Dear Habonim Dror Family,
As elections approach in Israel we here in the United States have an opportunity to also cast a vote for the future of the State of Israel. The polls are open online for the U.S. Delegation to the 37th World Zionist Congress. We are writing to ask you to cast your vote for the Hatikvah Slate.
Since 1897, every Jew worldwide has had the opportunity to participate in the makeup of the Delegates to the World Zionist Congress election.
Our votes are as critical now to the future of our people as they were then. Today, questions of the very character of the State will be explored at the Congress.
The Hatikvah Slate is the only Progressive Slate running. It is the only slate specifically committed to a negotiated and just Two State Solution. Today, more than ever, as Israel is being pushed towards international isolation and further from peace, ongoing violence and economic inequality affect Israelis of all stripes and colors.
Growing up at Habonim-Dror camps, we learned to take pride in Israel: its cultural and economic accomplishments, its vibrant civil society, its heroes of past and present who put their lives on the line in order to protect the safety and future of their people. We also learned that taking responsibility for Israel meant striving to make it a light unto the nations – a source of security, strength, and pride for Jews all over the world.
The Hatikvah Slate calls for social justice and the protection of democratic rights for all of Israel’s citizens.
The Hatikvah Slate is a coalition of Habonim Dror, Ameinu, Partners for Progressive Israel and Hashomer Hatzair. We are the ONLY slate that states its commitment to ensuring that the World Zionist Organization continues to support Zionist youth movements and shlichut.
For example, we just learned that last week the Zionist Executive of the WZO voted on the 2015 budget. Due to a shortfall in income, significant reductions are being instituted across the board. Led by Silvio Joskovitz, a Hatikvah supported member of the Executive (and former mazkir of World Habonim Dror), we challenged the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Executive and made it clear that we would vote against the proposed budget unless an 18% reduction in youth movement allocations was reversed. When it became clear that we had a majority in the room, the budget was amended and there was NO cut to the youth movement budget line.
This is what happens when we put our people in place at the table. With a strong American Hatikvah delegation at the Congress, we will be able to continue to have this influence.
Now is the time to stand up for Israel’s future. Now is the time to protect Habonim Dror.
In March, Israelis will vote in national elections on many of these questions.
Voting for the Hatikvah Slate is our opportunity to join that conversation.
Vote at myselfourisrael.com.
Read more about the Hatikvah Slate’s platform and view a list of candidates at www.hatkvahslate.net.
Aleh uvneh,
