What is the World Zionist Congress?
The Parliament of the Jewish People
The World Zionist Congress functions as the “parliament of the Jewish people” and oversees over $1B in annual spending supporting what they deem to be the most pressing needs of the Jewish people. The Congress has directed money to initiatives like strengthening Jewish communities, expanding Jewish educational opportunities, fighting antisemitism, and fostering Jewish identity, while also weighing in on more traditionally political topics like whether Israel should be more or less pluralistic, in favor or opposed to settlements in the West Bank, and other charged issues like these.
Elections for the World Zionist Congress happen once every five years, locking in the organizations’ leadership and strategic direction until the next election. In the 2020 election, ultra-Orthodox slates gained significant power for the first time, significantly influencing priorities for the World Zionist Congress and its budget for the past five years in a way that is not representative of the values and demographics of the American Jewish community.
Who can vote
and how
American Jews can vote between March 10th and May 4th for one of twenty-one different slates running for seats in the WZC. In total, 152 seats will be split across these twenty-one slates, based on how many votes they receive during the voting period. All American Jews are eligible to vote who meet the following criteria:
Be Jewish and not subscribe to another religion
Be 18 years or older by June 30, 2025
Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident in the U.S.
Maintain your primary residence in the U.S.
Have not voted in the November 2022 Knesset election (and will not vote in any future Knesset election which may be held prior to July 28, 2025)
Registering to vote costs $5, to cover the administrative costs of running the election. Once you affirm that you meet the above qualifications and pay the $5 fee, you will be able to vote any time between March 10th and May 4th.