World Zionist Congress Election Begins, Focus on Boosting Turnout in Houston

The 39th World Zionist Congress election is underway, aiming to boost turnout among American Jews following low participation in 2020. With voting online until May 4, Yizhar Hess leads efforts to reinforce community engagement. Fifteen candidates from Houston are running, amidst a record number of diverse slates representing various Jewish perspectives, addressing funding and recognition of different religious practices in Israel.

The 39th World Zionist Congress (WZC) election has commenced, with voting ongoing until May 4. Yizhar Hess, vice chairman of the World Zionist Organization, is focused on increasing voter turnout within American Jewish communities, particularly after the disappointing participation of 124,000 ballots cast in the 2020 election. Notably, this represents less than 3% of the 5.8 million Jewish adults residing in the United States, as per a Pew Research study from 2020.

Voting is available online at zionistelection.org, where a video presentation guides potential voters on the registration process. A nominal fee of $5 is required for registration to help offset election expenses. During the 2020 election, only 2,054 out of approximately 176,000 adult Jewish Texans participated, accounting for less than 1% of eligible voters.

To promote voter turnout, Hess plans to visit Houston during the Shabbat weekend of March 21-23, attending services at Congregation Or Ami and Congregation Beth Yeshurun. He emphasizes that greater involvement will directly benefit Jewish activities in the U.S., aiming to substantially increase funding for summer camps and educational programs.

Notably, the WZC acts as a significant entity, distributing approximately $5 billion over five years to Jewish organizations globally. The 525 delegates to be elected during this election will address crucial policy matters affecting Jewish communities worldwide. Of these, 152 delegates will come from the U.S., while 200 will be from Israel, with others being selected from the Diaspora.

The American Zionist Movement (AZM) outlines specific voter qualifications that include being Jewish, at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and adhering to the Jerusalem Platform of the Zionist movement. Notably, the election slate features 21 diverse political platforms, the highest number to date, representing various movements within Judaism, including ultra-Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative groups.

One critical issue facing voters is the push for equal recognition of Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist religious practices in Israel. Currently, only Orthodox Judaism’s rites are legally acknowledged in Israel. This year’s election provides American Jews with the opportunity to influence Jewish standards, especially in the aftermath of recent events affecting Israel.

Rabbi David Lyon of Congregation Beth Israel highlighted the importance of voting, stating, “It is important for American Jews to vote in the WZO election… Our vote… makes an impression on the lives of Jews from all Jewish streams in Israel.”

Fifteen candidates from Houston are running for delegate positions in the WZC election, representing a broad spectrum of political beliefs and cultural traditions. This year’s election marks a pivotal moment for American Jews to engage actively in the democratic process affecting their communities.

The commencement of the 39th World Zionist Congress election marks a significant opportunity for American Jews to engage in shaping the future of Jewish life and representation. With heightened efforts aimed at increasing voter participation, leaders like Yizhar Hess are stressing the importance of inclusivity and support for diverse Jewish practices. The election will determine the distribution of substantial funds to Jewish organizations and address key policy issues impacting global Jewish communities.

Original Source: jhvonline.com