A Hinge Moment for Israel—Why Your Vote Mattered
Walking into the World Zionist Congress today transported me to another world. All of a sudden, it was 1897, and I was in Basel, Switzerland, with Theodor Herzl himself, after he had the creative idea to bring together Jews from around the world to decide on certain things pertaining to the future of the Jewish people, not least among them the possible creation of a Jewish state. After taking a selfie with a man in a top hat and a fake beard, I remembered I wasn’t in Basel; I was in Jerusalem, and the year is 2025. I looked down at my nametag, reading the words “Rabbi Joanne Loiben” in both English and Hebrew, and I looked back up with newly formed chills as I realized the gravity and honor it was to be in this place. Herzl famously said, “If you will it, it is no dream,” and I wonder what he would think of this dream realized. Delegates from every corner of the Jewish world filled the large room, and I thought about the sheer number of votes that each one represents. Thousands of Jewish people cast their choice in slates to have each single delegate, so they can have a voice in the one question that has echoed since that very first Congress: What does it mean to be a part of the Jewish people today?
I felt an immense sense of pride to be a part of ARZENU and to share our answer to this question. As the largest slate represented at the Congress, we believe in a Jewish state that is inclusive and democratic. Our slate has equal representation of men and women, as well as several different demographics and locations. During the large plenary sessions, we weren’t just the largest; we were the loudest. We champion one another, celebrating each other’s successes and working as a team to ensure the future, not just for us, but for generations to come. I pray that we are laying the foundation for Israel to be a place where Reform, Progressive, and Liberal Zionists worldwide can feel comfortable expressing themselves and their Judaism while feeling embraced and at home. In contrast to the very first Congress, which had no female delegates, today there was an entire panel discussion dedicated to Women and Zionism, with incredible women, including our very own Co-Chair of ARZENU, Shoshana Dweck, and a young survivor of the Be’eri Massacre on October 7th, Ela Shani. The 16-year-old taught us today that we can’t wait around for someone else to stand up for us. It’s in our hands; we must use our voices, and the time is now.
I left that panel endlessly inspired. But then I walked back into the hallway, looked around at the vast array of Jewish identities and expressions, and remembered that progress is not without challenges. Throughout the Congress over the next few days, there will be difficult conversations about religious pluralism, minority rights, and boundaries, both of the physical borders and of democracy within a Jewish state.
As I left the Congress and stepped outside, breathing in that first rush of crisp Jerusalem evening air, I looked toward the city, both ancient and new, and thought that Herzl’s dream was an invitation for each of us to not only imagine the profound potential of a Jewish state but to build it. I am honored to be among those here representing our communities back home, each and every person who voted, to work together to continue this process. It’s truly a privilege. Over the next few days, I am excited for our delegates to voice and vote for our values with a hopeful insistence that we have the power to shape our Jewish future as inclusive, democratic, and proud!
Rabbi Joanne Loiben serves as a rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach, where she is passionate about creating meaningful Jewish experiences that inspire connection, learning, and community. Originally from Chicago, she studied at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem for three years, while earning a master’s in Jewish education. She taught 6th grade Judaic Studies and Hebrew at the Davis Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, before attending Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, where she was ordained in Los Angeles in 2019. Since ordination, she has served the Miami Beach community. Among her favorite parts of the rabbinate is working with youth and teens, helping to shape young people with strong, proud Jewish identities, and engaging them with our beautiful texts and traditions. She leads Temple Beth Sholom’s Israel Fellowship for 11th and 12th graders, guiding teens as they deepen their knowledge of and connection to the land, people, and State of Israel.
