In its early years, the National Council of Jewish Women concentrated on combating assimilation by educating Jewish women about Judaism. In contemporary times, the Council continues to play an important role as a bridge between traditional motherhood and political activity, between the Jewish community and other women’s organizations, between Judaism and politics, and between diverse segments of the Jewish community itself.

With the exception of a few crypto-Jews, the Jewish presence in Cuba began after the Republic of Cuba was established in 1902. The community grew with the arrival of Turkish and Eastern European Jews in the early twentieth century, then shrank again after Fidel Castro’s rise to power, though a small number still remain.

The American Jewish Congress (AJCongress) advocates for Jewish interests in the United States and abroad. Women have played an important part in AJCongress since the organization was first established after World War I.