The certification of the US results for the 2025 World Zionist Congress (WZC) election and the allocation of seats for the forum were announced by the American Zionist Movement (AZM) on Wednesday.
The record-breaking 224,969 votes recorded between March 10 and May 4 represented more than an 80% increase in turnout compared to the last WZC election in 2020.
Of the 155 WZC seats allotted to American Zionist representatives, the Vote Reform movement, representing Reform Judaism, won 33, the most of any of the 22 slates.
Vote Reform’s platform emphasized the need to keep Israel as a democratic and pluralistic state. It sought to push back against religious factions that wanted to “relegate Reform Jews, women, LGBTQ+ Israelis, and ethnic minorities to secondary status.”
The Am Yisrael Chai organization’s “Investing in Jewish leadership, fulfilling our destiny” slate, which was dogged by accusations of bribing voters with raffle tickets for prizes, had the second most votes, winning 21 slots for the delegates.
Aimed to appeal to a new generation of Zionists in a post-October 7 environment, the slate focused on programming and opportunities for Jewish students and young professionals.
Eretz HaKodesh, with its stated goal being to safeguard the holiness and traditions of the Land of Israel, was also embroiled in scandal, accused of voter fraud, and subsequently fined. Ultimately, the slate was tied with Mercaz USA: The Voice of Conservative/Masorti Judaism, earning 19 slates.
Haredi representation
Representing haredi (ultra-Orthodox) interests, Eretz HaKodesh emerged in the 2020 election to place third with 15 seats. Its success this year has come as some haredi leaders in Israel and abroad have questioned participation in the Zionist world body.
Mercaz, in contrast, represents the conservative and traditional American community that, like the Reform movement, wants the Israeli government to respect all streams of Judaism.
Trailing close behind in fourth place was the Orthodox Israel Coalition Mizrachi: On the Frontlines for Israel’s Future. The Religious Zionist interest slate earned 18 seats by advocating for soldiers, reservists, war-ravaged Israeli communities, and promoting a religious-Zionist education.
The election not only saw a surge in votes, but a 57% increase in slates from the previous election, with 22 different slates.
AZM executive director Herbert Block said in a statement that the election results showed that the Zionist movement in the US was stronger than ever.
“American Jews’ record-breaking turnout means that the overall US delegation to the 39th World Zionist Congress is positioned to have a greater backing and prominence than ever in advancing a multitude of high-priority Jewish and Zionist causes,” he said.
Representatives are set to meet in Jerusalem in October for the 39th congress.