Israel faces major challenges after October 7th, from rebuilding the south to healing a fractured society. However, allies of extremists like Ben Gvir and ultra-Orthodox extremists who helped drive Israelis apart and the country into the abyss in 2023, now want to redirect billions at the Zionist Congress’s disposal from urgent rebuilding projects to promoting their extreme political agenda, like money for Yeshivot that discourage army service and other controversial projects. Voting MERCAZ makes sure these funds are spent supporting those in Israel who need it most. Our representatives have already helped secure hundreds of millions through KKL/JNF to help Israelis rebuild and are fighting for transparency and accountability in the distribution of funds. Plus, with the WZO now responsible for managing the Israeli government’s official efforts to support our hostages and their families, MERCAZ’s representatives are working to make sure they receive the best possible care and support.
At this moment so many of our communities need resources to stand up for Israel, educate our next generation, and combat antisemitism: winning more seats at the Congress means we can secure more funds for these important priorities. MERCAZ’s representation at the World Zionist Congress determines Conservative/Masorti representation on the boards of the Jewish Agency and KKL/JNF, which together allocate over $2 billion annually. Funds our communities rely on are at stake! Voting MERCAZ helps secure $25 million for programs in your community as well as for Camp Ramah, youth groups like USY & NOAM, Sisterhoods & Men’s Clubs and more including:
A vote for MERCAZ USA is a vote to make sure the World Zionist Congress and its affiliates use their significant influence and resources to protect democracy and democratic values like gender equality and LGBTQ rights in Israel. We’ve helped secure funding for key civil society organizations that are on the frontlines of the struggle for democracy, pluralism, and equality in Israel, and prevented funding for extremists that would use this money as a piggy bank for their political pet projects. We’ve led the charge to pass pro-democracy resolutions at the World Zionist Congress, including Spring 2023’s resolution that put world Jewry on record against the government’s unilateral push for “judicial reform”. We’ve also passed resolutions to promote LGBTQ rights in Israel as well as to ensure equal representation of women in the national institutions. These resolutions have not only helped shape the vital work of the institutions the Congress controls, but have had major influence on the public discourse in Israel. Because when the Israeli government and Israeli society think about the Diaspora’s voice, they look to the World Zionist Congress and the national institutions under its auspices. MERCAZ’s work ensures the Diaspora’s voice before the Israeli government and people is one that believes in pluralism and Israel as a Jewish AND democratic state.
Now more than ever, the Jewish people need to be united, and real unity means every Jew having an equal seat at the table. Voting MERCAZ not only helps secure millions for Masorti/Conservative Judaism in Israel – including the Masorti Movement, the Schechter Institutes, the Fuchsberg Center/Conservative Yeshiva, and TALI, a unique program which teaches tens of thousands of Israeli students Judaism through a pluralistic lens each year. Voting MERCAZ helps us fight the ultra-Orthodox monopoly, impact policy on matters of religion and state, and promote pluralism and equality in the Jewish state. Today, ultra-Orthodox extremists want to use their influence over the Jewish Agency’s aliyah programs and bureaucracy to institute a silent “shadow reform” of the Law of Return, endangering Conservative/Masorti Jews ability to make aliyah. The same extremists want to use their growing numbers on KKL/JNF’s board of directors to try and direct millions towards their Yeshivot which already receive hundreds of millions from the Israeli government, all while trying to block funding to Conservative/Masorti institutions that get nothing from the government. Your vote for MERCAZ USA prevents this and promotes REAL unity where EVERY Jew from EVERY stream receives a fair shake and a fair share in the Jewish state.
MERCAZ is the sole political party representing the global Masorti/Conservative Movement at the World Zionist Congress and the four “National Institutions” under its auspices: the World Zionist Organization (WZO), Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael (KKL)/Jewish National Fund (JNF), Keren HaYesod (KH-UIA), and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). The distribution of power and funds at the World Zionist Congress and all these institutions is determined every five years through elections held in countries around the world. Elections where you have a vote this spring!
Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael/Jewish National Fund – KKL/JNF is about more than planting trees: its board allocates $2 billion a year in revenues generated from its land holdings, and the percentage of seats we win in the Zionist Congress is the percentage of seats we are awarded on KKL/JNF’s board. This is more money than the annual campaigns of all Jewish Federations combined! MERCAZ’s representatives have helped secure:
(Note: KKL/JNF is legally and financially separate from JNF-USA, an entirely separate, smaller philanthropy)
The Jewish Agency for Israel – JAFI was originally founded as the pre-state government of Israel. Today, it’s a leader in Jewish education and aliyah, a vital partner for Ramah, USY, and so many of our synagogues, and has significant impact on matters of religion and state in Israel. MERCAZ receives representation on JAFI’s board based on how many seats MERCAZ wins in Zionist Congress elections. On JAFI’s Board, our representatives fight for fair treatment of the non-Orthodox streams:
At the World Zionist Organization – WZO, founded by Herzl in 1897 in Basel, MERCAZ’s representatives promote a pluralistic and democratic vision for Israel and Zionism through Zionist and Jewish education activities, such as the annual reading of Israel’s Declaration of Independence at the Egalitarian Kotel, the Heschel Conference on Jewish Peoplehood and Israel-Diaspora Relations, and day-long seminars for pre-army mechinot from every corner of Israeli society. The WZO also now has responsibility for managing Israel’s official programs to provide financial, psychological, and other critical support for hostages and their families.
At Keren HaYesod – KH-UIA, where our representation on the board is also reflective of how many seats we win in elections for the Zionist Congress, we fight for transparency and efficiency in fundraising and distributing millions for Israel.
Not voting IS voting. Like in any election, not voting in elections for the World Zionist Congress IS voting. Not voting is NOT an option.
When you vote for the Conservative/Masorti Judaism’s official party, MERCAZ USA, in online to the Zionist Congress, you are voting to help Israel heal and rebuild after October 7th, protect democracy in Israel, support Masorti/Conservative communities in Israel and worldwide, and promote religious pluralism in Israel.
When you don’t vote, all these billions and all this influence go to those who do. Not voting IS voting to let fundamentalists and ultra-Orthodox extremists win these elections, set the agenda, and control billions in Israel. To take away millions that our own Jewish communities count on. To undermine democratic values and strengthen the grip of extremists in Israel.