The Most Important Jewish Election You’ve Never Heard Of
YOU get a say in the future of Jewish life and values by voting in the World Zionist Congress. Vote by May 4th! 🗳️
This Drop in honor of Staff Sgt. Shachar Friedman (z”l), who was planning on leaving Israel amid the government protests, then decided to serve, believing war would bring about unity. He fell in Gaza in November 2023 while fighting Hamas. 🕯️
In happy news, we had an amazing and meaningful Omer Circle last Sunday. If you’d like to join next time, register here for our session on 5/18, where we’ll discuss discipline in Judaism. For those interested in Jewish spirituality, deep discussions, and 2020 Zoom nostalgia, you won’t want to miss it!
On to today’s Drop… I don’t know anyone who, by definition, is actually an anti-Zionist. Aside from mean people on the Internet or people I see in the park dressed as watermelon unicorn fairies (true story), everyone I know in my personal life thankfully believes in the right of the Jewish State to exist. Yay!
Those I know who say or think they are not a Zionist actually just disagree with Israel’s government, or Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, or are uncomfortable with Israeli history, as they have every right to be. But that doesn’t make you an anti-Zionist.
Zionism, at its core, is simply the belief in the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in our ancestral homeland. That’s it. Not support for a particular government or policy—just the idea that Jews, like all peoples, deserve a place to call home. It’s not a dirty word like the Internet wants you to believe. And that’s what’s so beautiful (and annoying) about Zionism: within this ideal are many different views and beliefs.
Now that we’ve established some truths, let’s talk about who this post is for. If you:
✅ Believe in the Jewish people’s right to a homeland in Israel in some way
✅ Are Jewish, to boot (if you’re not, I’m curious about who you are and I thank you for reading!)
✅ Live in the U.S.
…then you’ve checked all three boxes (okay, there’s a couple more but we’ll get to those later) for why this post matters to you and should probably know about something called the World Zionist Congress. It’s kind of a big deal, and yet, most of us have never even heard of it. Let’s change that.
WZC 101 (no, it’s not a radio station!)
Remember in history class when we learned about Theodor Herzl convening Jews in Basel, Switzerland to discuss the creation of the State of Israel? Well, that was the first Zionist Congress.
Back in 1897, the goal was to dream up and advocate for the creation of a Jewish homeland. Today, the Congress still exists, but now its role is helping shape Jewish life in Israel and around the world through big funding decisions. And you get to be a part of it!
Known as “the parliament of the Jewish people,” it allocates $1 billion annually to support Jewish causes, from religious pluralism to building settlements in the West Bank. Meeting every five years, the WZC is made up of 525 representatives from international Jewish organizations. Americans make up one third of the elected delegates. U.S. Jews can vote for one of the 20+ slates, which represent the wide spectrum of perspectives in modern Jewry.
The Diaspora’s Role in Israel’s Story
Have you ever thought, “Gee, I’ve always wanted to live in Israel, specifically Tel Aviv, living off laffa and limonanas while avoiding jelly fish and rocket fire, but since I can’t, I wish there was some way to effect change and have my liberal Zionist voice heard from afar?” Too specific? Well, voting in the WZC ensures that YOU have some say in where money goes in Israeli affairs. It’s the closest we can get to voting in Israeli elections, people!
I’ve heard about this Congress in recent years, especially when I’ve received dozens of texts and WhatsApp messages telling me to vote for their slate. Oy. But combined with the emotional intensity of October 7th, feeling helpless from afar, and hearing powerful statements from Jews in my community about slates that will make a difference in Israeli and Jewish life, I felt inspired to vote in this election for the first time and spread the good word so others can do the same.
🇮🇱 This week was Yom Ha’atzmaut—Israeli Independence Day—and what better way to help write the next chapter of the Jewish story, even if just from afar? Especially from afar.
How to Vote and Who to Vote For
In addition to being Jewish, Zionist, and a U.S. resident, you have to be at least 18 years old, didn’t vote in the last Israeli election, and don’t mind spending $5 to vote (forget the latte; you can make coffee at home).
You can register and vote here, but how do you know who to vote for? Luckily for you, I made a quick guide/roast on all the slates, which you can read more in depth about here. There’s also horribly designed flyers created by all the slates you can click on and read! Here we go!
