A group of 155 delegates and approximately 100 alternates from the United States began convening in Jerusalem on Thursday for the 39th World Zionist Congress, marking the largest American representation in the Congress’s history.
From October 28-30, the Congress is bringing together Jewish leaders and delegates from more than 40 countries for the largest global Zionist gathering of its kind. The American Zionist Movement (AZM), the U.S. affiliate of the World Zionist Organization (WZO), organizes the U.S. delegation and administers the election of those delegates.
1 View gallery
A group photo of AZM delegates attending the 39th World Zionist Congress
(Photo: Liam Forberg)
This year’s American delegation reflects the incredible diversity and vitality of Jewish life in the U.S. Spanning ages from 18 to 87, the delegation represents 22 states across the country—including California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Maine, and Arkansas. Among the U.S. delegation are 75 rabbis representing diverse streams, alongside elected officials, educators, and community leaders whose civic engagement and leadership strengthen the global Zionist movement. Together, these representatives embody the spirit of American Jewish engagement—diverse in perspective, united in purpose.
“At a time when polarization dominates so much of global discourse, the World Zionist Congress stands as proof that unity does not mean uniformity,” said Herbert Block, Executive Director of AZM. “Jews representing every segment and viewpoint are gathering in Jerusalem with one shared purpose: strengthening the future of Israel and the Jewish people. The Congress reminds us that diversity is our strength, and that our collective voice is truly powerful.”
Known as the “Parliament of the Jewish People,” the Congress is uniting representatives from every stream of Jewish religious, political, and cultural life to set global Zionist priorities and allocate more than $1 billion annually toward strengthening Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Delegates at the Congress will vote on an array of proposed resolutions oriented toward shaping the future of Zionism—spanning political-sovereignty issues, cultural and linguistic identity, social justice and internal Jewish community cohesion, institutional accountability, civil society and global cooperation, trauma and resilience in Israeli society, combating antisemitism and the BDS movement, education, and leadership development.
The 39th Congress is being held 128 years after the first gathering convened by Theodor Herzl in Basel in 1897, which launched the modern Zionist movement. In an era often marked by polarization, the Congress stands as a living expression of Jewish democracy—demonstrating that diversity of thought and unity of purpose can coexist in pursuit of a shared future for Israel and the Jewish people.
As the only democratic global forum where Jews worldwide elect representatives to influence Israel’s national institutions, Jewish education, and peoplehood priorities, the Congress serves as the bridge between Israel and world Jewry.
The current gathering follows record-breaking participation in the U.S. World Zionist Congress election earlier this year, in which more than 224,000 American Jews cast ballots—an 80% increase from 2020. The resulting 155 delegates (representing roughly one-third of the Congress) are joining counterparts from across the globe to deliberate and decide on key priorities affecting global Jewish life.