Zionism is Not a Spectator Sport

At the World Zionist Congress (WZC), youthful idealism met adult cynicism – and proved that engagement is the true Zionist act. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the 39th World Zionist Congress. It was my second time attending, after first taking part in the Extraordinary Congress that replaced the canceled 2020 session. Once again, I saw everything on display: the best of us and the worst of us.

By now, you’ve probably read about the scandals surrounding this year’s WZC — from allegations of fraudulent voting to coalition infighting and claims of nepotism. Yet despite the cynicism these stories invite, I walked away with two clear takeaways:

First, Zionism still demands optimism and idealism. Second, Zionism is not a spectator sport.

The source of my optimism

But where does one find optimism amid bureaucracy and disillusionment? For me, the answer came — as it so often does — from the young people who remind me why we do this work in the first place.

Among the 775 delegates at the WZC were several under 35. Young Judaea sent eight youth delegates as part of the Hadassah delegation, chosen from 150 Year Course students spending their gap year in Israel. Watching them in action — debating resolutions, advocating for values they believe in, celebrating each victory in the plenary — was a masterclass in purpose and pride. They didn’t just attend; they participated. They felt part of a global Jewish democracy.

Next door, the World Zionist Organization hosted a 500-person Youth Congress. There, young people from Young Judaea, Tsofim, FZY, and Hanoar Hatzioni debated with Professor Gil Troy (a proud YJ alum), sang along with Tal Ramon (son of the late Ilan Ramon z”l), and cried through poetess Rachel’s moving “Hatishma Koli.” In that moment, surrounded by their energy, I felt the pulse of a generation that refuses to give up on Zionism — or on Israel itself.

At times, it felt as though I were watching the WZC in split screen: the cynicism of some adults on one side and the idealism of youth on the other. Gil Troy captured it best in his op-ed: “If these youngsters indeed typify our ‘future generations,’ we’ll be all right.”

Stepping off the sidelines

When I was first asked to run as part of a slate, I hesitated. Honestly, my first reaction was skepticism. Did I really need to add another layer of politics to my work on behalf of Young Judaea and the North American Jewish community? But I soon realized that sitting it out meant surrendering Zionism’s direction to others — not all of whom share my values.

If we truly want change, we have to shape it from within. From the outside, it’s easy to critique. From the inside, it’s possible to repair. Zionism, at its core, is an activist stance — not a spectator sport.

As Aya Schachter wrote in her own WZC reflection: “If you walked away frustrated, even heartbroken, that means you care. And caring is where change begins. You can’t fix a broken system from the outside. The only way to repair it is to step in, roll up your sleeves, and get to work.”

Whether it’s declaring proudly that you are a Zionist, flying an Israeli flag from your window, voting in the WZC elections, or simply showing up to be counted — these are all acts of participation. They’re the ways we claim ownership of the Zionist project — a project begun by generations before us and sustained only when we choose to engage, even when it’s uncomfortable.

As many now sign off with a phrase that resonates more deeply than ever, I echo it wholeheartedly: Am Yisrael Chai!

Chai — because of the vibrancy of our youth. Chai — because we are awake, alive, and ready to act on behalf of the Jewish people.