World Zionist Congress Votes Against Judicial Overhaul

When Temple Sinai’s Senior Rabbi Ron Segal attended his first in-person World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem in April, in some ways, he didn’t know what to expect. His first Congress, in 2020, on the slate of the Association of Reform Zionists of America, was held virtually. While celebrating Israel’s 75th birthday this year, the Congress was also held in the middle of intense controversy in the country over the future of its democracy.

Comparing it to his “Southern Jewish experience,” Segal described it as “unreal, dynamic, exciting and troublesome.” In fact, it was so disorderly and acrimonious that some members of the Congress filibustered the votes on several resolutions, forcing the organization to instead decide to hold the vote electronically in May.

Segal said he wasn’t surprised by the passage of several resolutions that were announced at the end of the two-day voting period on May 23, but he was reassured. “If we had voted during the convention, there was no question the resolutions would have passed,” he told the AJT. “But by voting electronically, even those not present in Israel were able to vote and that added an element of uncertainty.”

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Although 16 resolutions were voted on, four received the most attention from the media. The Congress, known as the “parliament of the Jewish people,” essentially rebuked the current Israeli government, considered the most right-wing and religious government in its history, for many of the same proposed policies that Israelis are protesting weekly in the streets of their cities.

In a vote of 368 to 262, with 15 abstentions, the Congress resolved to “remind the government of the State of Israel that Jews around the world are deeply committed to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and that this relationship is at stake if the government pursues its plans to weaken the judiciary.”

“The Zionist Congress believes that change in the State of Israel’s judicial structure can only happen through broad public agreement, as the outcome of the true and open dialogue and as part of a process of healing social rifts across all of Israeli society.” The resolution also called upon the Israeli government to reach consensus agreements “that will bolster the democratic nature of the State of Israel and the checks and balances in the structure of government, while providing protection for human rights, minorities and women.”

The Zionist Congress believes that change in the State of Israel’s judicial structure can only happen through broad public agreement, as the outcome of the true and open dialogue and as part of a process of healing social rifts across all of Israeli society.

The vote occurred after months of protests in Israel in the wake of the government’s proposed judicial overhaul which critics claim will weaken the judiciary system, and thus, democracy, in the country.

In March, after protesters essentially shut down the country, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed the legislature’s votes on the overhaul bills on hold while meetings between his government and the opposition parties are being held under the auspices of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to reportedly attempt to reach a compromise.

The Congress also voted 399 in favor and 237 against a resolution that called on the Israeli government to abstain from making changes to the Law of Return which determines eligibility for Israeli citizenship. Under the current law, any individual with at least one Jewish grandparent is eligible for making aliyah. The religious parties in the coalition government have proposed eliminating this “grandchild clause” in order to prevent those not considered Jewish under Jewish law from immigrating to Israel. If the government were to alter the Law of Return, it would significantly reduce the number of people who could qualify for aliyah.

Another resolution, that passed with 384 votes in favor, 238 opposed and 23 abstentions, criticized coalition agreements made by the current government that would revoke recognition of Reform and Conservative conversions for the purpose of making aliyah. The Israeli Supreme Court had ruled that those converting through the Reform or Conservative conversions are recognized for purposes of the Law of Return and aliyah.

A fourth resolution called for “deepening the awareness and educational activity related to the inclusion of the LGBTQ community, within Zionist activity in the State of Israel and in the Diaspora, through workshops, seminars and other educational activities.” It passed 354 to 271.

Resolutions passed by the World Zionist Congress are not binding but carry symbolic weight since they represent the perspectives of world Jewry.

Segal said attending the Congress was “definitely a learning experience.” Although the progressive slates in the Congress are in the minority, Segal said he believed that some of the slates that try to remain neutral, like Hadassah and B’nai B’rith, might join forces with the more progressive organizations if the resolutions aren’t “philosophically antithetical” to their viewpoints.

“On these issues, all those who voted in favor of the resolutions affirmed values for democracy and against the judicial reform,” said Segal. He said the “strong worldwide message” of Diaspora Jewry indicated it doesn’t support the current government’s proposed judicial changes. “I hope this is a message that may resonate more” because of the Congress’ votes.

“It’s raising the voice of world Jewry and it’s important for the majority of Israeli citizens to see that support,” he said, referring to the hundreds of thousands of protesters who have surged into streets across Israel since January, when the judicial overhaul laws were first proposed.

“I think if the overhaul and Law of Return proposals are voted into law, I fear the consequences. How will that translate in our congregations? Now is the time to double-down in education and fight for our values,” Segal said, noting the popularity of several educational programs Temple Sinai has held in the last few months.