Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organization was founded in 1956 in response to requests from President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his administration. The American Jewish community of the period was experiencing a large growth in its similar policy groups (such as the American Jewish Committee and American Jewish Congress) and the increasing influence of the Jewish denominations on politics (particularly from Orthodox and Conservative Jews). The Eisenhower administration wanted a way to gauge the opinion of the community, without wading into the internal politics of the community, and polling leaders of each organization. The conference established a unified voice for the community, one that government officials could consult on important matters.

For its first 30 years, the organization was headed by Yehuda Hellman. After his death in 1986, Malcolm Hoenlein became chairman. Hoenlein took a much stronger role in shaping US policy, especially within the executive branch.[2]

Mike Pompeo speaks at the CoP on 28 May 2019

The conference's website states that it is "the preeminent forum where diverse segments of the Jewish community come together in mutual respect to deliberate vital national and international issues."

Among the listed priorities of the conference are to:

• advance the U.S.-Israel special relationship, bolster Israel’s security and prosperity and promote prospects for true and lasting peace in the Middle East;
• reinforce links between Jews worldwide, aid endangered Jewish communities and fight anti-Semitism;
• combat terrorism at home and abroad, strengthen domestic security and safeguard American Jewish institutions;
• build support at the United Nations and end the anti-Israel bias;
• defend human rights of Jews and others and build ties to Arab and Muslim countries;
• build cooperation and coalitions with diverse ethnic, religious and civic groups and other sectors of American society;
• foster international cooperation and promote U.S. national interests.[3]

As of 2014, member organizations included the following:

1. Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi)[9]
2. Ameinu
3. American Friends of Likud, a group supporting the right-wing Likud party that has been a leading force in Israeli politics since 1977.[10]
4. American Gathering/Federation of Jewish Holocaust Survivors
5. America-Israel Friendship League
6. American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)
7. American Jewish Committee
8. American Jewish Congress
9. American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
10. American Sephardi Federation
11. American Zionist Movement, a coalition of Zionist groups and individuals, and the American affiliate of the World Zionist Organization.[10]
12. Americans for Peace Now
13. AMIT
14. Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
15. Association of Reform Zionists of America/World Union North America, the Zionist arm of the Reform movement and an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism.[10]
16. B'nai B'rith International
17. Bnai Zion
18. Central Conference of American Rabbis
19. Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
20. Development Corporation for Israel/State of Israel Bonds: Since 1951, Israel Bonds sales have helped Israel’s Finance Ministry support projects in key sectors. Bond sales have exceeded $25 billion.[10]
21. Emunah of America: Chapters and divisions around the United States support Israel’s largest Religious Zionist educational and social welfare organizations.[10]
22. Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF): Supports social, educational, and recreational programs and facilities for Israeli soldiers and supports bereaved relatives of fallen soldiers.[10]
23. Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America
24. Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
25. Jewish Community Centers Association
26. Jewish Council for Public Affairs
27. Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
28. Jewish Labor Committee
29. Jewish National Fund
30. Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
31. Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV)
32. Jewish Women International
33. MERCAZ USA, Zionist Organization of the Conservative Movement
34. NA'AMAT USA: This group has pursued its goal of supporting the women and children of Israel for the past 80 years.[10]
35. NCSJ Advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia
36. National Council of Jewish Women
37. National Council of Young Israel
38. World ORT - ORT America branch
39. Rabbinical Assembly (RA)
40. Rabbinical Council of America (RCA)
41. Religious Zionists of America (RZA or Mizrahi)
42. Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
43. Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union or OU)
44. United Jewish Communities (UJC)
45. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ)
46. Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO)
47. Women's League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ)
48. Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ)
49. Workmen's Circle (Arbeter Ring)
50. World Zionist Executive, US
51. Zionist Organization of America (ZOA)

• American Israel Public Affairs Committee
• Anti-Defamation League
• Israel lobby in the United States
• Jewish Council for Public Affairs

• Official website
• Michael Massing, “Deal Breakers”