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The World Zionist Congress (WZC) is a democratically elected, nongovernmental institution in Israel. Often called “The Parliament of the Jewish People,” the WZC convenes every five years to bring together representatives from Jewish communities around the world to decide on key issues affecting the Jewish people in Israel and globally. The Congress elects the leadership that sets policies and influences the allocation of significant funding of about $1 billion annually. It plays a crucial role in supporting activities worldwide which promote Jewish identity and combat antisemitism. 

The WZC directs funds for the national Zionist institutions:

• The World Zionist Organization
• The Jewish Agency for Israel
• Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael (Jewish National Fund).

What does the WZC election have to do with the Reform Movement?

While the Reform Movement is the largest Jewish denomination in North America, we are a minority in Israel of just 8% – partly due to the lack of government funding in comparison to Orthodox communities.

With your votes, the Reform Movement is assigned senior positions in the national institutions, and the ability to direct funding to the Reform Movement in Israel and around the world.  This has allowed Israel’s Reform Movement to grow despite facing discrimination from the government.

For example, Israel’s Reform Movement:

• Continues to grow – has now reached 50 communities in Israel
• Is a national leader in legal action on behalf of democracy, equality and human rights, through the Reform Movement’s Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC).
• Runs important social action programs to aid the disadvantaged, such as the Keren B’Kavod youth program and the Telem Leadership Mechina (pre-army program).

Your votes bring funds that are crucial to survive, thrive, and further our core values of democracy, freedom, pluralism, and security and champion a different vision of what it means to be Jewish in the Jewish State.

Why is voting important? What’s at stake?

Our representation in the WZC helps protect fundamental rights for all Israelis and Reform Jewish communities. It also prevents extremist factions from implementing policies that oppose our core shared values of democracy, freedom, equality, pluralism, and security.   

The ultra-Orthodox and ultra-Nationalist movements are using power gained in the World Zionist Congress elections – to advance their agenda, including: rejecting our conversions and questioning the authenticity of our children’s Jewish identity, stripping Israeli Reform clergy and communities of their rights and funding, advancing antidemocratic policies, and rolling back gains for LGBTQ+ rights.