Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom and Ireland
Umbrella body of the Zionist movement in the UK, founded in 1899
| Zionist Federation UK
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Private company limited by guarantee (from 2025); not a registered charity |
| Founded | 1899 |
| Registration ID | Zionists UK Limited, company 16362332 |
| Headquarters | c/o SMB LLP, 87-91 Newman Street, London W1T 3EY (registered office) |
| Key people | Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag (chairman, from October 2026) |
| Website | www.zionist-federation.uk |
The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, also known as the British Zionist Federation or simply the Zionist Federation (ZF), was established in 1899 to campaign for a permanent homeland for the Jewish people. The Zionist Federation is an umbrella organisation for the Zionist movement in the United Kingdom, claiming, in 2012, to represent 'more than 120 organisations, and over 50,000 affiliated members.'[1] It is the British/Irish affiliate of the World Zionist Organization based in Jerusalem, Israel.
In 1917, the British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour communicated the Balfour Declaration to the leader of United Kingdom's Jewish community Lord Rothschild for transmission to the Zionist Federation.
In 1920, the Zionist Federation founded Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) and Keren Hayesod. The ZF also founded a number of Zionist youth movements.
Until 1931 the ZF was known as the English Zionist Federation, in which year its name was changed to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. A further name change was made in 1966 to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,[2] though today the former title including the whole thirty two counties of Ireland has been reinstated from around 2006.
Since 2025 the ZF has operated as "a working name of Zionists UK Ltd", a private company limited by guarantee incorporated on 2 April 2025.[3][4] It is not a registered charity; the Jewish Chronicle reported in 2022 that this was "because of its political work".[5]
Aims and objectives
Among its aims and objectives, ZF lists:
- Support, co-ordinate and facilitate the work of all its affiliates nationwide, and to continue its commitment to the Zionist youth movements.
- Encourage the participation of Jews in Zionist activities including education, culture, Hebrew language and Israel information, underpinned by the belief that the main goal of Zionism is Aliyah.
- The Zionist Federation is an umbrella organisation encompassing most of the Zionist organizations and individuals in the country and, as such, represents the Zionist movement in the United Kingdom.
Since 2025 the ZF has described its mission as "to uphold and promote the objectives of the Jerusalem Programme of the World Zionist Organization", and says that through its member organisations it works "to promote and defend Zionism in the United Kingdom".[3]
Financial crisis and reconstitution, 2021–2026
Paul Charney resigned as chair in May 2021.[7] In January 2022 acting chair Richard P. Woolf announced that "the inherited business model of the Zionist Federation is financially unviable" and that "drastic cost-cutting measures" would be needed. A source told the Jewish Chronicle that the ZF's deficit had been £114,000 in 2020, and that the World Zionist Organization's contribution and membership fees covered only a third of its operating costs.[5] In February 2022 the ZF confirmed that its executive director, Steve Winston, and its two other permanent staff were to be made redundant. Woolf said the WZO's grant for 2021 had been $20,000.[8]
In April 2024 the ZF held its first conference since the reorganisation. Members approved proposals to reconstitute it as a non-profit limited company, with Rabbi Lea Mühlstein, the acting chair, among nine directors appointed.[9] Zionists UK Limited was incorporated on 2 April 2025, with Mühlstein and Professor John Strawson as its first directors and persons with significant control; Noeleen Cohen joined on 22 April 2025. Its nature of business is given as "cultural education" and "activities of political organisations".[4]
