What are the National Institutions?
The national institutions are the largest nonprofit organizations in the Jewish world, spending billions every year in Israel and across the Jewish world. They belong to Jews everywhere - not just Israelis. This control is exercised through the World Zionist Congress, whose members are elected in democratic elections held by Zionist Federations in countries around the world every five years. These elected representatives come to Jerusalem and shape the leaderships of the four national institutions for the coming five years: WZO, KKL/JNF, JAFI and Keren Hayesod. When you vote for MERCAZ in elections for the World Zionist Congress, you ensure Masorti/Conservative Judaism, its people, and its values have strong representation on the boards of all of the national institutions. This impacts key policy decisions in Israel and the allocation of billions of dollars across the Jewish world.
Jerusalem Program / 1951
The Jerusalem Program was initially adopted in 1951 at the 23rd World Zionist Congress to replace the Basel Program (which called for Israel’s creation - achieved in 1948) as the guiding platform for the Zionist Movement and its institutions: WZO, JNF/KKL, the Jewish Agency, and Keren HaYesod. It lays out the foundational values that define Zionism and what it means to be a Zionist following the creation of Israel. Our MERCAZ Olami representatives are signatories of the Jerusalem Platform alongside representatives of all movements and slates that participate in the Zionist Congress and its affiliate institutions.
THE JERUSALEM PROGRAM IS THE OFFICIAL PLATFORM OF THE WORLD ZIONIST ORGANIZATION AND THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, brought about the establishment of the State of Israel and views a Jewish, Zionist, democratic, and secure State of Israel to be the expression of the common responsibility of the Jewish people for its continuity and future.
The foundations of Zionism are:
The unity of the Jewish people, its bond to its historic homeland Eretz Yisrael, and the centrality of the State of Israel and Jerusalem, its capital, in the life of the nation;
Aliyah to Israel from all countries and the effective integration of all immigrants into Israeli society.
Strengthening Israel as a Jewish, Zionist, and democratic state and shaping it as an exemplary society with a unique moral and spiritual character, marked by mutual respect for the multi-faceted Jewish people, rooted in the vision of the prophets, striving for peace and contributing to the betterment of the world.
Ensuring the future and the distinctiveness of the Jewish people by furthering Jewish, Hebrew, and Zionist education, fostering spiritual and cultural values, and teaching Hebrew as the national language;
Nurturing mutual Jewish responsibility, defending the rights of Jews as individuals and as a nation, representing the national Zionist interests of the Jewish people, and struggling against all manifestations of anti-Semitism;
Settling the country as an expression of practical Zionism.
The Nature of Zionism
Zionism is a movement which adheres to the basic principles of justice, equality and democracy and which rejects discrimination based on origin, nationality, race, gender or sexual orientation. Zionism is committed to the State of Israel's landmark document, the Israel Declaration of Independence and to the State of Israel's fundamental values, as enshrined therein.
