American Jews vote for a voice in Israel

Many American Jews are concerned about what is happening in Israel, the state of relations between Israel and American Jewry and about funding for programs that they support in Israel. Rather than just stand by as Israelis vote for the third time in a year, Americans can also vote to express their opinions. The elections to the World Zionist Congress are the opportunity for Americans to ensure that their views are expressed.

These elections are conducted by the American Zionist Movement, and 14 different American-based slates of candidates are running for 152 American seats in the 38th World Zionist Congress. The congress convenes in Jerusalem in October. The slates include Reform, Conservative and Orthodox organizations, as well as secular groups, both progressive and right-wing. All members of the Jewish community in North America who are age 18 and over are invited to vote at https://azm.org/elections.   

The American Zionist Movement works to promote and defend Zionism in the United States; to deepen and expand the active relationship of the American Jewish community to Zionism in a contemporary context; to facilitate dialogue and collaboration among Zionist organizations through and with the AZM; and to be the central hub for Zionist resources in America. AZM is comprised of 33 national Jewish Zionist organizations and works across a broad ideological, political, and religious spectrum linking the American Jewish community together in support of Israel, Zionism, and the Jewish people. 

 See this video for further information.

The 14 slates running in the 2020 World Zionist Congress elections are, in ballot order:

• Eretz Hakodesh: Protecting the Kedusha and Mesorah of Eretz Yisrael
• Vote Reform: ARZA Representing the Reform Movement and Reconstructing Judaism
• Israel Shelanu (Our Israel)
• Orthodox Israel Coalition – Mizrachi: Vote Torah
• Vision: Empowering the Next Generation
• MERCAZ USA: The Voice of Conservative/Masorti Judaism
• Dorshei Torah V’Tziyon: Torah and Israel for All
• Hatikvah: Progressive Israel Slate
• Ohavei Zion: World Sephardic Zionist Organization
• Herut Zionists: The Jabotinsky Movement
• ZOA Coalition: Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Torah from Sinai, MIG (Make Israel Great) & National Pro-Israel Partners – Courageously Defending Israel, Sovereignty & the Jewish People
• American Forum for Israel
• Americans4Israel: Unity, Peace & Security
• Kol Yisrael: For the Love of Israel: Making Zionism Compelling in the 21^st Century

Visit ZionistElection.org to learn more and sign up for updates. Party positions/visions, supporting organizations and lists of candidates may be found for each slate at this site.

Registration and voting opened on Jan. 21 and ends on March 11. The fee to register and vote is $7.50, or $5 for those 18-25, which goes to cover the operating costs of the election.