Clergy Blog

Dear Friends,

A distressed man once approached the Chazon Ish, an early 20th-century Russian-Israeli rabbi. He explained that he didn’t have enough money to pay his taxes that year, and so, he wouldn’t be allowed to vote in the coming election. The Chazon Ish answered that the man should sell his tefillin — a very precious set of ritual items used for daily prayer — to get enough funds to pay his taxes and vote. ‘You can borrow tefillin,’ he said. ‘But the right to vote? That can’t be borrowed.’

Too often, we Diaspora Jews feel frustrated by how little we can shape Israel’s leadership and society. While we’re rightly focused on Israel’s security and the hostages, we cannot forget that regular life in Israel goes on with decisions being made that affect all aspects of life.

Here’s the good news: Every five years, Diaspora Jews can vote in the World Zionist Congress elections. The WZC, the ‘parliament of the Jewish people,’ decides how over $1 billion annually is allocated across Israel and the Diaspora. Beneficiaries include the Jewish National Fund, the Jewish Agency, and the World Zionist Organization. It’s essential we vote to ensure our values, as religiously liberal Jews, are reflected in the WZC’s makeup and policies. This means voting for slates that support our priorities like religious pluralism. All Jews — regardless of affiliation, race, or gender — deserve full access to Israeli society, and we have the ability, with these elections, to make a serious impact.

Voting is open until May 5. If you’re an American citizen or resident, Jewish, 18+ (by June 30, 2025), and didn’t vote in the November 2022 Knesset election, you’re eligible. There’s a $5 registration fee. Vote here. 

We have a broad coalition working towards the same goals for Israel. Consider voting for one of these slates:

• The Jewish Future (Yesh Atid, Centrist Liberal Zionism)
• Mercaz USA (representing Conservative Judaism)
• Vote Reform (representing Reform Judaism)
• AID Coalition (American-Israel Democracy– the Israeli-American Voice to Rebuild Israel)
• Hatikvah (a slate focused on long term social equity, religious and cultural pluralism, dignity, and peace)

While some parties mention the war and hostages, defense isn’t the WZC’s focus. Vote with long-term, non-military policy in mind.

Let’s embrace our democratic right and perform a mitzvah! Let’s vote!

On a different note, I want to wish a big yesher koach to our whole community for a Purim to remember! We celebrated all week leading up to the holiday. For the first time, 20 volunteers and staff delivered 325 mishloach manot bags to our community. Another 150 went out through the schools. That’s a lot of mitzvot! 125 of our costumed Purim ducks were found and photographed around the temple grounds. And then, on Purim proper, more than 150 people of all ages joined us for services, Megillah reading, and celebration. We can’t wait to do it all again next year — with even more of you. With Purim behind us, it’s time to start preparing for Pesach. More to come — for now, wishing you a meaningful day of rest.

Shabbat shalom,

Dave