RA Resolution on Supporting MERCAZ USA in the USA’s WZO Election 2025
Background
The World Zionist Congress (WZC), founded by Theodore Herzl in 1897, is the only democratic body with representatives of all of world Jewry: all countries, all denominations giving Diaspora Jews not only a voice, but a vote, influencing the budget of more than $1 billion for the next 5 years.
In each country or region with a Jewish community around the world able to support a Zionist Federation, elections are held approximately every five years. Elections are open to Jewish permanent residents who are over 18 and didn’t vote in the last Knesset election.
Whereas, in these national or regional elections MERCAZ is the only slate that represents Conservative/Masorti Judaism, its values and its communities, a vote for MERCAZ enables us to advocate for the communities hardest hit on October 7 getting the resources they need to rebuild,
Whereas, MERCAZ policy focuses on ahdut, the unity of Jewish people, and ensuring all streams of Judaism receive funding and fair treatment in Israel, and voting MERCAZ enables our representatives to continue to advocate to secure approximately $5 million USD each year for Conservative/Masorti programs based on votes in the last WZC election;
Whereas, the ultra-Orthodox coalition has sought absolute authority on all matters of religion and state in Israel and seeks to take over the Jewish Agency, its budget and programs, and to halt funding that support initiatives encouraging and safeguarding pluralism and equal justice in Israel;
Whereas our worldwide Movement’s representation at the World Zionist Congress determines our representation on the boards of the Jewish Agency and KKL/JNF, and these institutions allocate over $2 billion USD annually to Israeli and other Jewish causes, and in the last five years over $25 million in funding has supported our Masorti congregations, Ramah camping and its summer shlihim program, youth groups like USY and NOAM, outreach to grieving families at Hostage Square, Jewish education for kids with disabilities, and much more, and
Whereas, with more MERCAZ seats at the World Zionist Congress, especially from the United States, which has the largest delegation, we can make sure that the impact of our values is felt, and
Whereas, with a larger delegation, we can secure more funding for other priorities that reflect our values, like the millions we secured to fight climate change through our board representation;
Whereas MERCAZ Olami, USA, and Canada, with our coalition partners passed recent World Zionist Congress resolutions against unilateral judicial reform, lobbied to secure funding for key civil society organizations, worked to stop extremists from using KKL/JNF as a piggy bank for their pet projects, such as funding for settler outposts that are illegal even under Israeli law, and
Whereas, the next WZC election will take place in the US from March 10 to May 4, 2025 and around the world during a similar timeframe, and
Whereas, in the last WZC election in the US, only 14,000 out of nearly a million Conservative Jews voted, which, despite only being 4% of American Jews, gave ultra-Orthodox organizations with very different priorities than our community, outsized influence, controlling 20% of US WZC seats, and
Whereas, there are a record number of slates in the US this year, up over 40% from 2020;
Therefore, be it resolved, that Conservative/Masorti rabbis use our spheres of influence to work for our Conservative/Masorti Movement’s success in the WZC election;
Be it further resolved, that, since in the US one does not need to pre-register or belong to a synagogue to participate, and the $5 fee for voters helps to cover the cost of running the US election, with the largest delegation outside Israel, and demonstrates investment in the future of the Jewish people, and, since, the election is held online, and you can sign up to get a reminder when voting opens by visiting mercazusa.org/votemercaz2025 and, if possible, enter the appropriate community code, US based rabbis will recruit and support captains in their congregations and organizations to get out the vote for MERCAZ Olami;
Be it further resolved, rabbis in Diaspora communities outside the US will coordinate with their national or regional MERCAZ chapter to get out the vote for MERCAZ Olami.