Urgent Call to Action: Stop WZC Ratification of the Right-Wing “Agreement on Principles”

Join the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Movements in this critical and time-sensitive letter-writing campaign

October 20, 2020 Rabbi Josh Weinberg

Rabbi Josh Weinberg is vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism for Israel and Reform Zionism, and executive director of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America.

As the World Zionist Congress convenes virtually this week, leaders of the right-wing and Haredi Zionist parties have come to an “Agreement on Principles” designed to diminish and marginalize the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Movements – which comprise more than 20 percent of elected WZC delegates. These progressive Movements also make up the dominant majority of the membership of important legacy Zionist organizations, including Hadassah, WIZO, B’nai Brith, and NA’AMAT.

If the World Zionist Congress ratifies this agreement, the World Zionist Organization and Israeli National Institutions will no longer be the roundtable in which all Jewish Zionist viewpoints are recognized and respected.

This agreement is unacceptable to the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Movements and for all voices who believe in gender equality, inclusion, pluralism, tolerance, and Jewish unity in the World Zionist Organization.

Please join us in a WhatsApp and email-writing campaign to prevent this agreement from being ratified.

WhatsApp Campaign

Join us in contacting NA’AMAT Chairperson Hagit Peer and WIZO Chairperson Anita Friedman using WhatsApp. To do so, send the following messages to each chair, adding a signature to make your message more effective and impactful.

Contact NA’AMAT Chairperson Hagit Peer by forwarding the following message to +972 50-777-9794.

Dear Ms. Peer,

I want to thank you for your leadership in the Zionist institutions. I know that taking a stand against the extremist coalition isn’t an easy organizational decision. I am grateful for the strong stand that NA’AMAT has taken in order to protect our shared feminist values, as well as protect the Zionist movement’s institutions. We know we can count on your vote, and together, we can build a worthy coalition to support the Zionist enterprise.

[Your name and title]

Contact WIZO Chairperson Anita Friedman by forwarding the following message to +972 54-498-3443.

Dear Ms. Friedman,

I want to thank you for your leadership in the Zionist institutions. I know that taking a stand against the extremist coalition isn’t an easy organizational decision. I am grateful for the strong stand that WIZO has taken in order to protect our shared feminist values, as well as protect the Zionist movement’s institutions. We know we can count on your vote, and together we can build a worthy coalition to support the Zionist enterprise.

[Your name and title]

Email Campaign to Israeli Consulates and Embassies

Please join us in contacting Israeli consuls general and ambassadors. To do so, email the following message to your Israeli embassy or consulate, adding a signature to make your message more effective and impactful.

Draft Email to Israeli Representatives around the World (Consuls General and Ambassadors)

Dear_______

Shalom. I want to thank you for all you are doing on behalf of the State of Israel and the Jewish People; the relationships you have forged with our local community are deeply appreciated. Your presence here is important and your work for the U.S.-Israel relationship is critical.

As I am sure you are aware, the World Zionist Congress has begun its meetings, convening virtually for the first time in history. We are honored to have a voice in Theodor Herzl’s Parliament of the Jewish People and to work together with Israeli political parties to encourage aliyah, combat antisemitism, and so much more.

We also want to share with you our concern and bring to your immediate attention a very troubling agreement aimed to silence and disenfranchise exactly the voices of Diaspora Jews that you work so hard to engage.

This week, the leaders of the right-wing and Haredi Zionist parties came to an “Agreement on Principles” designed to diminish and marginalize the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Movements who make up more than 20 percent of the elected delegates. We also make up the dominant majority of the membership of important legacy Zionist organizations, including Hadassah, WIZO, B’nai Brith, and NA’AMAT.

This agreement is unacceptable to the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Movements and for all voices who believe in gender equality, inclusion, pluralism, tolerance, and Jewish unity in the World Zionist Organization.

If the World Zionist Congress ratifies this agreement on Wednesday night, the World Zionist Organization and Israeli National Institutions will no longer be the roundtable in which all Jewish Zionist viewpoints are recognized and respected. Ratification will lead to major crises between Diaspora Jewry and Israel and will add to the further alienation of progressive Jews around the world from Israel.

We ask that you express our outrage to this potential agreement to the political leadership of the State of Israel, including the prime minister, foreign minister, and minister of Diaspora affairs.

We ask for your involvement to prevent this agreement from being ratified and to continue building the strong bridges between our community and Israel.

With gratitude and friendship,

[Your name and title]