The WZO held an Aliyah Promotion Fair in New York, targeted primarily at Russian-speaking Jews interested in getting to know Israel up close and showing their support for the state. The goal of the event was to render information, along with the opportunities available, accessible to potential olim. The Fair offered them an opportunity to ask questions, register for ulpan classes to study Hebrew, and consult experts on the process of Aliyah to Israel. This year, due to the war, there was a significant increase in the numbers of participants (around 750 people), who came to explore options for Aliyah. The Fair was also attended by the mother of Master Sergeant Maxim Rezhnikov z”l, who died in valiant combat in the Nur a-Shams refugee camp, at the beginning of the war. Additional guests also came specially from Israel to meet Diaspora Jewry, including the Chairman of the World Zionist Organization – Yaakov Hagoel; the Head of the Aliyah Promotion Department – Marina Rosenberg Koritny; the Minister of Aliyah and Integration – Ofir Sofer; the Chairman of the Knesset Committee for Aliyah, Integration and the Diaspora – MK Oded Forer; the Chair of the Ofek Israeli Directorate – Ms. Deganit Sanker-Lange; the CEO of Ofek Israeli – Arie Abitbol; the Director General of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration – Avichai Kahana; and the Zionist Executive Delegate for North America – Ms. Michal Slawny Kababia. The Aliyah Fair was organized in cooperation with the Ministry for Aliyah and Integration and “Ofek Israeli” Ltd., a joint company established by the World Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency for Israel, dedicated to promoting Aliyah.
Activities have reopened at the following Zionist clubs in the USA – the Young Israel Club, Women’s Zionist Club and the Teen Zionist Club.
The Aliyah Promotion Department team in the USA is currently working on the preparation for the annual Aliyah Fair in the US, scheduled for December 8 in New York, with the participation of a number of distinguished guests.
An Israeli Kabbalat Shabbat took place in Toronto, Canada, with a capacity attendance of almost 200. The encounter was dedicated to songs by Arik Einstein (to mark 11 years since his passing) and included a Shabbat evening service with a special prayer for the preservation of the core values of the State of Israel.
During November, Michal Cababia, the representative of the WZO Executive in North America, participated in key conferences for Jewish communities in the United States. She attended the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) in Washington, D.C., under the theme "United for a Better Future." The conference featured discussions on critical challenges facing the Jewish community and its connection to Israel. The event provided an excellent opportunity to connect with a broad audience of Jewish leaders and activists, share the initiatives and activities of the WZO, and build partnerships for the upcoming year. She also participated in the annual Z3 Project conference organized by the JCC in Palo Alto. The conference aims to create a new approach to Jewish engagement and dialogue on Zionism in the 21st century, emphasizing meaningful and open conversations between the Jewish diaspora and Israel, with a vision for a unified and thriving Jewish future. Additionally, she attended a special event marking the conference's 10th anniversary, to which representatives of Jewish and Zionist organizations were invited.
During a visit to California, the WZO representative in North America met with the emissary teachers at the Wornick Jewish Day School in Foster City. She had discussions with the teachers to learn about their unique experiences and challenges as emissaries and educators.
As part of the initiative to visit, engage with, and provide tools on Zionism to small and medium-sized Jewish communities in North America, Michal Cababia, the representative of the WZO Executive in North America, visited Utah, home to approximately 6,000 Jews, most of whom reside in Salt Lake City and Park City. The visit explored future collaborations and strengthened the community's connection to Zionism.
In Salt Lake City, she met with Alex Shapiro, CEO of the United Jewish Federation of Utah, and Liz Paige, the Associate Director. During their discussions, she learned about the community's cultural and educational activities. The conversations centered on challenges and opportunities for future collaborations aimed at strengthening ties with Israel.
In Park City, she met Jodi Berris, the founder of the Jewish community, who shared her journey of establishing it and her dedication to preserving Jewish identity
In Ogden, she met with Janice Ward, the president of the Brith Sholem synagogue, which was founded in 1921 and is the oldest synagogue in Utah. Janice emphasized the importance of providing small communities with tools to educate about Israel and Zionism, thereby strengthening their connection to Israel.
During the visit of the Israeli Local Authorities Leadership delegation, along with the Vice Chairman and head of Department for Israel and Holocaust Commemoration and the head of the Department for Social Activism and Tikkun Olam and, the representative of the WZO Executive in North America, along with AZM, hosted a reception titled "Voices of Change." Leading women leaders from various American Zionist organizations attended the event. It was held at the Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center, where the exhibition "All About Herzl" is displayed. Guests enjoyed a guided museum tour, providing an in-depth look into Herzl's legacy and Zionist vision. The evening concluded with a dinner.
