FAQ

In Formation

A. QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTING

1. Why should I vote?

The WZO Congress appoints the Board of Governors for the JNF, the UIA and the Jewish Agency for Israel. The right-wing is pushing to redirect Congress’ C$1.5 billion annual budget toward expanding settlements and advancing anti-democratic policies. Your vote for HATIKVAH CANADA can help stop that. Make your voice count and stand up for a more just and democratic future.

2. Who can vote?

If you're a Canadian Jew with Citizenship or Permanent Residency and you're 18 or older, you can—and should—vote!

The only requirement is that you haven’t voted in the last Knesset elections or in any other country’s WZO election.

3. When and how do I register?

Registration is online and easy. While it’s not required, preregistration opens on April 30th and is strongly encouraged. We’ll email our supporters with the link and instructions, so make sure you're signed up for our alerts.

4. When and how do I vote?

Voting takes place online from June 5th to 15th. You can register and vote at the same time—right from your phone or computer. There’s a small $2 administrative fee. We’ll send you everything you need to know when voting opens, so be sure to sign up for our alerts. Our partner organizations will also be helping to get the word out.

To vote, you’ll need to affirm your support for the Jerusalem Program, the core platform of the Zionist movement. At Hatikvah Canada, we believe that true ahavat yisrael means striving for the best version of Israel possible.

B. QUESTIONS ABOUT CONGRESS

5. What is the World Zionist Congress?

The World Zionist Congress has been called the “parliament of the Jewish people” comprising 500 Jewish delegates from Israel and around the world that meet every five years.

6. Why does Congress matter?

Congress elects boards of the Jewish National Fund and Jewish Agency for Israel. Its resolutions affect Israel and the Jewish people. Congress allocates an annual budget of C$1.5 billion.

7. How are Canadian delegates allocated?

Canada has 19 delegates to the Congress, divided proportionately among the slates based on their votes in the election.

8. How does Congress work?

At Congress the parties form blocs who work together to introduce resolutions which are first debated in committees and then in the Congress plenum, and then voted on.

9. What happens between Congresses?

Congress has a General Council to implement its resolutions between Congresses. Each party appoints one General Council member for every four Congress delegates elected worldwide.

C. QUESTIONS ABOUT HATIKVAH CANADA

10. Why is HATIKVAH CANADA unique?

HATIKVAH CANADA is the only independent Canadian slate that supports a democratic Israel. The six far-right parties have formed a joint slate; the other Canadian slates belong to synagogue or youth movements.

11. Who does HATIKVAH align with?

HATIKVAH CANADA generally aligns with other democratic and progressive blocs at Congress like World Union of Meretz and the World Labour Zionist Movement.

12. What have HATIKVAH CANADA and its affiliates achieved through Congress?

We’ve supported social equality in Israel and the diaspora, protection of Israeli democracy, and restraints on the settler movement.

We’ve proposed and passed resolutions on LGBTQ+ rights, women’s representation, and protecting judicial independence.

We placed a Hatikvah representative as Chair of JNF’s Finance Committee to ensure funds are distributed transparently and not covertly directed to West Bank settlements.

We appointed JNF board members to act as a watchdog over the occupation.

We’ve blocked right-wing proposals to cut funding for non-orthodox Jewish organizations and for progressive Zionist youth movements like Habonim Dror and Hashomer Hatzair.

We created the Nitzan Philanthropic Fund advancing gender equality initiatives in Israel and ensuring that women are at least 40% of the leadership of the National Institutions.

We’ve supported pride events worldwide, championed the World LGBTQ+ Jewish Congress, and launched an “LGBTQ+ Aliyah” platform.

We created of the new Cultural Humanistic Judaism unit to support communities all around the world, protecting Humanistic Judaism from the far-right’s threats.

We’ve developed educational programs for use in Israel and the diaspora based on the core values in Israel’s Declaration of Independence and the beliefs of Prime Minister Rabin in democracy, peace and security.

We’ve set up social justice centers across Israel, including in mixed Jewish-Arab cities and the Gaza Envelope to promote civic engagement and collaborative leadership.

FAQ