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

The Jerusalem Post profiles Ronald Lauder, World Jewish Congress president and heir to the Estée Lauder empire, ranking him No. 5 on its 2026 list of the 50 Most Influential Jews. The article details his decades of philanthropy, his call for greater investment in Jewish education, and his criticism of wealthy donors and political leaders for failing to confront rising antisemitism.

The Jerusalem Post profiles Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress and heir to the Estée Lauder cosmetics empire, ranking him No. 5 on its 2026 list of the 50 Most Influential Jews. The article traces Lauder's decades of philanthropy, beginning with the 1987 establishment of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, which now supports 37 Jewish schools, summer camps, and community centers across 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Lauder, 82, announced in 2026 that he will not seek another term as WJC president when his mandate ends in 2029. The profile highlights Lauder's shift toward focusing on the future of Jewish leadership and education. He criticized wealthy donors for doing 'bubkes' and argued that over $600 million spent by US Jewish organizations on antisemitism campaigns since October 7 has had little effect. Lauder called for greater investment in long-term Jewish education and for the creation of a dedicated government agency to counter misinformation and antisemitism. He also condemned political leaders for a 'disgraceful failure of leadership' amid antisemitic incidents in New York. The article presents Lauder as a figure who has used his position to demand accountability, pressing for Israel's NATO admission and criticizing governments on antisemitism.