Student Perspective: Why You Should Vote for the Hatikvah Slate
Joseph Hillyard, a J Street U student leader at New York University, shares why he is running on the Hatikvah Slate for the World Zionist Congress, and why voting for the Hatikvah Slate is a powerful way to stand against the occupation, defend Israeli democracy and chart a course toward peace.
The World Zionist Congress provides American Jews an opportunity to have a say in Israeli politics. Between March 10 and May 4, 2025, American Jews can vote for their delegates to the 39th World Zionist Congress, the “parliament of the Jewish people,” which will convene in Jerusalem in October 2025. The representatives who are elected — with one-third of them coming from the United States — will make key decisions on allocating over $1 billion annually to support the most pressing needs across Israeli society and the Diaspora. There are over 20 slates running, spanning the religious and political spectrum. A number of them embrace an extremist agenda that aims to use WZC funding to support settlement expansion in the West Bank and continuing the ‘judicial coup’ backed by the Israeli far-right.
I am running on the Hatikvah Slate, a coalition of 12 organizations (including J Street) representing the voices of liberal and progressive American Jews in the WZC. We want to divert WZC resources from occupation and instead invest in Jewish-Arab coexistence programs, religious pluralism, gender equity, LGBTQ+ equality and other social justice causes aligned with the values of the majority of American Jews.
I joined the Hatikvah Slate because, as a progressive Zionist who refuses to see Jewish safety and Palestinian rights as mutually exclusive, I believe it is important for American Jews to make their voices heard. Just as concerns about democracy, discrimination and extremism motivated us to vote last November, the same concerns must drive us to fight the far-right in Israel. I am proud to be on a list that includes many lifelong anti-occupation and peace activists, many of whom I have looked to for guidance in a post October 7 world. The last year has made it abundantly clear; only peace will bring true security and justice to this region. A vote for Hatikvah is a step towards making this dream a reality.
Aside from the most important thing, which is voting, please help us get the word out about the WZC. This is a process that is largely unknown to most American Jews, but provides us an opportunity to make our voices heard and put our progressive Jewish values into action. If you’re horrified by settler violence in the West Bank, vote Hatikvah to make sure WZC money is not used for settlement expansion. If you’re concerned about the future of Israeli democracy, Hatikvah is proudly endorsed by HaDemokratim (the Democrats), the party of Yair Golan, whose members have been active in the pro-democracy movement and in supporting the hostage families. Please look at our website, share materials from our social media accounts (@hatikvahslate) and spread the word. By voting for Hatikvah, you are helping in the ongoing fight against the far right both in America and in Israel, and supporting a better future for Jews and Palestinian alike.