Voting for the World Zionist Congress is underway, allowing American Jews to shape the future of Israel significantly. Candidates from diverse ideological backgrounds are competing for 152 seats, with key financial and governance decisions at stake. Increased voter turnout is necessary for the congress to reflect the diverse views of American Jewry.
Voting has commenced for the 39th World Zionist Congress, presenting American Jews with a unique opportunity to influence Israel’s future directly. This election will impact the governance structure of a historically significant Zionist organization founded 128 years ago by Theodore Herzl. Approximately $5 billion in funding for Jewish causes and the management of key quasi-governmental institutions like the Jewish Agency and the Jewish National Fund hinge on election outcomes.
Any Jewish adult residing in the United States can participate in the election until May 4, provided they agree to a set of Zionist principles and pay a registration fee of $5. The election highlights the ideological divide between liberal and right-wing Orthodox factions striving to influence the priorities and direction of Zionist institutions during a critical juncture in Israel’s history, affecting issues such as religious pluralism and settlement policies.
Rabbi Josh Weinberg, leader of the Reform movement’s lobby for candidates, stated, “This election is about nothing less than the soul of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.” He emphasized the elections’ potential to dictate the meaning of a Jewish state. The election features 21 candidates’ slates vying for a total of 152 seats allocated to American Jewry, marking a significant increase from the previous 15 slates in the last election.
Weinberg’s Vote Reform slate previously garnered a plurality of American votes, but the last election shifted dramatically due to the rise of Orthodox factions—specifically Mizrachi and the new haredi Orthodox Eretz Hakodesh slate, which gained a decisive majority. Eretz Hakodesh aims to continue building upon its previous successes in this election cycle, asserting the influence of its values on Jewish leadership.
Many of the nine new slates represent various demographic segments and ideologies, with some aligning closely with Orthodox values or pro-settlement positions. For example, Am Yisrael Chai targets young, college-educated Jews, while the Israeli American Council slate focuses on Israeli expatriates. Conversely, left-leaning options, including the AID Coalition advocating for protest movements in Israel, illustrate the broader ideological spectrum.
While American Jews generally lean left politically, voter turnout historically remains low, with only 125,000 participating in the last election out of nearly 6 million Jewish adults in the U.S., a marked improvement from just 56,000 in 2015. Yizhar Hess, the World Zionist Organization’s vice chairman, has expressed concern over this low turnout, viewing it as a “shonda” or shame. Hess is working to encourage broader participation, stating, “If the congress is called ‘the parliament of the Jewish people’ it should reflect the makeup of world Jewry.”
JTA has been chronologically documenting Jewish history for over a century, continuing its legacy of robust and independent journalism dedicated to educating and informing the community about these crucial elections.
The election for the World Zionist Congress represents a pivotal opportunity for American Jews to influence the Israeli political landscape. With a significant amount of funding and governance authority on the line, the ideological and demographic diversity of the candidate slates points to a critical battle for the future direction of Zionist institutions. Increased voter participation is essential to ensure that the congress reflects the views of the wider Jewish community.
Original Source: www.jta.org
