38th World Zionist Congress
The 38th World Zionist Congress (Hebrew: הקונגרס הציוני העולמי ה-38) convened in Jerusalem, on October 20–22, 2020, with the participation of over 700 delegates and thousands of people from 35 countries to elect leadership positions and determine policy for the World Zionist Organization (WZO).[1][2] Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic during 2020, the Congress sessions and deliberations were held online by means of a global virtual platform.[3][4]
| 38th World Zionist Congress הקונגרס הציוני העולמי ה-38 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Begins | October 20, 2020 |
| Ends | October 22, 2020 |
| Frequency | every five years |
| Location(s) | Online, headquartered in Jerusalem |
| Inaugurated | 1897 |
| Founder | Theodor Herzl |
| Previous event | 2015 (37th) |
| Participants | 524 delegates |
| Organized by | World Zionist Organization |
Delegates and elections
The Congress is composed of 524 delegates: 199 from Israel (38%), 152 from the United States (29%), and 173 from the rest of the Jewish diaspora (33%).[5]
Israel
The number of delegates representing Israel in the Congress is determined in accordance with the size of the Zionist parties in the Knesset.[5] Thus, the Israeli representatives to the Congress will be apportioned according to the results of the elections to the twenty-second Knesset, held in September 2019.
United States
Representation of the United States Zionist delegation is determined by elections held under the auspices of the American Zionist Movement several months prior to the Congress. These elections took place from January 21, 2020 to March 11, 2020.[2][5]
123,575 votes were cast, more than double the number in the election for the previous congress in 2015. Fifteen groups, comprising over 1,800 candidates, competed for the 152 seats allocated to the American Zionist movement. The results of the elections were as follows:[3]
| Slate | Votes | Seats | Position/Ideology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reform | 31,483 | 39 | ARZA; Reform Movement and Reconstructing Judaism |
| Orthodox Israel Coalition – Mizrachi | 21,692 | 27 | Mizrahi; religious Zionists |
| Eretz Hakodesh | 20,045 | 25 | Haredi; ultra-Orthodox |
| Mercaz USA | 14,655 | 18 | Conservative-Masorti Judaism |
| ZOA Coalition | 10,312 | 13 | Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Torah from Sinai, Make Israel Great (MIG) & National Pro-Israel Partners |
| American Forum for Israel | 8,096 | 10 | Yisrael Beiteinu affiliation |
| Hatikvah | 7,936 | 10 | Progressive Israel Slate; representing 11 groups[note 1] |
| Shas Olami | 2,045 | 2 | Shas Olami; worldwide Sephardi Orthodox movement |
| Kol Yisrael | 1,749 | 2 | "For the Love of Israel – Making Zionism Compelling in the 21st Century" |
| Dorshei Torah V’Tziyon | 1,371 | 2 | Open Orthodox; "Torah and Israel for All" |
| Herut Zionists | 1,154 | 1 | The Jabotinsky Movement |
| Vision | 1,038 | 1 | "Empowering the Next Generation" |
| Americans4Israel | 856 | 1 | "Peace, Unity & Security" |
| Israel Shelanu | 769 | 1 | "Our Israel"; Israelis residing in the United States |
| Ohavei Zion | 374 | 0 | World Sephardic Zionist Organization |
Mexico
Representation of the Mexican delegation was determined by elections held under the auspices of the Mexican Zionist Federation during March, 2020. Five slates competed for 7 delegates allotted to México. The final results of the elections were as follows:[7]
| Slate | % of vote | Seats [note 2] | Position/Ideology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magshimim | 29.7% | 2 | Coalition of Hanoar Hatzioni, Dor Jadash, Hejalutz Lamerjav, Organización Sionista Sefaradí & Confederatzia; Center, independent |
| Union Sionista | 26.3% | 2 | Coalition of Mercaz, Meretz/Hashomer Hatzair & Guimel LGBTQ; Center left |
| Likud México | 19.2% | 1 | Likud; Right wing |
| Mizrahi – Bnei Akiva | 15.4% | 1 | Mizrachi; Modern orthodox |
| Movimiento Avoda Hatzionit | 9.5% | 1 | Israeli Labor Party; Left wing |
Other countries
The delegates from the Jewish communities other than Israel and the United States are usually determined by agreement between "the various Jewish communities and factions" instead of elections.[5]
Notes
- Aleph, Ameinu, Americans for Peace Now, Habonim Dror North America, Hashomer Hatzair, J Street, the Jewish Labor Committee, the National Council of Jewish Women, the New Israel Fund, Partners for Progressive Israel, and T'ruah.[6]
- The allocation of seats is made after the results are certified.
See also
References
- Holt, Faygie (30 Oct 2020). "38th World Zionist Congress bridges partisan divide, despite initial divisions". JNS.org. Retrieved 1 Nov 2020.
- "Diaspora Jews Have Their Say: World Zionist Congress 2020". Jewish Exponent. January 15, 2020.
- "Official Results". American Zionist Movement. 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- "The 38th Zionist Congress". World Zionist Organization. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
The 38th Congress will, for the first time, be held online due to restrictions in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
- "US elections for 38th World Zionist Congress set to start Tuesday". The Jerusalem Post. January 21, 2020.
- "Anti-occupation, Pro-religious Pluralism Activists Aim Big in World Zionist Congress Vote". Haaretz. January 20, 2020.
- "Resultado de Elecciones Mexico 38 Congreso Sionista". Enlace Judio. 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