2025 World Zionist Congress election
The ZF acted as secretariat for the 2025 UK elections to the 39th World Zionist Congress.[10] The UK Area Election Committee announced on 31 July 2025 that 10,651 people had voted. The UK's 19 seats were allocated as follows:[11]
| Slate | Votes | Mandates |
|---|---|---|
| Eretz HaKodesh | 4,529 | 5 |
| Our Israel (Liberal, Masorti and Reform Judaism) | 2,088 | 5 |
| Shas Olami UK | 1,153 | 3 |
| Jewish Labour – Meretz | 1,062 | 3 |
| Orthodox Israel Coalition (OIC) – Mizrachi UK | 1,005 | 3 |
| Jabotinsky's Israel – Stand With IDF | 370 | 0 |
| Kol Israel | 325 | 0 |
| Israel Solidarity Campaign UK | 66 | 0 |
| Hanoar Hatzioni | 53 | 0 |
| Total | 10,651 | 19 |
October 2026 board
On 11 October 2026 a general assembly approved, unopposed, a new board of 15 directors: four each from Eretz HaKodesh UK, Shas UK and Likud UK, and one each from Herut, Meretz and Arzenu. The Jewish Chronicle described this as a shift "from the religious left to the religious right". Outgoing chair Mühlstein said the previous board had brought the ZF "back from the brink of insolvency". The JC reported that the ZF had "kept a low public profile, owing to financial constraints" over the previous four years, its main activity being the 2025 Congress election.[12] The new board elected Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag, former rabbi of Whitefield Hebrew Congregation in Manchester and a founder of the UK branch of Eretz HaKodesh, as chairman. He said the ZF should be "an effective voice, engaging with government, Parliament and the wider public".[13] The Mizrachi Federation is not part of the ZF.[12]
Membership
The ZF does not reveal its membership list on its website. It has given various accounts of the extent of its membership. The holdings of the internet archive reveal that it has given the following accounts on its website.
In 2001 it stated that it represented: 'most of the Zionist organizations and individuals in the country'.[14] In 2006 the Zionist Federation stated that it 'represents the UK Zionist Movement more than 120 organisations, and over 50,000 affiliated members.'[15] The figure of 120 was still on the website in 2012.[1] However in other sources, the ZF has claimed, by contrast, to have 'over seventy affiliated organisations' in 2010.[16] In 2016 and in 2019 the ZF listed forty members (listed below). In 2025 its website said it represented "more than 15 organisations and over 30,000 affiliated members".[3]
In a 1952 volume edited by Israel Cohen the former secretary of the World Zionist Organisation a chapter on 'Zionism and the Synagogue', noted that : 'Among the 130 Synagogues affiliated to the Zionist Federation are some extremely orthodox Synagogues of the Adath Yisrael type; many belonging to the Federation of Synagogues, and several to the United Synagogue; while in some provincial towns all synagogues are affiliated'[17]
By 2016, only around fourteen synagogues were listed as members.
Member organisations
Circa 2019
Academic Friends of Israel | Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women | Alyth | BBYO | Bromley Reform Synagogue | Christian Friends of Israel | Cockfosters and N Southgate Synagogue | Edgware and District Reform Synagogue | European Friends of Israel | Emunah | Federation of Zionist Youth | Habonim Dror | Mosaic | Hendon Reform Synagogue | Hendon United Synagogue | Liberal Judaism | Jewish Agency for Israel | Jewish Labour Movement | JLGB | Kinloss | Likud-Herut UK | Youth Movement of Liberal Judaism | Manchester Zionist Central Council | Masorti Judaism | Mercaz UK | Meretz UK | Merseyside Jewish Representative Council | Mosaic Reform Synagogue | Reform Judaism | Noam Masorti Youth | North West Surrey Synagogue | Nottingham Liberal Synagogue | Pro Zion UK | British Friends of Rambam Medical Center | The Zionist Youth Movement for Reform Judaism | Share Tsedek | Shaare Zedek UK | South Hampstead Synagogue | WIZO UK | Woodside Park Synagogue[18]
