From Rabbi Yoshi: Reflections from the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem
This past week, I’ve been in Israel as part of the Arzenu delegation to the World Zionist Congress. Together with hundreds of Jews from across the diaspora—and delegates from Israel—we’ve been working to help set priorities for the World Zionist Organization for the next five years.
It’s been a special honor, and personally deeply moving, to participate in this legislative body of the Jewish people—an institution originally envisioned and created by none other than Theodor Herzl himself back in 1897 and attended by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise. It is a profound kavod to serve the Jewish people in this way. I’m deeply grateful to all of you who voted in these elections for giving me this opportunity to represent our community and for participating in this ongoing, shared project of the Jewish people.
I believe with all my heart that the State of Israel would never have come into being without the participation and partnership of Jewish communities around the world. And I believe just as strongly that Israel’s continued strength and flourishing will depend on the continued engagement and dedication of all of us.
The committee I served on at the Congress focused on combating antisemitism—in Jewish communities around the world, on college campuses, in the world of sports, in the arts and culture, and online. It was beautiful and inspiring to collaborate with beloved colleagues I’ve known for decades and to meet new ones, engaging in spirited yet respectful conversations about matters of deep importance to our people.
It’s exciting, and really quite special, to be in Israel at this moment. There’s a sense that we can breathe again, even as we pray for the return of the remaining hostages who were killed in captivity, so that they may be laid to rest with dignity in their home communities. At the same time, we recognize that true and lasting peace is still far off, and that divisions within the Jewish community—both here and around the world—remain real and painful.
But what this Congress demonstrates is that when we come together with shared commitment and common purpose, we can move forward—compromising when necessary while remaining true to the values that call us and inspire us. We argued vigorously and passionately—if not always respectfully—and were reminded that even in a movement grounded in shared love for the Jewish people, we still have work to do in learning to listen generously and disagree with grace.
My wish for our people—here in Israel, across the world, and in our own Wise community—is that we carve out time for these kinds of meaningful conversations: that we listen to one another with open hearts and compassion, granting each other the benefit of the doubt. In doing so, we can fulfill the divine charge given to Abraham in this week’s Torah portion: וֶהְיֵה בְּרָכָה — be a blessing.
In the context of my work with the World Zionist Congress, I understand what it means to be a blessing for ourselves, a blessing for ourselves, a blessing for Israel, a blessing for the world, and a blessing for God.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yoshi