommittee is having a hearing on confronting the Muslim Brotherhood network in America.

Democratic committee members announced they will not attend.

“America is great because it provides opportunity and safety to all those who adhere to its social contract. Refusing to confront or even discuss that threat of extremism does not make it disappear or make the broader Muslim community any safer. Rather, it allows destructive networks to spread and become more deeply entrenched," Sara Friedman, CEO of the World Jewish Congress-American Section, said in a statement.

The Muslim Brotherhood is widely regarded as a danger to democratic societies. In the United States, government agencies have gone so far as to designate branches of the group as a terrorist organization because of the direct threat it poses to global stability.

“History has repeatedly shown that democracies which fail to confront anti-democratic movements ultimately place their own future at risk," Friedman said.

Link to WJC's statement 👇
https://t.co/kztfElrjLV

[World Jewish Congress @WorldJewishCong]

What an exciting few days in Budapest for the launch of the 2026-2027 WJC Lauder Fellowship! 

Good luck to the new cohort of students as they pursue a year of learning, skills-building, networking, advocacy, and developing their projects.

18 Fellows from a dozen countries traveled to Budapest, Hungary, for the Lauder Fellowship’s 2026-2027 Opening Seminar this July.

Over the course of the program, the new cohort of Fellows met with Hungarian government officials, members of the international diplomatic community, WJC staff and experts, and leaders from Budapest's Jewish community. Hungary is home to the largest Jewish community in Central Europe. The Fellows had the opportunity to visit the city’s stunning Jewish heritage and Holocaust memorial sites.

Photos (C) Bence Papp/WJC

🔗 https://t.co/kqJKIFHPpb

[Speaker Julie Menin @SpeakerMenin]

I am absolutely sickened and furious by what appears to be an antisemitic stabbing on the Upper West Side.

While we await additional details to be confirmed, we know that what is happening in our city is abhorrent. The fear in the Jewish community is real. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, regardless of their faith or identity.

We must remain united in condemning antisemitism and ensuring those responsible are held fully accountable. I thank the NYPD for its swift response in apprehending the assailant.

My prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.

[Yoni Hammerman @YoniHammerman]

While in Russell today, I stopped by Senator Graham’s office to pay my respects. May his memory be a blessing.

[World Jewish Congress @WorldJewishCong]

WJC President @lauder_ronald has issued a statement on the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham:

“The World Jewish Congress mourns the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, a distinguished American patriot and one of Israel's most steadfast friends.

Throughout his career, Senator Graham stood unwaveringly for the US-Israel alliance, the security of the Jewish state, and the democratic values shared by our two nations. His principled leadership, moral clarity, and enduring commitment to the Jewish people earned him the respect and gratitude of generations.

On behalf of Jewish communities around the world, I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the people of the United States.

May his memory be a blessing.”

[Yoni Hammerman @YoniHammerman]

A great first day in Washington—beginning a new chapter leading US advocacy for @WorldJewishCong and meeting with partners across government and the diplomatic community. Looking forward to spending much more time in DC!

[World Jewish Congress @WorldJewishCong]

In Argentina, Canada, Germany, and the US. Jews were targeted or attacked for one reason: They are Jewish. Regardless, Jewish communities refuse to be anything else but unapologetically Jewish.

▪️ In Montreal, the Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, a Reform congregation, suffered an attempted arson overnight on June 4-5. That Friday night, less than 24 hours later, a window was smashed at Congregation Mishkan Avraham in North York, in Toronto.

“Politicians need courage. Law enforcement needs support. Neighborhoods need good neighbors,” Rabbi Lisa Grushcow of Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom said about countering antisemitism as a community. “Temple will do what we do best: Live a thriving, inclusive, joyous Jewish life.”

▪️ The two incidents occurred just days after Canadian PM Mark Carney spoke from a Toronto synagogue, where he said antisemitism in Canada has surged to levels not seen since WWII.