Circa 2016
Academic Friends of Israel | Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women | Alyth | BBYO | Bromley Reform Synagogue | Christian Friends of Israel | Cockfosters and N Southgate Synagogue | Edgware and District Reform Synagogue | European Friends of Israel | Emunah | Federation of Zionist Youth | Habonim Dror | Mosaic | Hendon Reform Synagogue | Hendon United Synagogue | Liberal Judaism | Jewish Agency for Israel | Jewish Labour Movement | JLGB | Kenton | Kinloss | Likud-Herut UK | Youth Movement of Liberal Judaism | Manchester Zionist Central Council | Masorti Judaism | Mercaz UK | Meretz UK | Merseyside Jewish Representative Council | Mosaic Reform Synagogue | Noam Masorti Youth | North West Surrey Synagogue | Nottingham Liberal Synagogue | Pro Zion UK | British Friends of Rambam Medical Center | RSY-Netzer/The Zionist Youth Movement for Reform Judaism | Share Tsedek | Shaare Zedek UK | South Hampstead Synagogue | WIZO UK | Woodside Park Synagogue[19]
Activities
Rewarding Michael Gove's support for Israel
In February 2008 Eric Moonman, Zionist Federation President, presented the Jerusalem Prize to Michael Gove MP:
- Mr. Gove was given the beautiful silver and glass award for his unrelenting support for the State of Israel. In accepting the Jerusalem Prize, Mr. Gove stressed that his love and passion was for democracy and since Israel was the only democracy in the Middle East, his support came naturally.[20]
Criticism of Amnesty International
The ZF has attacked Amnesty International UK on a number of occasions.
- In January 2012 ZF chairman Harvey Rose wrote to Amnesty director Kate Allen complaining about a book launch it was hosting with author Ben White, who ZF alleged held 'abhorrent and mendacious views'. Amnesty responded that its work included raising issues about discrimination and that White's book, Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination and Democracy, tied in to this.[21] It did not cancel the event.
- In May 2012, ZF attacked Allen again after she stated in an interview with the Jewish Chronicle that she had never had a letter of complaint from any member of the Jewish community accusing Amnesty of being biased against Israel. Executive Director Alan Aziz claimed his organisation was still awaiting a reply from Amnesty about the January 2012 Ben White book launch about which ZF had complained, though Allen said the charity had already responded.[22] Aziz also penned a comment piece in the Jewish Chronicle stating: '[I]t is inexcusable for groups to use phrases like "war crimes" with a total disregard to the damage such words can cause. There is an urgent need for NGOs to deal with their blatant anti-Israel bias, a bias that ultimately does damage to their reputations.'[23]
- In July 2012 the ZF attacked Amnesty campaign manager Kristyan Benedict claiming that he had 'regularly shown a partisan approach' on Israeli-Palestinian issues, for instance by organising the January 2012 Ben White book launch, and had threatened to assault an Israel supporter (Zionist blogger Richard Millett) at an Amnesty event. The charity responded to the ZF claims, saying all its staff members adhered to principles of independence and impartiality in their work. Benedict reportedly apologised to Millett but the ZF turned down the offer of a meeting with him, claiming 'there would be nothing to gain from meeting him'.[24]
People
October 2026
- Chairman: Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag[13]
- Directors registered at Companies House (November 2026): Josh Aronson (appointed 30 September 2026; the only director continuing from the previous board, representing Meretz) | Paul James Flanagan (30 September 2026) | Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag (11 October 2026) | Adrian Mark Jacobs (11 October 2026)[4][12]
