April 4, 2025

Dear Seattle community,

I hear all the time from community members with a range of viewpoints about Israel asking what can North American Jews do to have a meaningful impact in shaping the place that we care so dearly about halfway around the world.

One such way we can have an impact in Israel is by voting in the World Zionist Congress (WZC) elections, and I want to strongly urge our Seattle Jewish community to participate. The elections are underway and running online until May 4.

The World Zionist Congress was founded in 1897 by Theodore Herzl and is the only democratic body that includes Jews of all backgrounds from all countries. When you vote in elections for the World Zionist Congress, you make your voice and our community’s voice heard at some of the most important decision making tables in the Jewish World.

How does your vote have an impact? These elections directly shape the leadership of the World Zionist Organization (WZO), which in turn shapes the ideological and political makeup of the boards of directors of The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), Keren Hayesod, and Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund. Together, these three organizations allocate over $1 billion annually in Israel and your vote shapes the makeup of their leadership and subsequent decisions.

Historically, American Jewish participation in these elections has been startlingly low – in the last election only 123,000 out of about 8 million American Jews voted, meaning less than 2% of American Jews had their voices heard. When we don’t vote, we effectively allow others to decide how billions are spent and which priorities are advanced for world Jewry. 

Voting is simple, quick, and meaningful. No pre-registration is required—just a five-minute online process with a $5 administrative fee. (The tradition of a small contribution goes back to the founding of the WZC in the 1800s and covers the cost of administering the election.) 

You can cast your ballot before the May 4 deadline below.