National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)

Founded in 1893 by Hannah G. Solomon in Chicago, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is the oldest Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. What began as a delegation of Jewish women at the Chicago World’s Fair grew into a national movement combining direct service, education, and advocacy to drive lasting social change.

Today NCJW operates through a network of local sections and action teams across the country, engaging grassroots advocates and volunteers who “turn progressive ideals into action.” The organization’s work spans reproductive rights and health, judicial nominations, voting rights, child welfare, economic justice, disability rights, and support for Israel, tackling issues at the local, state, and national levels.

NCJW is headquartered in Washington, DC, with a network of local sections (such as NCJW New York, NCJW Los Angeles, and NCJW Atlanta) that provide direct social services and community programming in their regions while contributing to national advocacy campaigns. The organization describes itself as a Jewish feminist civil rights organization built for Jewish women who refuse to be sidelined, continuing a legacy of pioneering activism that predates most other national women’s advocacy groups.