NCJW IS THRILLED TO BE PART OF HATIKVAH: PROGRESSIVE ISRAEL SLATE IN THE UPCOMING WORLD ZIONIST CONGRESS ELECTIONS.
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How can I get involved? The more people who vote for the Hatikvah slate, the more seats we will have in the World Zionist Congress. Please go to https://www.hatikvahslate.net/ and sign up now so that when the elections start, you will receive an email from HaTikvah with a link to vote.
It’s not every day that we get to share the news about launching an exciting new partnership, but it is today! The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is thrilled to be part of HATIKVAH: Progressive Israel Slate in the upcoming World Zionist Congress elections. NCJW along with 10 other organizations have come together to form a slate with an amazing list of rabbis, activists, and diverse leaders. We are thrilled to be represented on this incredible list of Jewish leaders by many NCJW advocates, including by our CEO Sheila Katz. Keep reading to learn more about why we are a part of this slate and how you can get involved!
What is the World Zionist Congress?
For 123 years, since Theodore Herzl founded the first Zionist Congress in Basil, Switzerland, the World Zionist Congress (WZC) has been the democratic assembly of the Jewish people where every Jew in the world can have a voice in the most important issues confronting the Jewish homeland. The Congress makes funding and policy decisions for the World Zionist Organization (WZO), and its makeup helps determine the leadership of the Jewish Agency for Israel, The World Jewish National Fund (JNF), and Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal (UIA).
Why do American Jews get to participate?
Making your voice heard in the Israeli political sphere is often challenging from the US. Since 1897, every Jewish person from the age of 18 has the opportunity to affect Israeli political and economic policy by voting in the World Zionist Congress elections. And these elections have a meaningful impact on the ground.
What is the impact of the World Zionist Congress?
The results of the WZC elections directly affect the distribution of $1,000,000,000 in annual funding. This money, which flows through the four National Institutions mentioned above (the WZO, the Jewish Agency, the JNF, and Keren Hayesod-UIA) has a huge impact on the lives of Israelis of all religions and backgrounds as well as Palestinians beyond the green line and Jews in the diaspora through education regarding Israel.
Why does NCJW want to be involved?
These institutions and the funding they disperse impact questions of religious pluralism, women’s empowerment and gender, LGBTQ equality, education about Israel in the diaspora, refugees, asylum seekers and foreign workers, the environment, and decisions related to the occupation. We want a seat at the table to impact where funding is allocated. By coming together and raising the voice of the American Jewish community in this democratic process, we can make Israel reflect our shared progressive values.
What does voting for HATIKVAH: Progressive Israel Slate support?
- A two-state solution for peace and security, with an end to the occupation
- Gender equity
- Religious and cultural pluralism
- Social justice and protection of democratic rights for all Israeli citizens
- Full legal and social equality for the LGBTQ community
- Dignity for refugees, asylum seekers and foreign workers
- Environmental sustainability and regional cooperation
You can see the full platform here.
How can I get involved?
The more people who vote for the Hatikvah slate, the more seats we will have in the World Zionist Congress. Please go to https://www.hatikvahslate.net/ and sign up now so that when the elections start, you will receive an email from HaTikvah with a link to vote.
The WZC elections run from January 21 to March 11, 2020. Together, we are HATIKVAH and together we can make change.
Thank you, B’Shalom,
National Council of Jewish Women
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