The World Zionist Congress was founded as the political arm of the Zionist movement, an institution meant to advance Jewish sovereignty and support the Jewish people in their ancestral and national homeland.
It was never designed to be a piggy bank for those who reject its fundamental mission. However, as elections for the WZC are currently taking place, a certain part of the Haredi Orthodox, non-Zionist and even anti-Zionist world is shamelessly vying for a seat at the table, not to strengthen Zionism, but to divert its resources for their own narrow, self-serving causes.
It needs to be made very clear that this is not an attack on the Haredi as a community, only those who are non-Zionist or anti-Zionist and appropriating the Zionist system.
This is nothing short of hypocrisy.
The WZC, through its affiliated organizations and other national Zionist institutions, funds vital projects in Israel, from aliyah and fighting antisemitism to education and security initiatives, which all Jews should be involved in.
However, the idea that groups that do not recognize, support or contribute to Zionism should be able to benefit from its institutions is absurd. These groups reject the very premise of modern Jewish self-determination, some actively oppose the State of Israel, yet they have no qualms about exploiting the system to funnel money into their communities.
This is not principled engagement; it’s opportunism.
For years, these groups have stood apart from the broader Zionist enterprise, refusing to contribute equally to the struggles and sacrifices that built the Jewish state.
They do not serve in the Israel Defense Forces or contribute equally to its welfare. They do not participate in efforts to strengthen Israel politically or diplomatically. Some have even opposed the state’s very existence, arguing that Jewish sovereignty should wait for the Messiah, even though there is no basis for this in Jewish law. Nevertheless, when there are financial resources to be claimed, suddenly these same groups decide it is acceptable to engage and benefit.
The result is that Zionist funds that should go toward securing Israel’s future, whether by strengthening Jewish communities, supporting Israel and Zionist advocacy, or assisting those who are fighting for the Jewish homeland, will instead be diverted to communities that give little back to the Zionist project.
In a time of unprecedented challenges, from military threats to record-breaking levels of global antisemitism, every shekel, every dollar and every decision made at the WZC must be used to bolster the Jewish state and Zionism, not to subsidize those who deny its legitimacy or do not contribute toward its sustainability or flourishment.
There’s a simple principle that should be applied here. Before you benefit, you must contribute.
If these groups want a say in the WZC, let them first openly and unequivocally affirm their support for Zionism and the Jewish state. Let them recognize Israel’s legitimacy, serve the broader Jewish people and take part in the struggles of nationhood.
Just as importantly, let these communities contribute financially toward the global Zionist pot before taking from it.
Until then, their participation in the WZC elections is not just hypocritical and dishonest, it is a direct threat to the very cause the congress was founded to serve.
Jews around the world donate their hard-earned money to Zionist causes, thinking they will strengthen Israel, encourage aliyah, combat antisemitism and support Zionism in the face of attacks from far too numerous directions. They will not want to give in to narrow interests that can actually hurt the Zionist enterprise.
Again, it must be repeated, this is not an attack on the haredi community as a whole. Some of its members do contribute, and they should have a seat at the table. I know many who have no problem with the appellation Zionist and understand that, especially now, is a time for all Jews to work together.
In the Talmud is an important injunction, Kol Yisrael arevim zeh b’azeh, which translates to “All Jews are guarantors for one another.” Each member of the Jewish people is responsible for the other.
As Jews, we shouldn’t just be worried about our own community, but ensure that our acts, resources and initiatives serve the Jewish people as a whole, regardless of their affiliation, ideology or background.
This is the basis of the World Zionist Congress and other Zionist institutions. They were created and remain for the Jewish people as a whole, but are primarily about assisting and strengthening the national and civic life of the State of Israel, our beloved homeland.
This is why it matters. Zionism is too important to be hollowed out from within.
At this critical moment, when Israel and the Jewish people are facing existential threats, we must ensure that the institutions of the Zionist movement remain committed to their original purpose: strengthening and securing the Jewish homeland.
Anything less would be a betrayal of the movement itself.
