World Zionist Congress elections: Americans4Israel
World Zionist Congress Image by World Zionist Congress
The Forward invited the 15 parties contending for the World Zionist Congress elections, which end March 11, to write an article about why readers should support them. Eight responded by our deadline (we’ll happily publish the others; contact kunza@forward.com). The parties are presented in alphabetical order.
The American delegates to the Congress help allocate nearly $5 billion to Jewish organizations and programs in Israel and around the world. Read more about the election process here.
Below is an op-ed provided by Americans4Israel
I’m an American4israel, are you?
The Americans4israel slate believes that Zionism is most effective when it centers around pure love for the eternal Jewish homeland and removed from the interests of any political party, religious sect or ethnic group.
It is not the role of Americans4israel or any American Zionist slate to tell the democratically elected officials in Jerusalem how they must serve and protect the Israeli people who elect them. Rather we are always there to listen to their needs and if required help them overcome their challenges, by providing strong, experienced, visionary, community-based leadership committed to Zionism and Israel.
It is also the job of Americans4Israel to roll up our sleeves to fight Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism, and the Boycott Movement in collaboration with American and international organizations. At the same time, Americans4israel remain forever committed in support of efforts to achieve peace and security for Israel with her Arab neighbors, including the Palestinians.
When the World Zionist Congress convenes in Jerusalem, October 20-22, 2020, Americans4Israel can be expected to seize on this rare opportunity to strive for greater unity among, and support equality for, all Jews and all expressions of Judaism; securing the promise of religious freedom and strengthening Israel both as a democracy and as a Jewish state.
After all, how can we educate and inspire the next generation of Americans4Israel, when all they see is divisiveness and finger-pointing?
The Americans4israel slate features the boldest, brightest and most balanced leaders who are capable of rallying the diverse members and organizations of the global Jewish community in working together to improve Israel-Diaspora relations.
The World Zionist Congress have control over an annual budget of $1 billion, and Americans4israel believes that money is best spent on promoting programs that lead to Zionist activism, leadership, entrepreneurship and idealism such as programs in the arts, businesses, sports, the environment, public policy, historic preservation, the Hebrew language, cultural and religious spheres.
Americans4israel seeks to allocate funding to support the easing of the integration of new immigrants into Israeli society, to encourage Aliyah and to create programs for Hebrew language instruction throughout the world. Americans4israel also will never forget the urgency with which we must maximize the rights and improve the financial status of Holocaust survivors.
Lastly, the Americans4israel slate stands committed towards revitalizing the World Zionist Organization, with a commitment to achieving transparency, accountability and a renewed approach to strengthening the Zionist federations and communities throughout the Jewish world; to insist upon the empowering of delegates at Congress in a meaningful way and to advocate for direct elections for the Chairman, priorities and budgets of the World Zionist Organization.
The American Jewish and Zionist community is at a crossroads of history. We must get this right and we do so by making the right voice for Israel, the loudest at the 38 th World Zionist Congress.
I’m an American4israel are you?
If so vote for slate 13, Americans4israel today.
SJoseph Tipograph
View the slates
Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA)
Zionist Organization of America
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
