Summary of each slate's platform in the US elections for the 39th World Zionist Congress ~ Elder Of Ziyon

Monday, March 10, 2025

Summary of each slate's platform in the US elections for the 39th World Zionist Congress

The elections for the US representatives to the World Zionist Congress start today.

There are 21 slates, and it is quite a lot to read. Here, with the help of AI, is a summary of each slate's positions:

Slate 1: Shas Olami

The slate aims to become a major force in the World Zionist Organization and the 39th World Zionist Congress by promoting programs that support traditional Jewish education and strengthen community ties with Israel. They emphasize the transmission of strong Torah values, the preservation of Sephardic heritage, and ensuring Sephardic representation within the Zionist movement. Their campaign urges voters to take responsibility in shaping the future of Jewish identity and community leadership.

Slate 2: Vision

Vision is a youth-led Zionist movement advocating for Jewish liberation, identity, and empowerment. It promotes grassroots activism, rejects the two-state solution as ineffective, and emphasizes mutual respect between Jews and Palestinians. The slate also focuses on Jewish peoplehood, inclusivity, and the indivisibility of Israel as the Jewish homeland while ensuring justice and dignity for all inhabitants.

Slate 3: Vote Reform

The "Vote Reform" slate represents the U.S. Reform Movement, advocating for a democratic, secure, and Jewish Israel based on religious pluralism, equality, and justice. It pledges to combat antisemitism and anti-Zionism, support a Two-State solution, fight for full government recognition of Reform Judaism, and ensure equal rights for all Israelis, including minorities and LGBTQ+ people. The movement is committed to strengthening Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora while working toward peace.

Slate 4: Kol Israel

Kol Israel is a diverse coalition of Jewish leaders and activists dedicated to strengthening Zionist identity and innovation. It aims to combat antisemitism on campuses, empower younger Jewish voices, strengthen U.S.-Israel ties through youth programs, and promote bold new Zionist ideas, such as bringing the Olympics to Israel in 2048. The slate emphasizes unity and action in shaping the future of Zionism and the Jewish people.

Slate 5: Orthodox Israel Coalition (OIC-Mizrachi)

The Orthodox Israel Coalition (OIC-Mizrachi) represents Religious Zionists and has been active in the World Zionist Congress for over 120 years. The slate emphasizes Torah values, Jewish unity, and the defense of Israel, particularly by supporting IDF soldiers and educational initiatives. They focus on strengthening Jewish identity, building communities in Israel’s border regions, and combating antisemitism globally. Their work also includes promoting Jewish education, supporting yeshivot and seminaries, and sending emissaries (Shlichim) to Jewish communities worldwide.

Slate 6: A New Union

"A New Union" promotes pluralistic Zionism, coalition-building, and a secure, democratic Israel. They advocate for an inclusive interpretation of Jewish life, fostering closer U.S.-Israel ties, and advancing a Two-State solution for peaceful coexistence. Their platform emphasizes education, civic dialogue, and ensuring Israel’s independence through a strong judiciary. The slate represents a diverse, modern mosaic of Jewish voices, working toward regional peace and the global acceptance of Israel.

Slate 7: Israel365 Action

Israel365 Action aims to prevent future threats to Israel, particularly in response to October 7th. They strongly oppose a Palestinian state, advocating instead for strengthening Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. The slate prioritizes building alliances with Christian Zionists, arguing that they are Israel’s most reliable allies, and seeks to reform Jewish leadership to create a generation of unapologetic Zionist advocates. Their focus is on defending Israel's biblical heartland and rejecting policies of appeasement.

Slate 8: Achdut Israel

Achdut Israel was founded in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks with a mission to strengthen the bond between Jews and Israel while supporting those who protect it. The slate promotes Zionist education, Jewish pride, and self-defense training, ensuring Jewish communities worldwide remain resilient and connected to Israel. Their platform focuses on strengthening Jewish bonds, empowering communities, supporting soldiers and their families, and building a thriving Jewish homeland. Achdut Israel advocates for Zionist settlement and affordable housing expansion to ensure truly defensible borders for Israel.

Slate 9: Am Yisrael Chai

Am Yisrael Chai focuses on empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders by investing in education, mentorship, and Jewish identity programs. Their mission is to ensure young Jews are knowledgeable, passionate, and resilient, prepared to advocate for Israel and Jewish values.Their platform includes fostering Jewish pride, educating about Jewish history, combating antisemitism on college campuses, and promoting Israel in the diaspora. The slate encourages young adults to become strong voices for Israel and Zionism, ensuring a thriving Jewish future.

Slate 10: Aish Ha’am

Aish Ha’am is dedicated to Jewish education, unity, and combating antisemitism by fostering a deep connection to Jewish identity and heritage. Their platform focuses on fighting antisemitism through education and advocacy, strengthening Jewish pride, and supporting Israel as a homeland. They believe in using digital tools and modern engagement strategies to ensure Jewish values and teachings are widely available and impactful.

Slate 11: Eretz HaKodesh

Eretz HaKodesh is committed to a strong Israel rooted in Torah values, emphasizing the centrality of Jewish tradition and education in shaping the nation's future. Their platform includes promoting Torah-based leadership, fostering economic opportunities for all Jews, enhancing security policies to protect Israel, and strengthening the connection between Diaspora Jews and Israel. They strive to integrate Jewish values into all aspects of Israeli life while safeguarding its religious and historical heritage.

