No. 5: Ronald Lauder: Standing at the forefront of the fight against antisemitism

Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress and heir to the Estée Lauder cosmetics empire, has dedicated decades to strengthening Jewish identity and education. Through the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, established in 1987, he has supported 37 Jewish schools and community centers across 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Lauder, 82, announced he will not seek re-election as WJC president in 2029, shifting his focus to securing the future of the Jewish world.

Put money into schools. That is your future.

He urges younger philanthropists to prioritize education, criticizing wealthy donors for “doing bubkes” while antisemitism rises. Lauder advocates for long-term investment in Jewish education over short-term media campaigns, citing the success of over 50,000 graduates from his supported institutions. He also calls for a dedicated Israeli government agency to combat misinformation and antisemitism, warning that “Israel is losing the information war.”