To strengthen ties with Jewish organizations in North America, Gil Segal, Vice Chairman of the WZO and Head of the Department for Israel and Holocaust Commemoration, along with the WZO Representative, met with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL. The meeting aimed to discuss the rise of anti-Zionism and to explore strategies and programs to combat it.
The Shufuni Band, a musical ensemble founded by four musicians from the Gaza border region after October 7, went on a tour of the USA, where they appeared in Jewish communities and at the GA of the Jewish Federations of North America.
A mass solidarity rally took place on October 7, at Norstrand Ave., New York, organized with the assistance of the local World Zionist Organization representatives. The event also included a memorial ceremony for the fallen and provided a demonstration of solidarity with the hostages, a show of unity with Israel and support for the Jewish state at a time when it is fighting for its existence. Atir Vinnikov, one of the survivors from the Nova festival, attended the rally and addressed the rally.
The World Zionist Organization Vice-Chairman and Acting Chairman, Yizhar Hess, visited a number of cities across the USA and met with pro-Israel Jewish student leaders at George Washington University, the University of Maryland, the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University, Philadelphia. During his encounters with the students, he engaged with them on the escalation of Antisemitism since October 7, 2023, and the prevailing climate on college campuses.
the Head of Department for Zionist Activity in the Diaspora traveled to different Jewish communities in Canada and the United States. In addition to recounting his own experiences as a Major in the IDF reserves during the “Iron Swords” war, he connected Jewish communities to the “Wall of Heroism” project, as a means to creating meaningful ties with Israel and helping them relate to the experiences of the past year. This project provides a channel that enables them link personally to those fell in the war and commemorate them and their values, so that their memory will be honored in Diaspora Jewish communities.
On September 20, a solidarity rally for Israel and the hostages took place at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza in New York, around the slogan, “Bring Them Home Now.” The demonstration was organized jointly by 45 US Jewish organizations, including the World Zionist Organization’s local professional team from the Department for Aliyah Promotion.
with Israeli journalist and Jewish Agency for Israel representative in Canada, Yaron Dekel, at the Jewish community of Victoria, also in conjunction with the CZF.
The annual conference of the Israeli American Council was attended by thousands of Israelis and Jews from across the USA and around the world. The Head of the Department for Irgun and Israelis Abroad, Gusti Yehoshua-Braverman, addressed the conference and met with influencers, entrepreneurs and educators, community leaders and representatives of key organizations. The encounter enhanced the World Zionist Organization’s connection and commitment to providing response, support and an attentive ear to communities and Israelis in the Diaspora. Its significance was heightened with the approach of the forthcoming commemoration date to mark one year since the October 7 atrocities.
The Head of the Department for Irgun and Israelis Abroad met with the Board of AZM (the American Zionist Movement) in mid-September and presented an overview of departmental activity.
This year, the Jewish LGBTQ+ community in the USA approached the season of the Gay Pride marches with reservations. The community has chosen to work together with A Wider Bridge, to insure that the Gay Pride marches in the various cities across the US are safe and inclusive of Jewish Zionist LGBTQ+ members, and so they can wave their Gay Pride flag with its Magen David. This gesture is deeply symbolic and underscores the fact that people in the community have no need to make a choice between their Zionist and their LGBTQ+ identity. Photos from the marches in Portland, Oregon, and San Diego.
In the wake of the October 7 atrocities, a joint venture was agreed with a Russian language New York radio channel with nationwide coverage, whereby representatives of the Aliyah Promotion Department in North America and its featured studio guests would be able to broadcast the “Zionist Radio Program,” a regular show, across their network. The show’s scope covers Current Affairs in Israel, the history of the Zionist movement and its significant achievements, Israeli culture, sport and other topics. The last transmission went on air at the end of July this year.
Groups of survivors from the massacres have visited Canada on different occasions to meet with Jewish communities around the country; both the survivors and the members of these communities have found these encounters productive and helpful. Now, the remote Jewish communities in Canada have also had an opportunity to meet survivors close-up and hear the personal stories about their harrowing experiences first-hand. By the same token, these Israeli survivors were able to convey their stories to a new public and receive warm encouragement and empathy from the welcoming host communities.
At the beginning of June, the project’s second cohort concluded its intensive half-year experiential program with an impressive closing event. This year, the participants prepared packages of goodies and treats for their peers in Kibbutz Nir Oz, accompanied by personal letters and invitations to establish the contact. The program enables participants to engage in clarification of their identity and develop their respective circles of belonging.
