The institute's founder Jacob Robinson argued that Jewish leaders, struggling for the interests of the Jewry after World War I, “were hampered by the lack of up-to-date information on the situation of the Jews and no less by the lack of research into relevant legal and political options.”[2] The IJA was established to bridge the gap.
The institute's research focused on the analysis of the political, legal and economic aspects of Jewish life since World War I.
Their reports examined a number of topics including: the situation of Jewish communities in various countries, anti-Semitism, human rights related to minorities and migration, and the Holocaust and its aftermath.
The organisation was also involved in formulating a postwar policy to secure Jewish rights and freedom internationally.
[4][5] It is a registered charity under English law and it exists to provide "policy-related research and analysis for individuals and organizations concerned with the enhancement of contemporary Jewish life.