▪️ A 23-year-old Jewish woman was beaten, choked, and had her hair torn out in an antisemitic attack committed by another woman on the New York City subway. A Bronx resident was charged with hate crime assault, hate crime criminal obstruction of breathing, and aggravated harassment. The incident occurred after she began making inquiries into whether other passengers were Jewish.

▪️ In Germany, a Bavarian hotel declined accommodation to Israeli travellers, writing “there are no Jews allowed in our hotel.” The hotel has since been banned from the online booking platform https://t.co/kboTVfojpT. “Are we back in the 1930s?” Israeli Consul General for Southern Germany @TalyaLador wrote on X.

▪️ A man was arrested in Rosario, Argentina for sending a bomb threat to a local synagogue, and for planning to livestream his attack. The perpetrator sent threatening emails to @DAIAArgentina regarding his plans. He is allegedly connected to the extremist organization “764.”

[World Jewish Congress @WorldJewishCong]

Last week, 18 student leaders from 13 countries gathered in New York City to kick off the 2025–2026 cohort of the Lauder Fellowship.

Over four days, Fellows met with high-level speakers, explored the mission, priorities, and activities of the World Jewish Congress, and engaged in meaningful discussions.

We can’t wait to see the impact they’ll make in the year ahead.

(c) Shahar Azran/WJC

[Yoni Hammerman @YoniHammerman]

My good friend @ChouaIsaac just launched a Substack. Unsurprisingly -- it's absolutely incredible.

This first post resonates in a huge way, especially as so many of us sit doom scrolling day in and day out.

Definitely take a few moments to check it out.

[Isaac Choua @ChouaIsaac]

While we witness the fall of scholarship and media and try to rethink “new media” we first need to ask what did the written word once mean to us

Free, on my new Substack Struggling in the Wilderness

I wrote about what we lost when writing stopped bearing weight… and started to scroll

🔗https://t.co/BfdJQPKw6L

[Ronald S. Lauder @lauder_ronald]

The Iranian regime is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. If it were to acquire a nuclear weapon, it would endanger the very fabric of civilization.

May Israel succeed in its mission to neutralize this threat—for the sake of global security and the future of humanity.

[World Jewish Congress @WorldJewishCong]

Breaking: The body of slain hostage Yair Yaakov has been recovered from the Gaza Strip by IDF troops, after more than 600 days, his family has said.

Yair Yaakov, 59, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Several months after his kidnapping it was confirmed that he was in fact murdered on that Black Saturday.

Two of Yaakov’s sons, Or and Yagil, were also kidnapped on October 7 but were released during the November 2023 ceasefire.

We express our full support for the hostage family and their chance to give their father a proper Jewish burial.

54 hostages remain in Gaza and need to come home now.

[Isaac Choua @ChouaIsaac]

Spoke at Queens Borough Hall for Jewish Heritage Month.

It was an honor to meet Borough President Donovan Richards (@QnsBPRichards ) and speak with him about the exhibit and some of the luminaries featured in it.

For centuries, Jews were central to society across the Middle East and North Africa, present in nearly every country in the region. They were artists, intellectuals, actors, and musicians, deeply woven into the fabric of their societies.

The Legacy of Jews in the Middle East and North Africa is about memory, exile, resilience, and pride.

History doesn’t disappear. It gets archived. It gets retold. It gets rooted.

[Ronald S. Lauder @lauder_ronald]

The quiet return of Tsachi, Itzik, Ohad, and Shlomo (z’’l) to Israel is a heartbreaking reminder of the consequences of October 7th. But it is also proof that relentless pressure from @realDonaldTrump and key Arab leaders can force Hamas to fold.
From the start, Hamas had a choice: release the hostages and spare Gaza further devastation. Instead, they waged war, bringing destruction upon their own people. Now is the time to finalize a deal to bring every hostage home and ensure that terror never returns.

This can only be achieved through a united international coalition. The world must keep up the pressure.

[Dan Alpert @Dan_Alpert]

In Denver this weekend, I shared with @WorldJewishCong / @BBYOInsider’s Jewish Youth Assembly about the incredible nature of relationships in our global Jewish community and the importance of being yourself while shaping unique Jewish leadership journeys.

