Courtesy of OIC) More than 100 American Orthodox rabbis from across the United States have signed on to a letter calling on the religious Zionist community to vote for Slate 5—the Orthodox Israel Coalition-Mizrachi (OIC-Mizrachi)—in the ongoing World Zionist Congress (WZO) elections. The letter, spearheaded by Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) President Rabbi Zvi Engel, calls on the Orthodox community to vote for OIC-Mizrachi in the World Zionist Congress elections, which close May 4, as a means of strengthening Torah values, the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
Rabbi Engel’s letter underscored the importance of OIC-Mizrachi in ensuring that the religious Zionist community remains a strong and united voice in the decision-making process at the “Parliament of the Jewish People.” In endorsing OIC-Mizrachi, the rabbis affirmed, “OIC-Mizrachi champions the vision of the Jewish People as a ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש—a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Shemot 19:6), grounded in the Torah as the source of our shared identity, culture and connection to Eretz Yisrael.”
The letter quotes Rav Saadiah Gaon (zt”l), who taught that “our nation is a nation only by virtue of its Torah,” (אמונות ודעות ג:ז) and gives background to the importance of that both the Netziv (zt”l) and Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook (zt”l) saw in the religious Zionist community’s participation in the World Zionist Congress. It touches on Rav Yitzchak Reines (zt”l), the founder of the Mizrachi movement in the late 1800s, and Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (zt”l), who emphasized the responsibility of the religious Zionist community to actively participate in shaping the future of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.
“The overwhelming support from over 100 rabbis across the United States is a clear indication of the unity and strength within our community,” said World Mizrachi Executive Chairman Rabbi Doron Perez. “With the OIC-Mizrachi slate, we are not just advocating for the future of religious Zionism—we are ensuring that the religious Zionist community remains a powerful force in the World Zionist Congress. The time to act is now, and together, we will continue to shape the future of Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael and Torat Yisrael.”
“The support from these rabbis is a testament to the deep commitment of our community to ensuring that Torah values remain at the forefront of the Zionist movement,” said AMIT Board Chair Chana Holzer Shields, who serves as a co-chair of the Orthodox Israel Coalition’s campaign. “The OIC-Mizrachi delegation has a proven track record of securing critical funding for educational and community programs in Israel and the Diaspora, and with continued support, we will ensure that the religious Zionist voice remains strong and influential in the decisions that impact our collective future.”
“This letter is a clear call to action for all those who care about the future of Torah education, Zionism and the Jewish people,” said Orthodox Israel Coalition-Mizrachi Campaign Co-Chair Mark Levenson. “By supporting OIC-Mizrachi, voters will help strengthen Israel’s spiritual and educational landscape and ensure that the religious Zionist community’s priorities continue to be represented on the world stage.”
The Orthodox Israel Coalition (OIC)-Mizrachi (Slate #5) is a coalition of leading American Orthodox institutions including the Orthodox Union, Yeshiva University, the Rabbinical Council of America, the National Council of Young Israel, Touro College, AMIT, the Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi, Torah MiTzion, Bnei Akiva, Shvilim and others. It has been on the front lines for 120 years, driving meaningful change within the World Zionist Congress and strengthening the connection between Israel, Torah values and the Jewish people. The OIC requests people to join them on the front lines once again by voting in the World Zionist Congress elections and supporting the Jewish people and the Jewish state. For more information, visit: www.voteoic.org.
