The delegates at the First Zionist Congress, held in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897.
By Jacob Kamaras
Fourteen candidates from the North-Texas area have registered to run in the 39th World Zionist Congress election, in advance of voting in the U.S. for the body known as the “parliament of the Jewish people.”
An all-time-high 21 slates, representing diverse political beliefs, religious denominations and cultural traditions, are competing in the election, with voting occurring between March 10 and May 4.
The election — facilitated by the American Zionist Movement — offers Jews across the U.S. their most powerful opportunity to have their voices heard in Israel’s future, make an impact on Jewish communities worldwide and proudly stand up for Zionism.
North Texans running include Jordan Cope, Shimshon Cook, Rabbi Bentzi Epstein, Benjamin Gershon, David Litman, Charles P. Michaels, Sharon Michaels, David Michaels, Josh Mitchell-Arbital, Joshua Rothstein, Lisa Rothstein, Rabbi David Stern, Hannah Tell and Noa Terenyo.
The 152 delegates who will be elected to represent the United States — amounting to approximately one-third of the Congress — will join with others from around the world to make key decisions regarding the leadership and priorities of the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet LeYisrael, the Jewish Agency for Israel and Keren Hayesod.
“By electing representatives who directly promote the interests of the U.S. Jewish community, American Zionist voters are poised to seize their most tangible opportunity to be heard on issues that will shape our collective future as a Jewish people,” said Herbert Block, executive director of the American Zionist Movement, which administers the election.
“This is your vote for Israel’s future. Simultaneously, this election is American Jewry’s chance to unmistakably affirm our support for Zionism. It is imperative that we take this stand now more than ever following the horrors of Oct. 7, 2023, and the ongoing war.”
The five years since the previous World Zionist Congress election in 2020 have seen several seismic crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Israel’s ongoing multifront war. These events strongly position the 2025 election to serve as an uplifting and unifying force for diverse voices and constituencies across the Jewish community, all in support of the vibrancy of Zionism.
“There are no ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ in this election — participation is a victory in and of itself,” Block said. “The larger the voter turnout is, the more the American Jewish voice is heard.”
The First Zionist Congress, the genesis of the modern Zionist movement, was convened by Theodor Herzl in 1897. It was at this meeting that great minds and leaders from throughout the Jewish world jointly proclaimed that the Jewish people should have a state of their own.
To register for updates and learn more about how to vote, go to zionistelection.org.