Slate 12: Beyachad

Beyachad represents the Russian-speaking Jewish community in the U.S., uniting around a love for Israel, Jewish education, and Jewish values. Their platform prioritizes Jewish unity, unwavering support for Israel’s security, strengthening ties between American Jewry and Israel, promoting Jewish education as a key to continuity, and combating antisemitism worldwide. They emphasize Ahavat Yisrael, fostering unconditional love and support for all Jews.

Slate 14: AID Coalition (America-Israel Democracy)

The AID Coalition represents the Israeli-American community, advocating for a strong democratic Israel and deepening U.S.-Israel ties. Their platform includes supporting sustainable infrastructure in Israel, promoting interfaith dialogue, and advocating for policies that strengthen Israel’s future. They aim to ensure Israeli-Americans have a proportional voice in the World Zionist Congress, representing their unique perspectives and contributions.

Slate 15: ZOA Coalition

The ZOA Coalition is a broad alliance of over 30 pro-Israel organizations that have a proven track record of fighting for Israel, Jewish safety, and Jewish rights globally. They focus on supporting Israel’s sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, combating antisemitism on campuses, and opposing a Palestinian state. Their platform includes promoting Jewish safety and aliyah, defending Israel from delegitimization efforts (e.g., BDS), confronting anti-Israel bias in global institutions, and ensuring Jewish heritage is preserved.

Slate 16: Hatikvah

Hatikvah is a progressive Zionist coalition that supports democracy, equality, and peace while opposing occupation and discrimination. They emphasize pluralism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and protecting civil rights within Israel. Their platform advocates for an end to the occupation, Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, gender equality, and stronger environmental protections. They align with pro-democracy movements in Israel and fight against ultra-Orthodox efforts to impose religious restrictions on Israeli society.

Slate 17: MERCAZ USA

MERCAZ USA represents the Conservative/Masorti Jewish Movement, advocating for a strong, democratic Israel rooted in Jewish values and civil rights. They focus on religious pluralism, combating antisemitism, and strengthening the bond between American Jews and Israel. Their platform includes securing funding for Jewish education, supporting synagogue programs, promoting Zionist education, and achieving regional peace. They oppose restrictions on the Law of Return and advocate for government recognition of all streams of Judaism.

Slate 18: Dorshei Torah V'Tzion (DTT)

Dorshei Torah V'Tzion (DTT) is committed to bridging ideological divides within the Zionist movement while promoting religious pluralism, women’s empowerment, and inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals. They emphasize expanding conversion paths, increasing opportunities for women in Jewish leadership, and strengthening Diaspora-Israel ties. Their platform also includes combatting antisemitism on campuses, promoting security and social justice, and expanding pastoral care for Israeli soldiers and global Jewish communities.

Slate 20: The Jewish Future

The Jewish Future is a movement of centrist liberal Zionists committed to rebuilding and renewing Jewish and democratic values. Their platform focuses on engaging the next generation in Zionism, promoting Jewish education and pride, combating antisemitism, defending Israel’s right to exist, and ensuring inclusivity and pluralism within the Jewish world. They oppose extremism and advocate for transparency and accountability in Zionist institutions.

Slate 21: American Forum for Israel (AFI)

The American Forum for Israel is dedicated to advocating for Israel’s security and strengthening the representation of American Jews in the World Zionist Congress. Their core initiatives include funding security infrastructure in Israel, supporting the IDF, running Zionist educational campaigns, combating antisemitism, strengthening Jewish communities, and ensuring Jewish leadership in synagogues and institutions. They see settlement expansion as vital to Israel’s growth and resilience.

Slate 22: Israeli American Council (IAC)

The Israeli American Council (IAC) works to unite Israeli-Americans and Jewish-Americans as one global Jewish family while ensuring U.S. support for Israel remains strong. They focus on educational programs that promote Jewish identity, Zionism, Hebrew, and Israeli culture.Their platform includes combating antisemitism, promoting pro-Israel policies, engaging the next generation in Jewish identity, and ensuring that Israel remains central in American Jewish life. They advocate for legislation that fights BDS and anti-Israel sentiment in the U.S.

Slate 23: Herut North America (Jabotinsky Movement)

Herut North America follows the ideology of Ze’ev Jabotinsky, emphasizing unapologetic Zionism and Jewish nationalism. They advocate for Jewish indigenous rights to Israel, combatting antisemitism, and supporting IDF soldiers and veterans. Their platform includes facilitating Aliyah, providing emotional and financial support for Israelis affected by war, promoting Jewish education and community engagement, and strengthening Jewish unity. They reject compromising on Israel’s territorial integrity and emphasize proud, nationalist Zionism.

Here are the rules:

To be eligible to vote in the U.S. election to the 39th World Zionist Congress, you must:

Be Jewish (and not subscribe to another religion)
Be 18 years or older by June 30, 2025
Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident in the U.S.
Maintain your primary residence in the U.S.
Accept the Jerusalem Program (the Zionist movement platform)
Have not voted in the November 2022 Knesset election (and will not vote in any future Knesset election which may be held prior to July 28, 2025)
Registration and voting will open on March 10, 2025, Voting will be online and paper ballots will be available on request. The fee to register and vote is $5, which goes to cover the operating costs of the election. 

The WZC itself influences allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars, both from he WZO and from other organizations like the JNF. While it doesn't affect Israeli policy directly it definitely is an influence, and voting is therefore the best way for diaspora Jews to have a say in Israel.

I have not yet decided which one to vote for. Many organizations that I admire support competing slates. I hope this summary is accurate and makes it a bit easier for the American Jews who follow this site to decide which slate to support.