One of the active Israeli communities in N. America is to be found in North Carolina. This year, the Shavuot Festival was celebrated by scores of families, and included a presentation of photos from Israeli agriculture, excerpted from the exhibit produced by the Department for Organization and Israelis Abroad for Yom Ha’atzma’ut.
Betzalel Hazan left Israel to assume his new position as a teacher shaliach (educational emissary) at the Fuchs Mizrachi School in Cleveland, USA. With the outbreak of war, he received an emergency call-up notice and returned to Israel to join his paratrooper battalion for a lengthy stint of reserve duty, leaving his wife and four children behind in the USA. Over the course of the two-month period, Betzalel successfully connected the students at the school with the other soldiers in his unit and each student adopted one soldier in the combat unit. The children have sent about 120 packages with armbands, letters and snacks; they have also recited prayers for their welfare and success, and more. For their part, the soldiers have also responded to the initiative by establishing direct contact with the children and sending individual responses to the students whose packages they received; the connection has continued from there. During the last week of the school year, they even printed T-shirts with the paratrooper’s insignia entwined with the school emblem.
The annual Israel Solidarity Parade with thousands of participants - the largest rally of its kind, worldwide - united for the traditional procession along Fifth Avenue New York, in a massive show of support for Israel. Together with AZM, The World Zionist Organization delegation attending the Parade was headed by the Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, the Head of Department for Hebrew Language and Culture, the Delegate of the Zionist Executive to North America, and a delegation of Israeli mayors. Participants declared their unwavering support for Israel, with their enthusiasm underscoring the importance of international solidarity and strengthening connections between the Jewish community in the United States and the State of Israel. This year, the marchers were joined by representatives of bereaved families and the hostages families, with parade banners calling for the release of the hostages. World Zionist Organization representatives and ulpan students were involved in preparations for the parade and took part in the event itself.
was displayed at the home of social media influencer and activist Julia Haart during an event, welcoming survivors from Kibbutz Be'eri who shared testimonies from October 7th.
was held for the Israeli and Jewish community of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, with 350 attendees. The event featured activities for children and adults and was attended by Fair Lawn Mayor Gail Rottenstrich. Congressman Josh Gottheimer presented a certificate of recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee for the event's significance to the community. Additionally, the "Here Comes the Sun" exhibition was displayed.
The event was attended by the Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, a delegation of mayors from Israel, and representatives from various Jewish organizations under the umbrella of the AZM (American Zionist Movement). The event featured heartfelt speeches and warm greetings, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the Jewish community in the United States and Israel.
An Aliyah Promotion Day took place on Nostrand Ave., in Brooklyn, NY, with lectures, seminars, encounters, arts and crafts, funfair events, and live performances.
In mid-April, one survivor of the October 7 atrocities from Kibbutz Zikim, together with a survivor from the Nova Festival, arrived in Canada to embark on a tour of small communities and recount their harrowing, yet deeply inspiring, personal stories. They visited five communities over the course of a week, speaking at both major community events and in small focus groups (Jewish and public high schools, boards, educational teams, key figures in communities, and others), in cooperation with the Canadian Zionist Federation. During the same period, Israeli journalist Yaron Dekel spoke about the current situation in Israel at two encounters before hundreds of community members in another two of Canada’s other small Jewish communities. Almost one thousand people attended all these events, hearing firsthand information direct from Israel.
In Toronto, Canada, a special Israeli-style Kabbalat Shabbat was held to welcome the arrival of Spring. The event was organized in conjunction with the JCC and a local Israeli folksong choral ensemble. It was sold out, with 150 people attending the Kabbalat Shabbat service, followed by dinner and a singalong.
Taglit Excel is a program that is dedicated to nurturing future Jewish business leaders and strengthening community ties. In a collaborative effort with the WZO Executive Mission in North America, and the Met Council, over Taglit Excel fellows assembled 1,000 dental kits for members of the Jewish community in New York, demonstrating the program’s core values of leadership, community, and connection to Jewish heritage.
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the October 7th Attack Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac, Maryland, in collaboration with the WZO Executive mission in North America, recently hosted women’s rights and gender equality expert Ayelet Razin Bet Or for an impactful "Hear Our Voices" session in Maryland. Following the October 7th Hamas terror attack on Israel, Bet Or has led efforts to expose the war crimes committed against women and children, advocating fiercely for the victims. The event provided a profound insight into these issues, highlighting the need for international awareness.
