One movement in particular encouraged Jewish women to enter the political arena - Zionism. The Federation of Women Zionists (FWZ), set up in 1919, and the Women's International Zionist Organisation (WIZO), set up the following year, both became central to Zionist activity in Britain. Women like Rebecca Sieff and Vera Weizmann proved to be formidable organisers and successful fundraisers for Zionism, as well as effective political lobbyists.

WIZO promoted education programmes and women's welfare to support the future Jewish state. The Zionist movement was one of the first to give Jewish women total equality.

Jewish women continued their active participation in specific causes during the 1970s and 1980s, when they were heavily involved in fighting Soviet persecution of Jews. The Women's Campaign for Soviet Jewry was tireless in raising public awareness of the conditions of Jews in Soviet Russia, taking up the causes of particular individuals, and pressing the Kremlin to allow Jewish emigration.

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