The Most Important Election That You Haven’t Heard About….
By Dan Pava, Santa Fe
March 28, 2025
Readers of the New Mexico Jewish Journal may not be aware of an important election that affects Israel and Judaism and is happening now. While New Mexican Jews are preparing for Passover, the holiday celebrating our redemption and freedom, there is a vote happening now that matters - whether you sit in Albuquerque or Ashkelon, Taos or Tel Aviv, or Jemez Springs or Jerusalem. I’m talking about the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections with voting now through May 4th.
Have opinions about the course of events in Israel? You can cast a ballot for change. Once every five years, Jews all over the world have the right and civic duty to cast our votes and make our voices heard in Israel through the World Zionist Congress (WZC) elections. Think of yourself as being a modern-day Theodore Herzl, and when you participate, it is a real action and not just a dream.
The WZC is essentially the parliament of the Jewish People. The representatives sent in to the Congress in proportion to votes cast for the 21 different slates will help set policies and direct the allocation of a $1 billion+ annual budget, which affects Jews around the world. which will convene in Jerusalem in October 2025. Voting in the election is the most powerful opportunity to have your voice heard in Israel, make an impact in Jewish communities worldwide, and stand up for Zionism. The representatives who are elected — with one-third of them coming from the United States — will make key decisions on allocating over $1 billion annually to support the most pressing needs across Israeli society and the Diaspora.
The World Zionist Organization receives its funding from various Zionist institutions, donations, and partnerships. A major financial pillar, the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) generates revenue from leasing and developments in Israel. Additional funds come from the Jewish Agency for Israel, donations, membership dues, and indirect state funding from Israel.
As a member of the board of Temple Beth Shalom, affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism, I am working to get out the vote among our congregants. However, whatever your leanings, and if you are an American Jew, you can participate by voting in this seminal election. Here, I strive to make the case for voting for the URJ slate, or perhaps one of the other like-minded options. You’re not voting for individuals but for the parties that make up representation in the World Zionist Congress. Think parliamentary, my dear Watson.
According to Rabbi Josh Weinberg of the Union for Reform Judaism, “Over the past 5 years, especially the past 16 months, many of us have supported or traveled to Israel, donated, and attended programs with inspiring leaders in our congregations and communities. Those things are critically important, but what if you could make a real impact democratically? It would only take a few minutes to do so, and your voice would be heard loud and clear throughout the Jewish world.”
Weinberg continues, “But this election is about far more than simply funding or positions. It’s about something much bigger…There is a vast diversity of understanding and interpretation of what Zionism means, and it’s essential that we, as Reform Jews, understand what we are facing in this election…We’re fighting to preserve Israel not just as the only Jewish State in the world but aspire to see it be a liberal, free, and pluralistic democracy and an open and tolerant society…We Reform Zionists are fighting against those who hold a completely different vision of what the Jewish State should be, who say that Reform and liberal Judaism are inauthentic and illegitimate expressions of Judaism… We’re faced today with an essential choice because so many in the larger Zionist tent are striving to delegitimize us as Reform Jews. We can choose to fight for our rightful place at the table or to surrender to the extremist powers that seek to weaken and marginalize us as Jews amongst the Jewish people.” He concludes, “So often, we’re told as Diaspora Jews that we shouldn’t have a voice in what happens in the State of Israel. But we know that everything that happens in Israel has a direct effect on us, our security, and our identity as Jews. So, as Zionists, we need to have our voices heard.”
The 21 slates vying for representation have widely divergent platforms. There are several advocating in line with the URJ values and policies. There are others with policies and platforms that are contrary and antithetical. They advocate for: stripping Israeli Reform clergy and communities of their rights and funding, rejecting Reform and Conservative conversions and questioning the authenticity of children’s Jewish identity, demanding gender segregation in Israeli society, rolling back gains for religious pluralism, gender equity, and LGBTQ+ rights, racist policies, and a general undermining of democratic institutions.
So, what does it take to make a difference and be part of this historic election? Basically, it takes five minutes and five bucks to influence spending five billion dollars over the next five years.
You can vote online or with a paper ballot. Start by logging on to www.zionistelection.com.
Voting online for me was easy. Just follow the prompts and the process takes a few minutes. Voting runs through May 4. To vote, one must be:
• 18 or over.
• Self-identify as Jewish
• Live in the United States
• Pay $5 administrative fee to register and vote that covers the administrative costs of the election. Payments can be made by credit card, e-check, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. The payment also serves to prevent fraud by making sure that individuals are voting and are only doing so once.
It might just be the best thing you can do for yourself and your support for Israel during these challenging times. Remember, as the Haggadah tells us, in every generation we are obligated to consider ourselves as having left Egypt – Mitzraim – getting out of the narrow places, and to move forward together to a better tomorrow. So don’t just kvetch. Vote.
Dan is a board member at Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Fe. He is also vice chair of Nature Israel USA.
He decided to help get out the vote for the URJ because he believes Israel is at a critical juncture now.
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