[Ronald S. Lauder @lauder_ronald]

For 466 days, Israel endured an intolerable position, forced into a fight not of its choosing but one of survival. The terror unleashed by Hamas on October 7th, should have left no room for moral ambiguity. Yet, for more than a year, the world capitulated to the values of a terrorist organization and failed to act decisively to end this nightmare.

Today’s announcement provides a glimmer of hope. If the agreement is implemented, 33 Israelis will return to their loved ones. A sense of joy will course through the veins of Israel and the Jewish people worldwide. And still, we cannot and will not rest until every remaining hostage is brought home.

This is not just Israel’s battle; it is a fight for the values of humanity itself. The international community must keep up the pressure on Hamas and refuse to again allow terror to reign over the Gaza Strip. Only when terrorism is eradicated and the rule of law and decency restored can Israelis and Palestinians begin to live side by side in lasting peace and security.

Today, we are grateful to those who brought about this agreement, and we insist that it by fully implemented. But we also redouble our commitment to a secure future for Israel and the region. The road ahead is steep, but we are steadfast in our belief that even in darkness, light can prevail.

[World Jewish Congress @WorldJewishCong]

1/ The @UN seems to have forgotten the Holocaust was the worst Genocide in history and the reason there is a Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

@antonioguterres: are you aware that the program of today's event lacks any mention of the Holocaust?

[Ronald S. Lauder @lauder_ronald]

The decision not to renew the mandate of Ms. Alice Wairimu Nderitu as the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide is deeply troubling and reflects the growing antisemitism and moral decay within the United Nations system. This action not only disregards Ms. Nderitu’s extraordinary commitment to combating hatred, including antisemitism, but it also sends a chilling message about the UN’s priorities and values.

Ms. Nderitu’s distinguished career has been a testament to integrity. Her leadership has brought hope to victims of hatred worldwide, including the Jewish community. Often a partner of the WJC, her efforts to counter hate speech, promote Holocaust remembrance, and protect the term genocide have been a vital defense against the resurgence of antisemitism impacting. 

Her in-depth understanding of Raphael Lemkin’s definition of genocide gave her the courage to push back against the political forces who were demanding that she label Israel’s defensive war as such. 

This decision cannot be viewed in isolation. We call on the Secretary-General and other top officials to urgently reflect on the direction this institution is taking. When individuals like Ms. Nderitu are removed from positions of influence, and when Israel remains a disproportionate target of condemnation while human rights violators and antisemites are elevated, the UN risks losing its relevance as a defender of peace and justice.

The World Jewish Congress will not remain silent in the face of this alarming trajectory. It is not too late for Secretary-General Guterres to correct course, but the time to act is now.

[World Jewish Congress @WorldJewishCong]

The WJC is deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic murder of @Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the United Arab Emirates. We condemn this heinous act in the strongest terms and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the Jewish community in the UAE.

The United Arab Emirates has emerged as a force for tolerance and coexistence in the Middle East, and we are confident that its leaders will ensure that justice is swiftly served and that such violence has no place in its society.

The WJC stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in the Emirates and remains steadfast in our fight against antisemitism and hatred worldwide.

[World Jewish Congress @WorldJewishCong]

The World Jewish Congress expresses profound concern over the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. We firmly believe that this action is influenced by political bias brought about by the influence of terrorist regimes including Iran.

The ICC’s decision not only undermines the pursuit of peace but also disregards the recognized right of a nation to act in self defense when facing the actions of Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization responsible for the attempted annihilation of Israel's civilians.

We call upon the international community to reject this unjust move by the ICC and those members not to comply with these arrest warrants. It is imperative that efforts toward achieving lasting peace are not derailed by politically motivated actions.

The WJC remains committed to supporting Israel’s right to protect its citizens and to advocating for a fair and unbiased approach to international justice.

[Dan Alpert @Dan_Alpert]

Tokyo✈️New York

It’s great to be at the Museum of Modern Art to celebrate @WorldJewishCong tonight — an organization at the forefront of connecting and protecting Jewish communities around the world.