In an unprecedented show of unity and strategic participation, Orthodox Jewish communities across America mobilized in record numbers for the 39th World Zionist Congress elections, ensuring that a significant portion of the over $1 billion in annual funding will be directed toward Torah institutions rather than organizations promoting secular or anti-Torah agendas.
The election, which saw 230,257 total votes cast between March 10 and May 4, 2025, witnessed extraordinary participation from Torah-observant communities who recognized the critical importance of having a voice in how these substantial funds are allocated, even while maintaining principled positions regarding the secular Zionist enterprise.
Orthodox Slates Dominate Results
The preliminary results reveal the tremendous success of Torah-oriented slates:
Leading Orthodox Slates:
Eretz HaKodesh: Protecting the Kedusha and Mesorah of Eretz Yisrael – 29,159 votes This slate, dedicated to preserving the sanctity and tradition of the Holy Land according to Torah values, secured the third-highest vote total. Their platform emphasized directing funds to yeshivos, kollelim, and chesed organizations that strengthen authentic Jewish life in Eretz Yisrael. The advertising campaign was quite effective.
ORTHODOX ISRAEL COALITION (OIC) – MIZRACHI – 26,975 votes This slate garnered significant support due to teh fact that the OU pushed the vote backing its commitment to funding religious educational institutions and supporting the needs of Orthodox communities in Israel.
Other Torah-Aligned Slates:
Am Yisrael Chai: Investing in Jewish leadership, fulfilling our destiny – 31,765 votes While not exclusively Orthodox, this slate received substantial support from traditional communities for its emphasis on authentic Jewish leadership and destiny as defined by Torah.
SHAS – 2,658 votes Representing Sephardic Torah values, this slate focused on supporting Sephardic Torah institutions and communities both in Israel and worldwide.
Dorshei Torah V’Tzion: Torah and Israel for the Future of All Jews – 1,946 votes A slate explicitly combining Torah values with participation in the Congress system to ensure Torah voices are heard.
Achdut Israel – 1,592 votes Emphasizing Jewish unity under Torah principles.
The Stakes: Over $1 Billion in Annual Funding
The 152 U.S. delegates will join representatives from around the world to make decisions affecting more than $1 billion in annual allocations. Without strong Orthodox representation, these funds could be directed toward:
- Non-Orthodox religious movements that undermine traditional Jewish practice
- Secular educational programs that exclude Torah study
- Political initiatives that contradict Torah values
- Social causes that promote lifestyles antithetical to Jewish law
By participating strategically, Orthodox communities ensure that substantial portions of these funds support:
- Yeshivos and Bais Yaakov schools
- Kollelim and Torah study programs
- Kiruv organizations bringing Jews closer to Torah observance
- Chesed organizations operating according to halachic principles
- Protection of holy sites and Jewish burial grounds
Addressing Voting Irregularities
The election was marred by serious irregularities, with 18,948 fraudulent votes identified and canceled. Orthodox leaders expressed concern about attempts to manipulate the democratic process, emphasizing that such actions violate both secular law and Torah principles of honesty and integrity.
A Pragmatic Approach
While many Orthodox Jews maintain theological objections to secular Zionism and would prefer not to participate in such frameworks, rabbinic leaders recognized the pragmatic necessity of engagement. As one community leader explained, “When over a billion dollars annually is at stake—money that can either support Torah institutions or fund movements that work against Torah—we have an obligation to ensure these resources strengthen rather than weaken authentic Judaism.”
The participation should not be misconstrued as endorsement of secular Zionist ideology. Rather, it represents a strategic decision to work within existing systems to protect Torah interests and ensure that funds raised from Jewish communities worldwide support institutions and programs aligned with eternal Jewish values.
Looking Forward
The 39th World Zionist Congress will convene in Jerusalem from October 28-30, 2025. Orthodox delegates will work to form coalitions that prioritize:
- Funding for Torah educational institutions
- Support for Orthodox communities in Israel
- Protection of holy sites according to halachic requirements
- Opposition to funding for movements that contradict Torah law
- Ensuring religious freedom for Orthodox practice
The record turnout demonstrates that when Torah communities unite for a common purpose—even within frameworks they might philosophically oppose—they can effectively protect Jewish interests and ensure resources support rather than undermine authentic Torah life.
As we approach the Congress, Orthodox communities must remain vigilant and united, remembering that our participation is not an endorsement of secular nationalism but rather a fulfillment of our responsibility to protect and promote Torah values wherever Jewish communal funds are allocated.
9 comments:
Canadian one is on now.
CBN makes a pin prick in the hot air balloon being launched by DIN & others including foolish Eckstein at YWN. The balloon is careening around in a long drawn out fart noise while it looses all its air:
WZO- something isn’t adding up ….
Reform conservative progressive 47887+27973+11537= 87317 votes
If the religious parties act as one, Am yisroel chai, Eretz kodesh, Mizrachi, Aish, Shas 31765+29159+26975+6649+2658=97,206 votes
*Total approx votes for the election was 230,000*
Additionaly , I don't think these parties are a guaranteed block as Mizrachi clashed with Eretz Kodesh last congress.
*So that's about 42% for "religious" parties*.
We still need to clarify mizrachi won't join reform/conservative/progressive & small parties …..
I don't know where the smaller parties stand, but I believe they don't lean religious.
*So religious has at best 97k out of 230k*
Last time I think religious had about 1/3 of the 152 American seats. So now they'd have about 2/5 of 152 American seats. There's still an effort to disqualify more Eretz Kodesh & Am yisroel votes (basically the same party)
In elections coming up in Europe for 173 seats, Eretz hakodesh is under fire there for "irregularities".
Then we have 200 Israeli seats for total 525 seats.
This link is to the previous election results
https://azm.org/results/
Eretz hakodesh & co need to double their numbers to match last time’s seats - Reform, conservative & progressive all went up by big numbers in this election
*I’m not so sure this is the “big win” that Matzav & YWN are screaming about* And *Mercaz is for sure not part of the “religious groups” where YWN absurdly lumps them!
A lot more to come when Europe comes in & all lawsuits resolve but I’m sure this is far from settled …. for sure too early to call it a *major win*
They put their anti-Zionist principles aside.......at the first sniff of more gelt.
I don't know what CBN says, but what one can definitely say that 85,000 frum Jews "kocked ihn" the so-called "Gedoilim"
Warranted Period!
CBN itself first backed the Gedoilim who said that people should vote, then they backtracked after getting flak from their brainwashed Lakewood Liars (that have smartphones) and went with the "gedoilim" that went against the vote!
CBN keeps wobbling, and when they smell smoke, they run!
Who is they
Every decent faction everywhere 'is under fire there for "irregularities"'
Proof they are decent cf.recent elections in Poland & Romania
Big deal, so Chometz for Pesach Lerner worked up a shvitz & put words in the mouth of gedolim (no longer alive to verify) to mislead and memeila has some more votes to show for it. Like R’ Yaakov said about Margo’s institution, things that are geboit oif sheker vellen nisht hobben a kiyum. This is a gag al gag sheker on top of it with the Chometznik piling his weasel words on to the Tzioni kefirah.
Black Ho
Interesting that your "ketanim" got invoved and told Jews not to vote in an election that could benefit frum Jews, but these same "katanim" are urging the Lakefraud Communities to vote in their galut elections!
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