- Resigned: Rabbi Lea Mühlstein (chair; director 2 April 2025 – 12 October 2026) | Noeleen Cohen (22 April 2025 – 12 October 2026) | Professor John Strawson (2 April 2025 – 4 June 2026)[4]
Companies House lists seven officers of Zionists UK Limited since its incorporation: four current directors and three who have resigned. It had not recorded all 15 directors of the new board by 10 November 2026. A Companies House name search found no earlier company for the Zionist Federation.[4]
2024–2026
Rabbi Lea Mühlstein (chair; former international chair of Arzenu) | Professor John Strawson (governance) | Noeleen Cohen (finance) | Josh Aronson (Board of Deputies representative)[3][9]
2021–2022
Richard P. Woolf (acting chair from 2021) | Steve Winston (executive director, made redundant 2022)[5][8]
Senior figures
- 2021-2022 Richard P. Woolf (acting chair)[5]
- 2022-2026 Rabbi Lea Mühlstein (acting chair, then chair)[9][12]
- 2026- Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag (chair)[13]
- 1950-1970 Barnett Janner (20 Jun 1892-4 May 1982) 'member of the executive of the English Zionist Federation in 1930, becoming Chairman in 1940 and President from 1950 to 1970.'[25]
- 1972-1975 Abraham Kramer, solicitor and community leader (born London 7 October 1908 died London 21 February 1996) chairman 1972-75; Joint President (with Dr S. Levenberg) and Honorary President of the ZF Educational Trust[26]
- 1973 -1982 Joseph Edward 'Teddy' Sieff (1906-1982 - hon Vice President, circa 1973, then hon President until his death)
- 1975-1980 and from 2001 Eric Moonman (ZF chair 1975-80, President from 2001)
- 1985-1990 Stephen Roth (ZF chair 1985-90)
- 1989 and 1992-1997 Brenda Katten (vice-chair in 1989, chair 1992-97)
- 1994-1997 Howard Schaverien (ZF President in 1994, Chair in 1996-7)
- 2001-2015 Alan Aziz (executive director 2001–2015; left to become chief executive of JNF UK)[27]
- 2006-2010 Andrew Balcombe (chair 2006-10)
- 2012-2021 Paul Charney (chair)[28]
- 2018-?? Estelle Gilston (President)[29]
- ??-2021 Jonathan Turner (President)
Circa November 2012
Paul Charney Chair - 'A solicitor and former IDF lieutenant... made aliyah from South Africa in 1986 and served in an armoured division of the Israeli army for four years until 1996... Mr Charney is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel and previously worked with the Jewish Association of Business Ethics'.[30] | Eric Moonman and former chair Harvey Rose will serve as joint presidents | Howard Ross and David Duke-Cohan as vice-chairs. Former vice-president Jonathan Hoffman was not re-elected | Director Alan Aziz[30]
Circa 2010
Andrew Balcombe, Chair | Jonathan Hoffmann, Vice-Chair | Dr Jonathan Smilansky Vice-Chair | Harvey Rose Hon Treasurer | Eric Moonman Co-President | Joy Wolfe Co-President | Alan Aziz director | Tracey Seigal Deputy Director | Gary Sakol Assistant Director/Director of Israel Connect | Ian Crooke Finance [31]
Circa 2007
Executive
Eric Moonman President | Geoffrey Gelberg Hon President | Andrew Balcombe Chairman | David Duke-Cohan Vice-Chair | P Margolis Vice-chair | Shirley Levinson Hon Secretary | Harvey Rose Hon Treasurer | Alan Aziz Director | Tracey Seigal Assistant Director | Simon Arenson Marketing | Nadia Nathan Finance[32]
Committee Chairs
Constitution Jonathan Kramer | Finance David Duke-Cohan | Fundraising Geoffrey Gelberg | Israel Now Eric Moonman | Yom Ha'atzmaut Estelle Gilston | Young Leadership Israel connect S Fischer[32]
Circa 2002
Executive
Eric Moonman President | Geoffrey Gelberg Hon President | Ralph Stern Chairman | Estelle Gilston Vice-Chair | Steve Elstein Vice-chair | Adrian Korsner Hon Secretary | Joel Rose Hon Treasurer | Alan Aziz Director | Rona Hart Public Relations | Laurence Stein Marketing | Nadia Nathan Finance[33]
Committee Chairs
Constitution Sidney Shipton | Finance Joel Rose | Fundraising Muriel Thompson | Israel Response Eric Moonman and Rona Hart | Israel conference Estelle Gilston | Yom Ha'atzmaut Jacques Weisser | Young Leadership Israel connect Steven Elstein[33]
