At this pivotal moment in Israel’s history, it’s critical that our voices as diaspora Jews who care about Israel’s future are heard.
 

The World Zionist Congress (WZC), founded by Herzl in 1897, the “parliament of the Jewish people,” is the only democratic body with representatives of all World Jewry—all countries, all streams. Here, we diaspora Jews not only have a voice, but a vote!

When are the next elections for U.S. delegates to the World Zionist Congress? Every five years, we have an opportunity to vote for American delegates to the WZC. Voting this year is from March 10 to May 4. The next meeting of the Congress will take place in Jerusalem in October 2025.

How will my vote affect everyday decisions in Israel? The results of those elections affect who controls the boards, committees, and departments of the four vital “National Institutions”—the World Zionist Organization (WZO), the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), Keren Kayemeth LiIsrael/Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), and Keren Hayesod—which support Israel in areas including aliyah, land reclamation, settlement, strengthening Jewish life in the diaspora, Zionist education, rescue of endangered Jewish populations, combatting antisemitism, fundraising, advocacy, and fashioning Israel as an exemplary society. Every year, those institutions allocate billions of dollars to Jewish organizations and institutions in Israel and globally. YOUR VOTE will influence how they allocate those funds!

What happens at a World Zionist Congress? The delegates elect the leaders of the WZO and vote on resolutions expressing views on important matters facing Israel and the world Jewish community. The issues and disagreements—sometimes passionate—often mirror those in Israel: Orthodox vs. non-Orthodox, extreme right-wing vs. more moderate.

What is at stake for communities like Beth El? In practical terms, we want to ensure that non-Orthodox streams of Judaism, including ours, receive a fair share of funding and fair treatment in Israel. In broad terms, we want to ensure that the World Zionist Congress, in expressing goals and priorities related to Israel, and the four National Institutions, in carrying them out, reflect our values and principles, including religious pluralism, gender equality, and core democratic values.

Who are the delegates to the Congress and how are they chosen? Some worldwide organizations (such as Hadassah) are automatically allocated delegates. The rest—525 this year—are allocated to individual countries, which select delegates in varying ways. Israel gets 190; the United States, 152.

How will the U.S. delegates be chosen? By an election, largely online, conducted by the American Zionist Movement between March 10 and May 4 of this year. Voting is open to Jews who are at least 18 years old. Twenty-two organizations have filed slates of delegates for the U.S. elections.

Which slate represents the Conservative Movement? MERCAZ is the organization representing the global Conservative/Masorti movement and its values at the World Zionist Congress and the four National Institutions under its auspices.

How can I vote? Watch for instructions in March. There is a $5 fee to register and vote, helping to cover the administrative costs of the election. For more information, see https://www.mercazusa.org/events/votemercaz39thworldzionistcongress/

No matter which slate you choose to receive your vote, if you are a Jew, it is important that you vote, because each and every member of our tribe is unique and worthy of being represented within our international leadership.