Aish Ha’am, a new slate running for the World Zionist Congress (WZC) election, announces its inaugural online streaming event on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. EST. The event will feature members of the Aish Ha’am slate who are prominent Jewish activists and social media influencers, including Shabbos Kestenbaum, Zach Sage Fox, Lizzy Savetzky, Ari Ackerman and 19 university students fighting antisemitism on their campuses.
The full list of candidates are at the forefront of combating antisemitism, Jewish education, supporting Israel and building Jewish unity. Others on the slate include, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Bella Ingber, Eli Tsives, Rabbi Elliot Mathias, Jamie Geller, Melinda Strauss, Rabbi Menachem Lehrfield, Rabbi Shlomo Stillerman, Tanya Zuckerbrot, Eden Yadegar, Naomi Nachman, Sarah Pachter and Rabbi Steven Burg.
The live-streamed event marks the official launch of Aish Ha’am’s campaign for the 2025 WZC election, scheduled to take place from March 10 to May 4, 2025. Aish Ha’am aims to secure delegates to the WZC, the international “parliament of the Jewish people,” to advocate for U.S. Jewish interests, strengthen Jewish identity, foster unity among Jews of all backgrounds and fight against rising antisemitism.
Rabbi Elliot Mathias, COO Global of Aish, emphasizes the significance of Aish Ha’am’s mission. “The purpose behind Aish Ha’am is to empower Jews across the United States in the fight against antisemitism while fostering Jewish unity, strengthening Jewish identity and standing up for Israel,” he said. “We’re in a unique position to connect Jews from campuses and communities all over the country and assist them in raising Jewish pride and awareness.”
The WZC, which meets every five years, plays a crucial role in determining the leadership and policies of Israel’s national institutions, including the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel and Keren Kayemeth L’Yisrael, the Jewish National Fund in Israel. These organizations collectively allocate substantial funds annually to support Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.
Jamie Geller, chief marketing officer of Aish and chair of the advisory board of Aish Ha’am, highlights the importance of participation: “American Jews have a unique opportunity to influence the future of the Jewish community both in the U.S. and Israel. This is your chance to make your voice heard! Join us for a livestream event to learn more and get involved.”
The Nov. 20 event will showcase Aish Ha’am’s commitment to empowering U.S. Jews, particularly young adults and students, in their efforts to combat antisemitism and strengthen Jewish identity. Attendees will have the opportunity to:
- Learn about the critical role of the World Zionist Congress in shaping Jewish policy and resource allocation;
- Hear firsthand accounts from student activists and social-media influencers about their experiences fighting antisemitism;
- Discover how to become part of the Aish Ha’am Ambassador Program and get involved in the campaign;
- Understand the importance of voting in the upcoming WZC elections in March.
“The WZO is a conduit for Jews from around the world to affect change in Israel, in the Diaspora and in the Jewish future,” said Rabbi Steven Burg, CEO of Aish. “Aish Ha’am is here to ensure that the voices of U.S. Jews, especially our youth, are heard loud and clear in this crucial forum.”
Geller emphasized the empowering nature of Aish Ha’am’s campaign, saying, “We believe every Jewish voice matters. This is about you and your priorities making a meaningful impact on the Jewish world.”
For more information about the Nov. 20 livestream event and the Aish Ha’am campaign, see: aish.com/vote.
