World Zionist Congress elections: Herut
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. Nine 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 Herut
Herut is a truly different choice in the World Zionist Congress elections. The Herut Slate is comprised of dedicated, Unapologetic Zionists representing every sector of the American Jewish community – women and men, secular to religious Zionist and all in between. Our candidates include Jewish leaders, Israel activists, former Lone Soldiers, educators, college students, university professors, journalists and authors, and rabbis from all denominations.
For three nights in February, the American Zionist Movement (AZM) and Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBS) TV network sponsored the World Zionist Congress Election Forum. 14 out of 15 slates participated. Herut was the only slate out of the 14 to have a college student as their candidate in this forum. This is a key Herut difference. Herut places activists in leadership roles, not wealthy donors. Engaging students and training Unapologetic Zionist activists to stand up against anti-Semitism and counter anti-Israel and BDS activity on college campuses is our focus.
Herut has speaking out in our DNA because as the great pres-World War Two Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky wrote in the 1920s “For silence is filth.” Herut is truly a “big tent” that does more than simply speak about “Jewish Unity.” Herut is the one Zionist movement where Jews of all backgrounds, colors, and cultures are not just welcomed but honored and valued.
Herut is unique because it is not a wing of any one religious stream in the Jewish community, nor does Herut seek to represent one community based on its country of origin. Herut is not a component of an active political party in Israel. Herut is independent and not beholden to special interests.
We do our thing through education. Herut is an educational movement for Zionism. One of Herut’s leaders is the past co-chair of the Council of World Zionist Youth Movements and Herut fights in the WZO for more support and funding for Zionist youth movements —from every point of view— and we do that every year: year in, year out.
Two recent examples of how Herut concentrates on Zionist education:
— In 2018 Herut continued its “Rolling Educational Conference” with the title “Spreading Zionism Where It Matters” in part to help communities in the Midwest and New England to prepare to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut / Israel Independence Day. Working with Jews in smaller communities, where most Zionist organizations have little focus, Herut has accomplished a lot. In 2019, Herut conducted Zionist Activist Training Seminars and other Israel education events in: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
— Herut’s Zionist History Book Of The Month Book (TM) project was launched n 2019 and consists of book reviews distributed on social media and in many leading Jewish newspapers and news websites.
As Karma Feinstein Cohen, the executive director of World Herut puts it: “Herut is a global grassroots movement. We’re proactive and empower Jews.” Since its inception Herut has worked with all Jews, regardless of affiliation and provides volunteer internships for students and adults in Israel to observe and experience the Israeli job market and society as well as individualized assistance in the Aliyah and absorption process. Zionist education is a main thrust of Herut’s efforts.
Herut Zionists, Slate #10 truly stands out. Please share your enthusiasm for Israel and commitment to Zionism by voting for Herut Zionists.
Moshe Phillips is national director of Herut North America’s U.S. division and a candidate on the Herut slate in the 2020 World Zionist Congress’s US elections; Herut is an international movement for Zionist pride and education and is dedicated to the ideals of pre-World War Two Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky. Herut’s website is https://www.voteherut2020.com/.
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