Circa 1997
Executive
Rosser Chinn Honorary President | Dr S Levenberg President | H Schaverin Chairman | S Pollock Vice-Chair | R Stern Vice-chair | Estelle Gilston Hon Secretary | I Myers Hon Treasurer | D Goldberg Executive Director | Rona Hart Public Relations | Laurence Stein Marketing | Nadia Nathan Finance[34]
Committee Chairs
Constitution Sidney Shipton | Finance I Myers | Fundraising C Rosen | Israel Conference S Pollock | Israel Projects Estelle Gilston | Moadon Ivri M Novick | Recruitment R Stern | Yom Ha'atzmaut David Duke-Cohan[34]
Circa 1992
Executive
Rosser Chinn Honorary President | Dr S Levenberg Joint President | A Kramer Joint President | Mrs B Katten Chairman | B Davis Vice-Chair | H Smith Vice-chair | Mrs B Hyman Hon Secretary | R Stern Hon Treasurer | Dr G Garai Executive Director[35]
Committee Chairs
Community Servicing H Skolnick | Constitution David Duke-Cohan | Development and training D Aaronberg | Finance R Stern | Promotion and Publicity Mrs D Cukier | Public Affairs L Sacker | Youth H Schaverien | Zionist Review Board B Davis[35]
Circa 1983
Executive
Honorary President Edward Sieff | Chief Executive G H Gelberg | Treasurer S Reiss | Hon Secretary E Graus | General Secretary Dr. G Garai[36]
Committee Chairs
Aliyah Committee Co-chairs S Cooper | H Smith | Jews in Arab Lands Committee Co-chairs P S Gourgey | D Avayou[36]
Publications, Powerbase resources and external links
Publications
- Zionist Review May 1917-June 1927, 1934-1952, 1982-1995
- Jewish Observer and Middle East Review 1952-1977
- Zionist Year Book from 1951.
The Zionist Review appears to have ceased publication around 1995. According to its editor Joseph Finklestone, in 1997, 'so meagre are the resources of the Zionist Federation that it is unable to publish regularly its famous journal Zionist Review.'[37]
Powerbase resources
- Federation of Zionist Youth
- Israel Britain Alliance - a project of the ZF.
- Palestine Relief Board (created 1917)
Companies/Charities linked to ZF
Created 2020s
- Zionists UK Limited (company 16362332) - Incorporated on 2 April 2025 - c/o SMB LLP, 87-91 Newman Street, London W1T 3EY. Trades as the Zionist Federation UK; first accounts due by 2 January 2027.[4]
Created 1960s
- Scopus Jewish Education Trust, previously Zionist Federation Education Trust (charity number 313154) - Registered 06 February 1964 - United Synagogue, 305 Ballards Lane, London, N12 8GB
Removed/Dormant
- Shalom Foundation of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland (charity number 1026535) - Registered 28 September 1993 - PO Box 1948, 116 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London, N3 2DN - Removed 23 August 2024 (last accounts for the year to 31 December 2023 showed nil income)[38]
- Youth Education Fund of Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland (charity number 294111) - Registered 23 February 1986 - Removed 07 February 2019
Pension scheme
- The Zionist Federation Staff Pension Scheme is a multi-employer defined benefit scheme to which the United Jewish Israel Appeal contributes.[39]
External links
- Zionist Federation UK website (formerly zionist.org.uk; contact address in 2026 Box 1948, 116 Ballards Lane, London N3 2DN)
- Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland (World Zionist Organization)
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland About Us, Accessed 24 December 2012
- ↑ Chris Cook (ed) The Routledge Guide to British Political Archives: Sources since 1945, London: Routledge, p. 418.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Zionist Federation UK, About, accessed 10 November 2026 (archived 6 August 2026).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Companies House, Zionists UK Limited (16362332): overview, officers and filing history, viewed 10 November 2026 (overview archived 6 August 2026).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 'Financially unviable' Zionist Federation to restructure with 'drastic cost-cutting', The Jewish Chronicle, 19 January 2022.
