38th World Zionist Congress


The 38th World Zionist Congress convened in Jerusalem, on October 20–22, 2020, with the participation of over 700 delegates and thousands of people from 35 countries to elect leadership positions and determine policy for the World Zionist Organization. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic during 2020, the Congress sessions and deliberations were held online by means of a global virtual platform.

Delegates and elections

The Congress was composed of 524 delegates: 199 from Israel, 152 from the United States, and 173 from the rest of the Jewish diaspora. Election saw increased support for the Religious Zionist Mizrachi and Haredi Eretz Hakodesh slates giving the religious and right-wing Zionist blocs a slight majority for the first time in WZO history.

Australia

Representation of the Australian Zionist delegation was determined on June 2, 2020. For the first time, progressive groups ran under the Hatikvah grouping, which included the New Israel Fund, Ameinu, Meretz, Habonim Dror and Hashomer Hatzair. The group won two seats. Other parties represented included ARZA, Mizrahi, Mercaz-Masorti and Friends of Likud.

Canada

The delegation of 20 to the consisted of 6 for the Reform movement, 5 representing Russian-Canadian Jews, 4 representing the Mizrachi movement, 3 for Mercaz representing Conservative Judaism, 1 for Labor Zionism, and one for Herut.
SlateSeats Position/Ideology
MERCAZ Canada3Conservative-Masorti Judaism
Labour1Israeli Labor Party
Artzeinu6Reform Judaism
Mizrahi4Mizrachi; Modern orthodox
Beiteinu Olami5Yisrael Beiteinu affiliation.
Herut1The Jabotinsky Movement

Israel

The number of delegates representing Israel in the Congress is determined in accordance with the size of the Zionist parties in the Knesset. Thus, the Israeli representatives to the Congress will be apportioned according to the results of the elections to the twenty-second Knesset, held in September 2019.

United States

Representation of the United States Zionist delegation is determined by elections held under the auspices of the American Zionist Movement several months prior to the Congress. These elections took place from January 21, 2020 to March 11, 2020.
123,575 votes were cast, more than double the number in the election for the previous congress in 2015. Fifteen groups, comprising over 1,800 candidates, competed for the 152 seats allocated to the American Zionist movement. The results of the elections were as follows:
SlateVotesSeatsPosition/Ideology
Reform31,48339ARZA; Reform Movement and Reconstructing Judaism
Orthodox Israel Coalition – Mizrachi21,69227Mizrahi; religious Zionists
Eretz Hakodesh20,04525Haredi; ultra-Orthodox
Mercaz USA14,65518Conservative-Masorti Judaism
ZOA Coalition10,31213Zionist Organization of America, Torah from Sinai, Make Israel Great & National Pro-Israel Partners
American Forum for Israel8,09610Yisrael Beiteinu affiliation
Hatikvah7,93610Progressive Israel Slate; representing 11 groups
Shas Olami 2,0452Shas Olami; worldwide Sephardi Orthodox movement
Kol Yisrael1,7492"For the Love of Israel – Making Zionism Compelling in the 21st Century"
Dorshei Torah V’Tziyon1,3712Modern Orthodox; "Torah and Israel for All"
Herut Zionists1,1541The Jabotinsky Movement
VISION movement1,0381Hebrew Universalism; "Empowering the Next Generation"
Americans4Israel8561"Peace, Unity & Security"
Israel Shelanu7691"Our Israel"; Israelis residing in the United States
Ohavei Zion3740World Sephardic Zionist Organization

Mexico

Representation of the Mexican delegation was determined by elections held under the auspices of the Mexican Zionist Federation during March, 2020. Five slates competed for 7 delegates allotted to México. The final results of the elections were as follows:
Slate% of voteSeats Position/Ideology
Magshimim29.7%2Coalition of Hanoar Hatzioni, Dor Jadash, Hejalutz Lamerjav, Organización Sionista Sefaradí & Confederatzia; Center, independent
Union Sionista26.3%2Coalition of Mercaz, Meretz/Hashomer Hatzair & Guimel LGBTQ; Center left
Likud México19.2%1Likud; Right wing
Mizrahi – Bnei Akiva15.4%1Mizrachi; Modern orthodox
Movimiento Avoda Hatzionit9.5%1Israeli Labor Party; Left wing

Other countries

The delegates from the Jewish communities other than Israel and the United States are usually determined by agreement between "the various Jewish communities and factions" instead of elections.
These numbers come from Election Result of the 38th World Zionist Congress, which contains the complete breakdown for each country.

Resolutions

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