Voting Opens for World Zionist Congress: A Chance to Influence Israel’s Future
Voting is open for American Jews in the 39th World Zionist Congress election, influencing Israel’s future. The election determines the balance of power within the Zionist organization overseeing $5 billion in Jewish funding and quasi-governmental institutions. The race features a significant ideological battle between liberal and right-wing factions, impacting key issues like religious pluralism and settlement expansion. Voter turnout is critical, as historically low participation threatens diverse representation.
Voting has commenced for the 39th World Zionist Congress, allowing American Jews to influence the future of Israel. This election is crucial in determining the balance of power within the Zionist organization, established by Theodore Herzl 128 years ago, and oversees over $5 billion in funding for Jewish causes. It also governs quasi-governmental institutions like the Jewish Agency, essential for immigration, and the Jewish National Fund, which manages 13% of Israel’s land.
Any Jewish adult residing in the U.S. can cast their vote until May 4 by accepting Zionist principles and paying a $5 registration fee. This year’s election centers around a significant ideological struggle between liberal and right-wing Orthodox factions, each vying to shape Zionist institutions’ futures and funding priorities amidst a pivotal period for Israel. Key issues affected include religious pluralism, Jewish education funding, settlement expansion, and Israel-Diaspora relations.
Rabbi Josh Weinberg, leading the Reform movement’s campaign, emphasizes that this election is about the essence of the State of Israel and Jewish identity. He notes, “There are multiple competing visions over what it means to have a Jewish state and essentially to be Jewish. We can help decide some of those things through a democratic process.”
Among the 21 slates available for voting, the Vote Reform slate aims to secure a leading role in the congress, which has expanded from 15 slates in the previous election. The victorious groups will function alongside 173 representatives from the Diaspora and 200 from Israel. In the last election, the Reform slate garnered a plurality while the Orthodox lists gained substantial influence, particularly the Mizrachi and Eretz Hakodesh slates, which shifted the congress’s power dynamics.
Eretz Hakodesh seeks to continue its momentum, inviting supporters to witness its impact. The election features nine new slates, many aligning with Orthodox or pro-settlement stances, while also catering to diverse demographics. The Am Yisrael Chai slate targets college students and young professionals, while others like the Israeli American Council slate focus on Israeli expatriates. The left’s representation includes the AID Coalition, supporting the protest movement against Netanyahu.
Despite leaning left, the representation of U.S. Jews in the congress is uncertain due to historically low voter turnout. Out of approximately 6 million American Jewish adults, only 125,000 participated in the 2020 election, an increase from 56,000 in 2015, but still low compared to peak participations like the 211,000 in 1987. Yizhar Hess of the World Zionist Organization identifies low turnout as a significant issue that endangers the diversity inherent in Zionism, committing to raise awareness about the election.
Hess remarked, “If the congress is called ‘the parliament of the Jewish people’ it should reflect the makeup of world Jewry. That’s why I am investing many hours every day in order to convince the Jews of the diaspora to make their voice heard.”
This election highlights the vital role American Jews can play in shaping the future of Israel’s governance and policies, underscoring the importance of voter engagement in democratic processes.
The upcoming elections for the World Zionist Congress are critical for American Jews to influence Israel’s future. With significant financial control and governance over key organizations at stake, participation is essential. Ideological divides between liberal and right-wing factions will shape important issues affecting both Israel and the Diaspora, highlighting the need for higher voter turnout to ensure representation. As emphasized by leaders, engaging in this democratic process is vital for reflecting the diverse makeup of Jewish communities worldwide.
Original Source: www.jta.org
