The 38th World Zionist Congress (WZC) will take place between October 20 – 22, 2020 in Israel. As the successor gathering to the first Zionist Congress convened by Theodor Herzl in Basel in 1897, the WZC is the international “parliament of the Jewish people” and serves as the governing body of the World Zionist Organization (WZO). The Zionist Federation in each country represented in the WZO elects or designates delegates to the World Zionist Congress which is held approximately every five years.
As the Zionist Federation in the United States, the American Zionist Movement (AZM) fulfills this responsibility by conducting an election within the Jewish community in the US. This vote, based on slates of candidates submitted by approved Zionist groups for the purpose of determining the 145 US delegates, will be held during a seven-week period between the end of January and mid-March 2020. The Elections in the US are overseen by an “Area Elections Committee” established by the AZM under the rules of the WZO.
Any organization which desires to run in the 2020 US Zionist Elections, and was not part of the prior WZC, must notify the AZM by June 1, 2019 of its proposed slate and its platform.
As there are many required steps in qualifying a slate for candidacy, interested organizations should promptly contact Herbert Block, Executive Director of AZM at hblock@azm.org or elections@azm.org for further details on the election rules, procedures and criteria, as well as for general information on AZM.
The American Zionist Movement (AZM) is comprised of 32 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 Member Organizations: American Forum for Israel • Ameinu • AMIT • ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America) • Aytzim • Bnai Zion Foundation • Hadassah – The Women’s Zionist Organization of America • Herut NA • MERCAZ USA (Zionist Organization of Conservative Judaism) • NA’AMAT USA • Partners for Progressive Israel • Religious Zionists of America – Mizrachi • World Sephardic Zionist Organization – Ohavei Zion • Zionist Organization of America Affiliated Organizations: Americans for a Safe Israel • Baltimore Zionist District • B’nai B’rith International • Emunah • Endowment for Middle East Truth • Friends of Israel Scouts – Tzofim • Israel Forever Foundation • Jewish National Fund • WIZO USA Zionist Youth Movements: • American Zionist Youth Council • Bnei Akiva • BBYO • Habonim Dror • Hashomer Hatzair • NCSY • NFTY • USY • Young Judaea
