I'm Running For the World Zionist Congress 🇮🇱

Yes, that's a thing.

The World Zionist Congress.

It sounds fake. Like a QAnon conspiracy theory, right up there with Jewish space lasers. Like something Mel Gibson would shout from the back of a cop car.

And yet.

It’s real.

Very real.

It’s been around since 1897, real.

And guess what? I’m running in it.

Which means, technically, I could be elected to vote on how FIVE BILLION DOLLARS gets spent in the name of the Jewish people.

That’s right. Me. The same guy who used to eat chocolate hummus on purpose. The same guy who, when Trader Joe’s discontinued it, thought fine, I’ll make my own. Which, by the way, don’t.

What Even Is This Thing?

The World Zionist Congress is basically the Jewish People’s Parliament. It happens every five years. The elected delegates meet in Jerusalem to decide how $1 billion in annual Jewish communal funding gets spent.

This money funds everything from Jewish education, youth movements, Israel programs, and much more.

In the last election, ultra-Orthodox slates gained major power — and suddenly funding started looking a little… 1890’s shtetl-core. So, if you’d prefer a Jewish future that doesn’t turn Israel into a halachic Handmaid’s Tale, now’s your chance.

Why I'm Running (Besides My Need for Validation)

I’m part of a slate called The Jewish Future — Slate #20 — which sounds like a Sci-Fi space mission, I know, but is actually a centrist big-tent group that believes in things like:

• Teaching kids Hebrew they can actually use (not just for fumbling through their bar/bat mitzvah.

• Rebuilding communities devastated after October 7.

• Defending Israel and democracy

• Combatting antisemitism (duh)

• Funding Jewish youth, education, and travel

• Improving public relations so that the world will understand what Zionism actually is — a national liberation movement, not a villain origin story

• Strengthening Jewish youth movements so the next generation doesn’t grow up thinking Zionism is just a slur they saw on TikTok.

• Investing in a modern, proud, pluralistic, inclusive, Israel

• Rejecting extremism — left, right, or whatever weird shape it comes in next

• Keeping things out of the hands of fundamentalists

• Building a Jewish future that feels like you actually belong in it

Basically, we want a Jewish future that doesn’t suck.

One that’s inclusive, compassionate, and not a total pain in the ass.

We believe in the dignity of Jewish peoplehood.
We believe that the alternative to Jewish sovereignty is Jewish powerlessness — and history has already shown us what that looks like.

Who Can Vote?

Probably you, if you’re:

✔️ Jewish
✔️ 18+
✔️ A U.S. resident
✔️ Haven’t voted in Israeli elections
✔️ Willing to spend $5 that couldn’t even get you an oat milk latte.
✔️ Still reading this, which means you care more than you want to admit

Go to zionistelection.org, click a few buttons, pay your five bucks, and bam — you’re officially part of global Jewish democracy. Mazel tov.

Voting is open through May 4.

If you don’t vote, that’s fine. But then you don’t have the right to complain about how Jewish institutions don’t reflect you (you will any way).

You don’t get to opt out and act surprised when the results aren’t in your favor.

The Jewish world is being built right now. Whether you’re part of it or not.

So vote. Even if it’s not for me. (But also… vote for me.)

Billions will be spent in your name either way.

And wouldn’t it be nice if one of those people who took action was you?

—

Peter Fox
Writer. Candidate. Chocolate hummus survivor.