How does Pro Zion help Progressive Judaism in Israel?
Pro Zion provides the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) and the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) with financial support generated through membership fees. Pro Zion represents Progressive Judaism in the World Zionist Organization thereby providing UK and Israeli Reform Jews with a powerful voice in this worldwide organization.
What is the World Zionist Organization?
The World Zionist Organization (WZO) was founded by Theodor Herzl at the First Zionist Congress in Basle in 1897. Today it forms the backbone for The Jewish Agency for Israel, the Jewish National Fund, Keren haYesod, and smaller affiliates. The WZO utilizes the Zionist Congress to establish its policies and internally elect leadership to the bodies which define executive policy, departmental direction, and budget decisions.
What are the sources of the WZO's funds that it distributes?
The primary sources of funds are the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael), the Jewish Agency, dividends from the Jewish Colonial Trust, the Israeli government and rental income from property owned by the WZO. Since the WZO is not a fund raising organization, it receives the majority of its funding from its 2 affiliated fund-raising organizations – the JNF and the Jewish Agency.
What is the World Zionist Congress?
The World Zionist Congress is the World Zionist Organization’s supreme institution and legislative body which meets every four years in Jerusalem. The Congress determines policy, courses of action, and chooses the leadership of the World Zionist Organization. These decisions influence hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and paid portfolios. The Congress also makes decisions which affect the status of progressive Jews in Israel and across the world as well as the funding available to Progressive Jews in Israel. The World Zionist Congress is made up of 757 delegates representing world Jewry. 232 delegates are from Zionist Organizations like Hadassah, B’nai B’rith, WIZO and the World Union for Progressive Judaism. The remaining 525 delegates represent Israelis and the Diaspora communities of the world. The UK has 19 seats and the occupiers of those seats are determined by an election of British Jews as will be described below.
Why is it important?
The composition of the UK delegation is critically important to Progressive Jews in the UK and Israel because every seat in the Congress matters. The decisions of the Congress influence hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, over $4 million of which is currently allocated to the Progressive movement each year. In addition, the Congress will help determine the leadership of the major global Jewish organizations, budgetary decisions and policy in Israel and worldwide. Currently, Pro Zion has 5 of the UK's 19 seats representing 26% of the delegates. The Campaign’s goal is to increase the number of seats to over 30% of the UK's delegation.
How does Pro Zion represent itself in the Congress?
Pro Zion is a proud member of ARZENU, the umbrella organization of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists and as such, is represented by ARZENU in the governing bodies of the World Zionist Organization and in the Jewish Agency for Israel. Currently, ARZENU has 78 seats in the Congress. ARZENU is currently part of the largest coalition within the Congress and with our coalition partners, the Labor Party (Avodah) and Meretz, represent 30% of the Congress. It is critical that this position be maintained and increased.
Why should I vote?
A successful election in which Pro Zion, on behalf of the Progressive movements, receives a significant number of votes and therefore delegates to the WZC, is the single most effective way for the Progressive movements to influence policy and shape the society of Israel. The election determines the Progressive movements’ influence within Israel institutions, government bodies and provides the Progressive movements with the ability to influence important policy appointments. In addition, as mentioned, the election impacts the amount of funding that the Progressive movement receives in Israel and the diaspora. The Progressive movement seeks a democratic Israel, which respects and supports all expressions of Judaism, which respects and guarantees women’s rights and which strives to obtain a peaceful solution to the Palestinian issue. A successful election is our best means to assure the realization of the Progressive movements’ goals. Therefore, your vote is critical to the success of the overall election.
Who is eligible to vote?
To be eligible to register you must be:
- At least 18 years old by June 30, 2015
- Identify as Jewish
- A citizen or permanent resident of the United Kingdom
Do I need to be a member of Pro Zion to vote?
NO! Any UK Jew of age can vote. One does not need to be affiliated with a synagogue, an organization or Pro Zion.
How do I vote?
To be eligible to vote you must register and vote between xxx 2015. Registration and voting can be done on the election website in one session. To find out more click here.
How can I do more, I want to help?
Everyone can do more to help.
- Make a Minyan – Find 10 Friends, Colleagues, Family Member, etc… and have them VOTE. Most importantly when making a minyan make sure to find one person out of the ten who will promise to in turn make another minyan.
- With the help of your rabbi, chair or president, form a Pro Zion Election Team in your synagogue.
- Join our Social media program. Join our Facebook group and Follow us on Twitter @PROZION. Tweet about the campaign. Post about it on Facebook and tag your friends.