From now until Purim (March 11), Jewish communities around the world will be choosing delegates to the 38th World Zionist Congress (WZC). In the United States, this is done through an an online election, and every self-identified Jewish person over the age of 18 has the right and opportunity to vote. The WZC and its sister organization, the World Zionist Organization (WZO), were founded by the father of modern Zionism, Theodore Herzl, in 1897.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO US RIGHT NOW? The WZO holds a major international meeting (Congress) every five years and the next one is this year - 2020. The 500 congressional delegates are elected by Jews from Israel and throughout the diaspora. One of their primary missions is to set spending priorities for approximately 5 billion dollars (1 billion per year) that reflect the needs and hopes of diverse Jewish communities in Israel and around the world. Our votes truly matter!
15 slates are vying for OUR votes in this election. Click here to learn more about all the slates in this excellent article written Aiden Pink for the Jewish Daily Forward. As a matter of nachus, Aiden happens to be the grandson of my beloved friend and former choir director, Judith Fenton, who recently relocated from OC to LA.
The Jewish Collaborative of Orange County is a staunch advocate for vibrant pluralistic Judaism in Israel and around the world. In that vein, we call your attention to four slates for which this is a priority: Dorshei Torah v’Tzion, MERCAZ USA, Vote Reform/ARZA and HATIKVAH . There is distinct overlap and difference between these four platforms. Some are associated with Jewish religious denominations familiar to Americans and tend to focus on expanding religious opportunities for all in Israel, while others place greater emphasis on social policy agendas. Ultimately they are all rooted in the core Jewish values that call us to respect and preserve human and environmental dignity.
Jewish Collaborative of Orange County does not endorse a particular slate. We only ask that you engage in this truly miraculous, incredibly important process in three steps:
LEARN more about the work of the WZO and REVIEW all of your voting options
SPREAD THE WORD to every Jewish person in your family and social circle about this little known but highly empowering opportunity. Bring it up in CONVERSATION, send and forward EMAILs, and share your new-found enthusiasm on SOCIAL MEDIA as often as you can between now and March 11.
The processing fee of $7.50 is a small price to pay for the ability to make a positive, 5-year impact in our beloved homeland of Eretz Yisrael as well as the on the direction of World Jewry over all. THANK YOU!
I will be speaking about the election and some of the different slates at our upcoming Shabbat service ( Minyan Am Ehad ) this Saturday, January 25. Please join us.
Shalom u’vrakhah (With blessings of peace), Rabbi Marcia Tilchin
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