The Congress and our holy vote

קְדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם

You will be holly because I, the Eternal one, am holy.

Tomorrow we read two parashiot combined: Acharei Mot and Kedoshin. Together they are a code of Jewish Ethics of how the Jewish people has to behave in relation to others to be holy as God. In the centre of these two parashiot lies the lesson that we have to take care of each other, respect each other, build a just society. And today, I am here to call you to step up and have your Progressive voice registered, expressed and counted in Israel. I am here to call you to help building a more just society in Israel.

To understand the significance of this call, let us reflect on where our journey began. There is an image which is probably imprinted in anyone who, like me, spent their youth in any progressive Jewish movement: Herzl in black and white at the balcony in Basel, his long very full beard carefully trimmed and pensive eyes. A picture that is the image of Zionism. The most famous picture of the father of Political Zionism.

The picture was taken in 1897 when the World Zionist Congress was established by Herzl as his attempt to answer the increasing prejudice against Jews. Although Herzl had once believed Jews should seek to assimilate into European culture, as the founders of Liberal Judaism – known as the 3Ms - also believed, he came to lose faith in that approach. The rising antisemitism in Europe convinced him that Jews needed their own homeland.

At the heart of this movement was a powerful principle: "Im tirtzu ein zo agada" – "If you want it, it's not a legend" – taught Herzl, meaning that if you really try to do something, it will become true. And moved by his own moto, Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress as a symbolic parliament for a small group of Jews who agreed with the implementation of Zionist goals. During the three-day Congress the Zionist movement and its objectives were formally established. A Zionist platform, known as the Basel Program, was written and the Zionist Organization with Herzl as its president was formally established.

Herzl said later: "At Basel I founded the Jewish State". It was so true that he is the only individual mentioned by name in Israel's Declaration of Independence, which refers to him as the "author of the vision of the Jewish state".

"Im tirtzu ein zo agada" - One hundred and twenty-eight years after that picture was taken, the World Zionist Congress continues to be a powerful global institution that allocates approximately £1 billion annually to Jewish causes both in Israel and the diaspora. The Congress oversees Israel's most important national institutions, including the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency, and the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF). To understand the importance of these institutions, the KKL-JNF alone owns about 13% of the land in Israel, as well as land acquired in the West Bank.

The Congress directs money to vital initiatives. It strengthens Jewish communities. It expands educational opportunities. It fights antisemitism. And it fosters Jewish identity. Our own youth movement, here in London, Netzer, receives part of its budget from these institutions. Additionally, participation in WZO elections offers a chance for Progressive Jews around the world to influence policies regarding religious pluralism in Israel, especially nowadays when there is a disproportionate strength to orthodox and ultra-orthodox parties both in the Knesset and the Congress.

This is only possible because, in order to represent Reform and Progressive Religious Zionist communities in Israel and the world within the Congress, the World Union for Progressive Judaism, guided by Rabbi Richard Hirsh, established the organization for political representation called Arzenu. As part of the World Zionist Union, Arzenu gives Progressive Jews an effective voice within the larger Zionist framework.

But why is this important on this exact Friday night? Because you are being called to be kedoshim, to be holy and do what is right. The period for registering to vote in the elections for the next World Zionist Congress ends on Monday. Your registration now—before Monday's deadline—is the first essential step. Your vote in June is the second. Together, these actions give Progressive Judaism a voice where it matters most.

It is essential that all Progressive Jews understand that the Congress has a lot of power over aspects of Jewish life both in Israel and in the Diaspora that affect directly our way of living Judaism here and in Israel. It directly affects our moral values regarding the only Jewish state.

Values as gender equality, religious pluralism and even efforts to end the present war in Israel are at stake at this moment. The Progressive way of living Judaism is at stake right now. Registering to vote gives you the chance to vote later. It is more efficient than signing any statement. It means effectively establishing Progressive voices in one of the most important political institutions in Israel, one that existed even before the State of Israel.

If not us, who will speak for Progressive Jewish values in Israel?

As David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, articulated in his speech about the Independence of Israel: "By these will the State be judged: By the moral character it imparts to its citizens; by the human values determining its inner and outward relations; and by its fidelity, in thought and act, to the supreme behest: 'And you shall love your neighbour as yourself.'"

Those values, upon which the State of Israel was created are being torn apart. Pluralism and democracy are being violated on a daily basis. Progressive voices are being erased, and only by registering now and voting "Our Israel" in June that we are going to save Israel.

This is a new imperative, a new mitzvah: register and vote for the World Zionist Congress. Register now. Vote "Our Israel" in June. Save Progressive Judaism. Kedoshim tihiu – you will be holy.

Shabbat Shalom.