NEW YORK (Press Release) — Thirteen candidates from the San Diego 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, 2025. The election — facilitated by the American Zionist Movement (AZM) — offers Jews across the U.S. their most powerful opportunity to have their voice heard in Israel’s future, make an impact on Jewish communities worldwide, and proudly stand up for Zionism. The San Diego-area candidates come from five of the 21 slates.
All reside in San Diego, except Fletcher Block of Encinitas, and Andrea Beth Damsky of La Mesa, both of whom are on the Vote Reform slate. They are joined on that slate by Sarah Norton and Rabbi Jason Nevarez of Congregation Beth Israel.
Five San Diegans are on the Israeli American Council slate: Noy Nehardea, IAC’s San Diego regional director; Edward Aminov; Hodaya Knafo; Maya Gerassi; and Maya Ruttenberg.
Two San Diegans – Kayla Globerson and Oz Laniado, executive director of StandWith Us San Diego – are on the Kol Israel slate.
Dalia Gerson is on the Aish Ha’am slate and Moshe Adatto, dean of Southern California Yeshiva High School, is on the Orthodox Israel Coalition-Mizrachi slate
Over 2,900 of candidates, from 43 U.S. states and territories, are running in the 2025 election — representing more than a 60% increase in candidates from the 2020 election. This positions the American Jewish community to turn out a record number of voters and by consequence, to have a more influential voice than ever in the allocation of over $1 billion annually in support for Israel and world Jewry.
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 (WZO), the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet LeIsrael (KKL-JNF), The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and Keren Hayesod.
These decisions will dictate the course of funding that advances a multitude of high-priority Jewish and Zionist causes, including (but not limited to) support for the most vulnerable members of Israeli society; the humanitarian and rebuilding response to the October 7 attacks; cultivating Jewish identity in Israel; Aliyah to Israel from around the world; fostering connection between Israel and world Jewry; Zionist education; and bolstering security at Jewish institutions. The 39th World Zionist Congress will convene in Jerusalem from October 28-30, 2025. The election and Congress take place once every five years.
“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. This is your vote for Israel’s future,” said Herbert Block, Executive Director of the American Zionist Movement, which administers the election. “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 October 7th, 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. This strongly positions 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.
The candidates in the 2025 World Zionist Congress election are running across the following 21 slates, which are listed in ballot order (based on random drawing): Shas, Vision, Vote Reform, Kol Israel, Orthodox Israel Coalition -Mizrachi; Anu; Israel365 Action; Achdut Israel; Am Yisrael Chai; Aish Ha’am; Eretz Hakodesh; Beyachad; Israel Shelanu; AID Coalition (America-Israel Democracy); ZOA Coalition; Hatikvah; Mercaz USA; Dorshei Torah v’Tzion; The Jewish Future; American Forum for Israel; Israeli American Council, and Herut North America.
Register for updates and learn more about how to vote at zionistelection.org.
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 be eligible to vote in the U.S. election to the 39th World Zionist Congress, you must:
- Be Jewish (and not subscribe to another religion)
- Be 18 years or older by June 30, 2025
- Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident in the U.S.
- Maintain your primary residence in the U.S.
- Accept the Jerusalem Program (the Zionist movement platform)
- Have not voted in the November 2022 Knesset election (and will not vote in any future Knesset election which may be held prior to July 28, 2025)
Registration and voting will open on March 10, 2025. Voting will be online and paper ballots will be available on request. The fee to register and vote is $5, which goes to cover the operating costs of the election. Judge (Ret.) Abraham J. Gafni and attorney David J. Butler lead an Area Election Committee that oversees the election.
The American Zionist Movement (AZM) is comprised of 46 national Jewish Zionist organizations and works across a broad ideological, political, and religious spectrum linking the American Jewish community together in support of Israel, Zionism, and the Jewish people. AZM is the U.S. Zionist Federation in the World Zionist Organization.
For more information, please visit: https://azm.org/
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Preceding provided by the American Zionist Movement