- ↑ Zionist Federation About Us, Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 2 February 2006, accessed 24 December 2012
- ↑ Jenni Frazer Zionist Federation chair steps down, The JC, 24 May 2021.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Simon Rocker, Cash-strapped Zionist Federation confirms staff redundancies, The Jewish Chronicle, 10 February 2022.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Simon Rocker, Revamped Zionist Federation will offer forum for dialogue on Israel, The Jewish Chronicle, 9 April 2024.
- ↑ Zionist Federation UK, Voting for the UK Election (election website), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Zionist Federation UK, UK World Zionist Congress Election Results, 31 July 2025.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Simon Rocker, Zionist Federation shifts right after new leadership elections, The Jewish Chronicle, 12 October 2026.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag chosen as new leader of the Zionist Federation, The Jewish Chronicle, 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Zionist Federation Homepage, Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 7 February 2001 on 24 December 2012
- ↑ Zionist Federation About Us, Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 2 February 2006 on 24 December 2012.
- ↑ The Jewish Yearbook 2010, Edgware, Middlesex: Valentine Mitchell, 2010, p 45.
- ↑ Joseph Litvin 'Zionism and the Synagogue', in Israel Cohen (ed.) The rebirth of Israel: A memorial tribute to Paul Goodman. London: Edward Goldston: 131.
- ↑ ZF Affiliate Members. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 8 May 2019.
- ↑ ZF Affiliate Members. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 24 August 2016.
- ↑ Jerusalem Prize Awarded at Annual Zionist Federation Dinner February 17, 2008
- ↑ Marcus Dysch, Cancel event, Amnesty is urged by ZF, Jewish Chronicle, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ Marcus Dysch, Amnesty boss attacked over Israel claims, Jewish Chronicle, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ We deserve more from Amnesty, Jewish Chronicle, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ Marcus Dysch, Amnesty International defends official accused of anti-Israel bias, Jewish Chronicle, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ David Lewis Jones, Barnet Janner Welsh Biography Online.
- ↑ Joseph OBITUARY:Ab Kramer The Independent (London) March 18, 1996, Monday GAZETTE; Page 16
- ↑ Rosa Doherty, Alan Aziz to leave Zionist Federation to head JNF, The Jewish Chronicle, 26 May 2015.
- ↑ Jenni Frazer Zionist Federation chair steps down, The JC, 24 may 2021.
- ↑ The JC, report on Estelle Gilston's election as ZF president.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Zionist Federation elects its new board, The JC.com November 1, 2012.
- ↑ Elkan Levy and Derek Taylor (eds) The Jewish Year Book 2010, London: Valentine Mitchell, p. 45.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Stephen Massil (ed) The Jewish Year Book 2007, London: Valentine Mitchell, 2007, p.21.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Stephen Massil (ed) The Jewish Year Book 2002, London: Valentine Mitchell, 2002, p.23
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Stephen Massil (ed) The Jewish Year Book 1997, London: Valentine Mitchell, 1997, p.23
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Stephen Massil (ed) The Jewish Year Book 1997, London: Jewish Chronicle Publications, 1992, p.64
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Michael Wallach (Ed.) The Jewish Year Book, 1983, London: Jewish Chronicle Publications, 1983, p. 58.
- ↑ Joseph Finklestone, 'Zionism and British Jews', in Stephen Massil (ed) The Jewish Year Book 1997, London: Valentine Mitchell, 1997, p.xxx
- ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, Register of Charities public extract (tables charity and charity_trustee), extract dated 8 November 2026.
- ↑ United Jewish Israel Appeal (charity 1060078), Annual Report & Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended 30th September 2025 (approved 18 June 2026), Charity Commission, accounts and annual returns Register of Charities, downloaded 6 November 2026 (page numbers are the printed page numbers of the report). Archived by the Wayback Machine on 25 October 2026; register accounts page archived the same day.