A protest rally was held in New York to mark six months since the hostages were abducted into captivity by Hamas, with the participation of the World Zionist Organization’s local representatives.
The Kings Bay Y Community Center hosted Purim activities organized by the World Zionist Organization Aliyah Promotion Department in the USA, in conjunction with the NCSY organization. The program included a hamantaschen baking session, games for children, an educational program for teenagers and adults, as well as a session where participants packed, decorated and distributed mishloach manot.
Conference for Israeli Community Leadership Cadres in North America – This conference took place in Miami and brought together dozens of leaders from across the US and Canada in an encounter of a special kind, focusing on the key role of Israeli leaders and communities following the ‘quake’ experienced after the October 2023 events. The conference was planned and led by the Head of the Department for Irgun, together with the Executive Director, the Head of the North American Desk and the Director of Programs for North America; the program and sessions were facilitated by veteran social entrepreneur and strategic advisor, Gilad Babchuk. During the sessions, participants explored DIY leadership in times of crisis, strengths, peer learning, and worked on development of meaningful programs for their return to the community, as well as addressing how best to link up to the Jewish community and Next Gen. An Israeli Kabbalat Shabbat program included a service led by Cantor Galit Dadon-Cohen. The leadership group were introduced to new research conducted among Israelis in the Diaspora following the October atrocities as well as the publication of a comprehensive survey in Israel on attitudes towards Israelis living in the Diaspora; they also engaged in dialogue and brainstorming break-outs about the research findings.
The “Women’s Forum” and the Israeli Division of the Greater Miami Region Federation hosted the Head of the Department for Irgun and Israelis Abroad for a keynote talk and public dialogue about the role of women on the Israeli frontline in the wake of the October 2023 atrocities.
Canadian-Israeli Kabbalat Shabbat
A Canadian-Israeli Kabbalat Shabbat program was held at the Holy Blossom Temple jointly with the Israeli and the local community, combining the Canadian Jewish celebration of Shabbat Shira (Song of the Sea) with the Israelis’ celebration of Tu B’Shvat. The joint Tefillah (prayer service) integrated Israeli Tu B’Shvat songs with the Progressive Movement’s service. Excellent feedback was received from both groups.
The World Zionist Organization continues to organize Kabbalat Shabbat programs in the Diaspora with an Israeli flavor, a project launched at the start of the war. An Israeli Kabbalat Shabbat took place recently at the JCC in Toronto, Canada and tickets were completely sold out, drawing 150 participants of all ages, both old and new residents. The Kabbalat Shabbat program included prayers and music in an egalitarian Israeli style, followed by a communal Shabbat dinner.
The development of contacts and connections by the Head of the Department for Irgun with the Jewish and Israeli community in Vancouver, has borne fruit. This week, in conjunction with the Canadian Zionist Federation, a successful speaker event was organized for the local Jewish community with Professor Dan Arieli, who spoke to a packed hall of 300.
The daily radio broadcast for Russian speakers in the United States called ‘On the Side of Good’ continues. About 350,000 listeners tune in daily to the show which supports Israel and intends to connect local communities to Israel.
The World Zionist Organization sent a delegation led by the head of the Department for Aliyah Promotion to conduct an informational visit to the USA during which they met with:the acting Consul General, the head of AZM, the new representative of the management in the USA, students from Hillel, members of the Zionist club Z-Club, members of the Jewish police organization RAJE and several communities in Manhattan, Staten Island and Brooklyn.
They were also interviewed by Jewish radio stations and sat down for open conversations with people who are eligible for Aliyah.
The World Zionist Organization held a fair encouraging Aliyah in New York. As a part of the fair, an extensive information campaign was held for the 800 participants of the event. IDF officers and intelligence personnel came to the fair to speak about their experiences and told the audience about Israel's war effort, about the spirit of Israel’s citizens and the heroism of the IDF soldiers, the police and the rescue authorities.
⦁ An empathy circle was held in Halifax, Canada for teenagers from the Israeli community with the aim of serving as an inclusive place for personal sharing following the situation under professional guidance.
⦁ In New York, a commemorative evening was held for the Black Shabbat events for the Israeli community of the scout tribe 'Apple' in collaboration with Rabbi David Gelfand’s Reform Synagogue "Temple Israel of the City of New York.” This was a joint event for the local community and the Israeli community. The evening included songs, texts, testimony of a family member of one of the abductees in Gaza and a speech by the president of the Manhattan borough.