Achdut Israel
🔫 They really like the IDF
Born post-October 7th, this slate, which means “unity” is all about Jewish strength, IDF pride, and global Jewish self-defense.
AID Coalition (America-Israel Democracy)
📢 Bibi who?
Israeli expats who care about democracy.
Aish Ha’am
🔥 Burn antisemitism to the ground (not their official slogan)
Orthodox outreach. Says they combat antisemitism, but still writes it as anti-Semitism. Sigh.
American Forum for Israel
🕍 Torah, tefillin, and tanks
After a while they sound the same, but this one is aligned with former MP Avigdor Liberman, who split from Netanyahu over his support in drafting the ultra-Orthodox into the army.
Am Yisrael Chai
🎓 Hopefully more than cherry tomatoes
Aiming to represent college students and promote advocacy.
ANU: A New Union
🌈 Tikkun Olam, TikTok edition
A new left-wing slate of millennials and Gen Z’ers with a two-state solution and a dream.
Beyachad
🇷🇺 From Russia with Zionism
It means “together,” but only if you’re Russian and Orthodox.
Dorshei Torah V’Tzion
✡️ The Judaism Netflix doesn’t want you to know about
Women rabbis and LGBTQ rights, but make it Orthodox!
Eretz Hakodesh
📜 They’re not here to make friends
A right-wing group who shocked everyone last time by coming in third.
Hatikvah: The Progressive Slate
🕊️ All you need is love (and a pluralistic Israel)
Backed by J Street, they’re holding out hope for democracy in Israel.
Herut North America
👓 Unapologetic Zionism meets old-school revisionists
If you like Ze’ev Jabotinsky, this one’s for you!
Israel365 Action
🙌 Evangelical vibes without the Evangelicals (allegedly)
Formerly “One Jewish State,” but not that One Jewish State.
Israeli American Council
🇺🇸 Infusing their ‘Israeliness’
Israeli Americans who are proud Zionists. Not relevant, but I went to their conference once and met an actor from Fauda. And Sheldon Adelson, but the actor was cooler.
The Jewish Future
💬 Moderate liberal Zionism
For people who like their Zionism with a dash of nuance. Their flyer looks oddly like the ones I used to design in my previous job. Hmm…
Kol Israel
📣 StandWithUs and stand proud
From campus to Congress, they’re fighting antisemitism and fighting for the Olympics to be in Israel in 2048.
Mercaz USA
🕯️ The Zionist Arm of Conservative Judaism… which is pretty Zionist anyway
I had to Google was Masorti Judaism was. Who knew it was the international name for Conservative Judaism?!
Orthodox Israel Coalition – Mizrachi
🪬 Modern Orthodox
A religious Zionist slate backed by OU and YU. Came in second place last time.
Shas Olami
🕍 “The time has come to take responsibility!” (their actual slogan)
Any Sephardic Orthodox Jews in the house?! Also, I love the editing on this flyer.
VISION
🎓 Zionism, but make it Gen Z and unapologetically right-wing
They would not get along with our Hatikvah friends.
Vote Reform
🎤 This one goes out to everyone who’s ever said “dayenu” with a guitar
The reigning champs of 2020. Democratic, pluralistic, progressive. All your favorite rabbis from summer camp are here.
ZOA Coalition
🇺🇸 Pls stop texting me, I’m not voting for you
From the founding days of Zionism to your college Hillel, ZOA’s still out here fighting BDS and two-state talks. And their flyer really stresses me out.
Who you votin’ for? If you feel comfortable, feel free to comment.
Vote in the World Zionist Congress elections by this Sunday!
Don’t do it for me. Do it for him:
Shabbat Shalom,
This is CRAZY how many splinters!!!!! they need to put a 10% threshold to winnow out the small groups. Ridiculous. And that's why the Hareidim ("Eretz HaKodesh") came in 3rd, despite being non-Zionist! (and by paying people to vote - I can attest to this peronsally.)
I can not fully understand the politics of Israel or a : Zionist state," but when the ultra orthodox living in Israel get subsidized by the govt, do not serve in the military and do not believe in a political state then the nation has serious problems.