MERCAZ | World Zionist Congress Update

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The last few days have been some of the most emotional and memorable in Israel’s history. The return of our living hostages and the first steps towards an end of this war and historic change in the region is not only a tremendous moment for Israel. While much remains to be done, including the return of all of our hostages, the past week has set the stage for Israel to truly begin the process of national rebuilding, recovery and healing after October 7th.

It is in the shadow of this moment that the World Zionist Congress will convene in just a few weeks in Jerusalem. At the Congress, the first since October 7th, we will not only remember that day. We will not only honor the memories of all those we lost in this horrific war. We will come together as Jews from Israel and around the world and make decisions that will have a real, tangible impact on the Israel, Israeli society, and Jewish world that will emerge in the shadow of these difficult two years. On that note, we wanted to update you on a few key developments regarding the Congress, MERCAZ’s plans, and to thank you for your hard work during elections that made these successes possible.

• MERCAZ’s leaders are playing a pivotal, leading role in shaping the agreement that will determine the balance of power at the WZO, the Jewish Agency, and KKL/JNF over the next five years. Due to our success in elections around the world and increasing our share of mandates by 15% (from 35 to 39 globally) we anticipate that we will be able to deepen our achievements in the last five years: more representation and with it, more funding for Conservative/Masorti causes, programs and interests.
• Alongside other liberal, centrist, and progressive forces, we have taken a clear position that extremists should not receive leadership roles and funding from the national institutions. Decades ago, the WZC prevented Rabbi Meir Kahane from participating in the Congress, and today, those holding such radical, fringe views should not lead or receive funding from the Jewish people’s national institutions.
• MERCAZ and its partners will propose a series of constitutional amendments at the World Zionist Congress aimed at ensuring the integrity of the electoral process beginning with the next Zionist Congress elections in 2030. MERCAZ will also be proposing resolutions that put the Jewish people on record when it comes to mandating gender equality at the national institutions, defending the status of the Egalitarian Kotel, and demanding there be a thorough, transparent, apolitical investigation – a State Commission of Inquiry – into the events leading up to October 7th.

It is because of your hard work in ensuring our success in elections in your respective countries that today, we are able to represent you in Jerusalem and promote this important agenda at this pivotal moment for Israel and the Jewish people. We encourage you to share these updates with your respective communities, organizations and institutions, and we will continue to be in touch before, during and after the Congress via email and via our WhatsApp group which friends and supporters of MERCAZ are welcome to join here.

Following the Congress, we will be happy to set up a Zoom meeting with your community, with one of the MERCAZ USA delegates you helped elect, to provide an update. If you wish to arrange such an opportunity, please be in touch with Rachel Russo, MERCAZ USA Vice President and delegate to the 39th World Zionist Congress, russo.rachel.s@gmail.com.

Thank you so much for all you continue to do for Israel, the Jewish people, and the Masorti/Conservative Movement around the world.

Rabbi Alan Silverstein
Co-Chair of MERCAZ Olami

Emily Levy-Shochat
Co-Chair of MERCAZ Olami

Rabbi Mauricio Balter
Executive Director of MERCAZ Olami and Masorti Olami

Dr. Yizhar Hess
Vice Chairman of the WZO and senior representative of MERCAZ at the National Institutions

Sarrae Crane
Executive Director, MERCAZ USA

Rabbi Hillel Skolnik
President, MERCAZ USA