As we gather around our seder tables this Passover, we will retell the story of our ancestors’ liberation from bondage, a story that has shaped Jewish identity for millennia. But this year, the themes of freedom, resilience and redemption feel especially urgent. 

Fifty-nine hostages still remain captive in Gaza, 24 of them believed to be alive, their fates weighing on the hearts of Jews worldwide. We must keep fighting to bring them home. 

At the same time, the Jewish people are experiencing an unprecedented surge in communal engagement, a testament to our enduring strength and unity.

This renewed sense of Jewish affiliation is not just symbolic—it is being reflected in real-world action. One of the clearest signs of this shift is the extraordinary participation in the 2025 American elections for the World Zionist Congress (WZC), which will next meet in Jerusalem in October.

This election is not just a gesture of support for Israel—it is a tangible mechanism for American Jews to shape the future of the Zionist movement. The WZC, which was founded by Theodor Herzl in 1897 and continues as the legislative body of the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel and other key institutions, determines policies, leadership and the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars to Israeli and global Jewish institutions. These decisions influence critical areas such as Jewish education, aliyah, settlement policies and religious pluralism. The stakes could not be higher.

Every five years, Jews in America and elsewhere in the Diaspora have the opportunity to vote for slates that reflect their vision for Zionism and Israel’s future. With an unexpected surge in voter turnout and over 100,000 ballots already cast since voting began on March 10, this election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in modern Zionist history. And yet, with voting open until May 4, the work is far from over. 

The Passover story reminds us that redemption does not come passively—it requires courage, action and an unwavering belief in the future. Today, our people stand at a crossroads. The horrors of October 7 shattered our sense of security, but they also awakened a deep and urgent commitment to Jewish survival and sovereignty. Across generations and denominations, Jews are seeking meaningful ways to engage, to strengthen Israel and to ensure that our institutions reflect our values.

Voting is about more than turnout. It’s about the direction of Zionism itself. The rise of ultra-Orthodox factions within the WZC, some of which do not identify as Zionist yet seek to influence its institutions, has sparked debate about the future of Jewish leadership and resource allocation.

Meanwhile, mainstream Zionist organizations are mobilizing to ensure that the core principles of Jewish peoplehood, democracy and a thriving Israel remain at the heart of these decisions.

This election represents a defining moment for modern Zionism. Will we step forward to shape our future, or will we allow others to define it for us?

If you have not yet voted in the WZC elections, now is the time. Your vote is a declaration of Jewish pride, a commitment to Zionism and a pledge to stand with Israel in its most critical hour.

Tova Dorfman is the president of the World Zionist Organization.