Torah From Sinai:
What if you knew you had the power to influence the safety of Israel? Affect the distribution of over 1 billion dollars in funding? Elect leaders who would confront Anti-Semitism?
Every American Jew holds the power of a vote—a vote that impacts our future. The World Zionist Congress is an international body that makes decisions and sets policies affecting world Jewry. Elections for delegations’ five-year terms are currently underway. Will you cast a ballot?
This year, a new grassroots movement called Torah From Sinai was formed to bring halachic values back to a body that controls vital funding for hundreds of Israeli and Jewish institutions worldwide. They are running under the ZOA coalition (also called Slate 11), and is the largest party in the running based on frum Judaism.
“Our goals are not political,” says Linda Sadacka, campaign spokesperson and public activist for the global Jewish community. “We believe that all American Jews need to work together to ensure the survival of the Jewish people.”
Sadacka became frum through Chabad in Montreal, Canada, and now she’s calling on the Lubavitch community to get involved. “Orthodox Jews in American might differ on a whole range of issues,” says Sadacka, “but the continuity of the Jewish people—that’s something we all agree on.”
Issues such as shleimus ha’aretz, mihu yehudi, and halachic burials are all influenced by the results of these elections. Slate 11 was formed to protect Torah values in an Israeli environment that has become more and more secularized throughout the years. The congress controls close to one billion dollars in funding to Jewish organizations, and it is the delegates who decide where those dollars are spent.
“We can take charge of our narrative,” says Shimi Adar, an Israeli-born entertainer who has adopted the cause on social media. “This is a rare opportunity for us to support Torah values in the congress,” Adar says.
Failing to vote means an easy victory for opponents, some of whom support anti-Israel BDS and land for peace agreements. “A vote for [Slate 11] is a vote against BDS, a vote against anti-Semitism, and a vote against a Hamas-Fatah unity government,” says Bobby Brown, former adviser on Diaspora affairs to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
VIDEO:
With Anti-Semitic attacks increasing at an alarming rate, maintaining national Jewish pride becomes more important than ever. A major goal of Slate 11 is to combat Anti-Semitism with a strategic plan involving education, awareness, and political activism.
“Every year at the Pesach Seder we say ‘Vayehi Sh’amda—in every generation they rise up to destroy us,’” says Yakov Hagoel, Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization and the Head of the Department for Israel & Countering Antisemitism. “What was true thousands of years ago is still true today.”
The connection between Eretz Israel and Jews all over the world has deep roots. Since Avraham Avinu claimed his inheritance, to the times of the Rebbeim, when the Alter Rebbe sent tzedakah there, we have always been concerned with the welfare of Eretz Hakodesh.
Every American Jew has the opportunity to influence the Jewish future—will you cast a ballot?
1. I wonder if many frum yidden will be voting since there is a small cost.
Maybe organizers should reimburse those who vote for them.
2. I haven’t see encouragement from rabbonim, it would be helpful if there was