The elected delegates include the 152 who fill American seats within the Congress. The larger the voter turnout is, the more the American Jewish voice is heard!
From the COVID-19 pandemic to Israel’s ongoing multifront war, the five years since the previous World Zionist Congress election in 2020 have seen no shortage of seismic crises. This strongly positions the 2025 election to serve as an uplifting and unifying force for diverse voices and constituencies across the Jewish community, all in support of the vibrancy of Zionism. That is why there are no “winners” and “losers” in this election — participation is a victory in and of itself – especially at this time when our ancient, ideological ,and familial connection to the land of Zion has been delegitimized and even weaponized to express anti-Semitism by far too many..
Back to our WZC election, ballots are cast for one of 20+ slates of candidates submitted by Zionist groups. Voting is done primarily online and via mobile devices, but paper ballots are available upon request. The fee to register and vote is $5, which goes to cover the operating costs of the election which is administered by The American Zionist Movement (AZM). The AZM comprises 46 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.
An all-time-high of over 20 slates representing diverse political beliefs, religious denominations, and cultural traditions are competing in the 2025 election, marking an over 50% surge from the 13 slates whose candidates won seats in the Congress in 2020.
This year’s candidates are running across various slates, which are listed in ballot order, based on random drawing. I encourage you to vote Reform, which is slate #3, and I also ask you to encourage others to do the same, By voting Reform you will be electing delegates who are leaders of the Reform Movement, including one of the URJ’s most capable and high profile rabbis, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl. Please look over the platforms
and if you are able to access the link to the YouTube video of my colleague, you will get a step by step tutorial on how to register and vote. You can also ask your son or granddaughter how to access her on the Central Synagogue InstaGram to learn even more.
On a personal note, Rabbi Fred was a fan of my friend Angela from the times when he and my mom would visit me and my classmates during our studies in Jerusalem, to the sacred moment when my dad and Angela co-officiated the wedding ceremony for Larry and myself, and even for his first “retirement” when Angela and I blessed him and performed for him at a rabbinic celebration; singing both a sacred song to meet the moment as well as a country and western parody to Rabbi Fred with me on the guitar and my well respected classmate on the kazoo!
Please lift your progressive, Reform, and egalitarian voice and VOTE and gently or with a nod or nudge urge others to do the same. Later this month we will celebrate the Springtime Festival of Passover. After we have shopped and chopped all the ritual and traditional foods that will adorn our tables, we will pour four or more cups of wine, ask and answer at least four questions, and tell the story of how a mixed multitude of our people were redeemed from Egyptian bondage. Millennia later our people are even less of a monolith. By voting in the World Zionist Congress, you will proclaim that “Am Yisrael Chai! The people of Israel (all of us) Shall Live – we should live and be well, and be counted!l
May you have a Zeisen Pesach (a sweet Passover) & Chag Sameach (a happy holiday),
Rabbi Rebecca Pomerantz Shinder
