A delegate’s view of the World Zionist Congress

When I was elected by Hadassah’s national board to serve as a delegate to the World Zionist Congress, I was thrilled. My first experience, in 2020, took place entirely on Zoom due to covid-19, which made it difficult to grasp the Congress’s true influence. My experience in 2025, however, could not have been more different.

After several orientation meetings, I thought I was ready for an exciting and meaningful experience. We were told to expect heightened emotions and spirited debates—but nothing could have prepared me for the actual intensity I encountered once the Congress began.

My committee assignment was Education and Remembrance. Our discussions centered on funding for global Zionist youth movements and programs supporting young Zionists worldwide. While there was broad agreement that these initiatives were essential, our committee frequently got bogged down in debates over language. At one point, a rabbi wisely reminded us that our goal was to provide funding, not to alienate any faction. If we used language perceived as oppositional, the resolution could fail. His practical wisdom prevailed, and the resolution ultimately passed unanimously.

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We also addressed the urgent issue of antisemitism education. This conversation proved more contentious. Some felt we should fund specific programs for K–12 and college students, while others questioned how to define antisemitism in today’s climate. Several delegates cautioned against equating anti-Israel sentiment with antisemitism, arguing that the distinction matters. It was a difficult but necessary debate. Ultimately, an older delegate spoke up passionately, reminding us that if we left the Congress without committing to protect students facing antisemitism — however it manifests — we would have failed in our responsibility. His conviction carried the day, and our resolution passed in both committee and the general plenum.

Despite these meaningful deliberations, external events soon upended the Congress schedule. The ultra-Orthodox (charedi) community decided to hold a massive protest in Jerusalem against a proposed draft law that would require their participation in Israel’s military service, like all other citizens in Israeli society. Dubbed the “Million Man March,” the demonstration effectively shut down the city on Thursday, October 30 — the final day of the Congress. Roads leading into Jerusalem were closed, trains were canceled, and buses were diverted. Hundreds of thousands of charedim filled the streets near Binyenei HaUma, the Congress venue, dressed in their black hats and coats.

Due to this disruption, we were forced to complete all remaining business on Wednesday, October 29. We voted on resolutions late into the night, our final vote occurring just before midnight — to extend the Congress for two additional weeks so unfinished matters could be resolved. The experience was exhausting, and at times emotionally draining. The ideological divisions between right and left were on full display, with the center struggling to maintain calm. Shouts of “Busha!” (“Shame!”) echoed across the hall, and security was called in to prevent physical altercations. It was, quite literally, a balagan — a chaotic scene that stood in stark contrast to the ideal of achdut (unity) that had been invoked so frequently throughout the week.

At the time of this writing, the negotiations over leadership positions within the World Zionist Organization remain unresolved. An initial power-sharing agreement collapsed after an MK inserted the prime minister’s son into a newly created, highly paid position. A second agreement also fell apart amid accusations of corruption and partisan maneuvering.

Even as I left Israel, discussions continued, but optimism was in short supply. From my vantage point, it often seemed that the parties involved were more focused on consolidating influence and financial control than on serving the broader interests of the Jewish people.

Overall, it is challenging for Diaspora Jews to feel they have an impact on the WZO, when there is so much government interference. It seems obvious to me, a naïve leader with little global experience, that the parties involved are looking out for their own interests and not for the benefit of the Jewish people. We must invoke the spirit of collaboration that once defined Zionism and the Zionist ideals.

As a Hadassah leader, I was grateful to be in the rooms where decisions were made — to witness the debates firsthand and to represent a movement grounded in principle and purpose. Whether or not our specific concerns were always addressed, our presence was felt.

Hadassah has maintained a permanent delegation to the World Zionist Congress since 1996. As a centrist, non-political organization, we strive to rise above partisanship, encouraging rational, respectful dialogue and advocating for what is right.

We see ourselves as the moral compass that helps guide these conversations toward integrity and unity. In doing so, we uphold Henrietta Szold’s enduring vision: a Jewish homeland in the Land of Israel, that serves as the central address for the Jewish People. While we will always welcome healthy debate, our mission remains clear — to help build a stronger, more cohesive global Jewish community.

Am Yisrael chai!

Stephanie Z. Bonder of West Caldwell, MA. Ed. is a Jewish educator who teaches throughout the MetroWest community and the National Hadassah network. She is continuing her educational journey by pursuing a masters in Jewish education from the Melton Hebrew University School of Education.