What Is the World Zionist Congress? 

Theodor Herzl established the Zionist Congress in 1897 as the legislative branch of the Zionist Organization. Since the creation of Israel in 1948, the Congress has met every four or five years in Jerusalem. The modern WZC is billed as the “parliament of the Jewish people.” It allocates nearly $1 billion annually to support Israel and world Jewry, including the World Zionist Organization, Keren Kayemet LeYisrael, The Jewish National Fund, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

The WZC doesn’t only allocate funds though. The congress is like a political convention that sets the direction and overall policies, as well as the next leaders of those national organizations that serve as quasi-governmental institutions—the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency, Keren Hayesod, and Keren Kayemet. This influences issues such as state land acquisition and allocation, international fundraising, and Israel-Diaspora relations. 

The World Zionist Congress is made up of 525 elected delegates and other representatives from international Jewish organizations. Americans make up one-third of the elected delegates. U.S. Jews can vote for one of the 20+ slates, which represent the wide spectrum of perspectives in modern Jewry.

The U.S. receives 29% of the seats in the Congress, 152 out of 500.

• 38% of the WZC seats go to Israel, based on the Knesset election results as of the year of the Congress.
• 33% go to non-U.S. diaspora countries and are generally assigned by national federations.
• The Jerusalem Program, according to the American Zionist Movement, is the official platform of the Zionist movement. Among other things, it counts among its foundational beliefs the unity of the Jewish people, their bond to Israel, and the centrality of Israel and Jerusalem in the life of the Jewish nation.

The Elections

The 2025 Elections run from March 10 to May 4. To be eligible to vote in the current election, you must be Jewish, at least 18 years of age, be a permanent resident of the United States, not have voted in the most recent Knesset election, and affirm your commitment to the Jerusalem Program.

Why Is it important to vote? 

The WZC is an important way for diaspora Jews to have a real say in what happens in Israel. 

Voting in the WZC elections is a direct way for North American Jews to play an active role in fighting for a Secure, Jewish, and Democratic Israel. 

Only by mobilizing and voting in the 2025 Elections will we be able to ensure the funds controlled by the World Zionist Congress are used to support causes that advance our mission, vision, and values.

These elections can impact a variety of issues that are deeply important to Israel Policy Forum’s community members and supporters including preventing West Bank annexation, advancing civil society, and promoting religious pluralism in Israel.

Israel Policy Forum is proud to have many community members and leaders of IPF Atid, our young professionals network, leading or running on slates that promote a secure, Jewish, and democratic Israel. Check out some of their platforms below: 

Find an IPF Atid WZC Town Hall in your community:

Additional resources:  

• Official explainer from the American Zionist Movement
• Simple explainer from the Jewish Chronicle
• World Zionist Congress entry on Wikipedia
• Official summary of WZO National Institutions activity for the 38th Congress
  • Nearly 100 pages detailing the exact activities of each unit

Join IPF Atid to learn about the upcoming World Zionist Congress elections, why your vote matters, and how to get involved.