Should you vote for WZO? Some Rabbis say no.

As the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections barrel toward their May 4 close, a fierce rabbinic divide is roiling Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community. Some rabbis push for votes to reclaim influence, while others—including a fresh edict from a leading Lithuanian sage—denounce participation as heresy. With billions of shekels and Israel’s religious future hanging in the balance, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Here’s the latest from the election fray.

WZO 101: From Statehood to Diaspora Power

Founded in 1897 by Theodor Herzl, in a sense, the WZO birthed Israel by rallying Jewish communities to buy land and lobby world powers. After 1948, it pivoted to amplifying Diaspora Jewry’s voice in Israeli affairs. Its World Zionist Congress, elected every five years, wields over $1 billion annually, steering policies from land to religious funding. Of its 500 delegates, one-third are U.S.-elected, one-third Israeli, and one-third from elsewhere—though Eretz HaKodesh’s push could soon broaden voting globally.

A WZO crown jewel, the Keren Kayemet LeYisrael (KKL), owns 13% of Israel’s land, pocketing 7 billion shekels yearly from developments like Ramat Beit Shemesh homes. This wealth fuels its sway, making elections a battleground for control.

The Reform Takeover—and a Torah Pushback

Since the early 2000s, the Reform movement has flexed its WZO muscle, electing delegates to funnel funds into progressive causes—pluralistic schools, non-Orthodox conversions—claiming Diaspora representation. Orthodox critics decry this as an “anti-Torah” tide eroding Mesorah over three decades. “They control the money, they control the agenda,” a community voice warned.

Cue Eretz HaKodesh, Aish HaTorah, and Sephardi advocates, led by Pesach Lerner. After snagging 16% of seats in 2020, they’re rallying Orthodox voters to flip the script. “It’s about taking back our voice,” a supporter said, eyeing 2025’s slate.

Rabbis Against: Zionism as Kefira

A heavyweight Haredi bloc—Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, Rav Shlomo Miller, Rav Aaron Teitelbaum, Rav Dov Landau, Rav Moshe Shternbuch, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rav Malkiel Kotler and others—rejects any WZO role. Their creed: Zionism is heresy, and its institutions, like the WZO, are off-limits. Rooted in Talmudic vows against hastening redemption (Ketubot 111a), they view participation as endorsing a secular revolt against God.

In February, Rabbi Dov Landau, a Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox luminary, doubled down in a letter published in Yated Ne’eman, a Degel HaTorah-aligned paper. He called on Haredi parties to shun Zionist bodies like the Jewish Agency and KKL, writing, “Zionism aims to place Israel on a purely secular basis, which is heresy and rebellion against divine rule. All national institutions are built on this, and there is no permission to participate with them, hold office, or vote in their elections in any way.” He branded such acts “heresy and desecration of God’s name,” distinguishing them from Knesset voting, which rabbis historically sanctioned for pragmatic gain. Analysts see this as a salvo in Landau’s push to shield Haredi men from IDF drafts, linking Zionist ties to broader concessions.

“We don’t do business with kefira,” a Lakewood rabbi echoed.

Rabbis For: A Pragmatic Fight

Not all rabbis agree. Religious Zionist leaders and some Orthodox pragmatists champion voting to shape Israel’s future. Eretz HaKodesh calls it a mitzvah to wrest power from “anti-Torah” forces, while moderates like Yizhar Hess (Mercaz) see coalition potential across divides. “It’s not Zionism—it’s our stake,” an Aish HaTorah organizer insisted. Some Haredi figures quietly back this, eyeing benefits Knesset races can’t match.

Community Buzz and Stakes

The clash has set Jewish WhatsApp ablaze. “It’s all we’re debating,” a Jerusalemite said, citing dueling rabbinic edicts. Pro-vote camps flag KKL’s land wealth and WZO’s sway over conversion—hot issues amid war and post-October 7 fallout. Anti-vote rabbis, bolstered by Landau’s letter, insist purity trumps influence. “In crisis, we retreat from secular snares,” a Haredi voice said, tying the boycott to unity calls.

A Global Lens

U.S. Jews’ direct votes give them outsized clout, though Eretz HaKodesh’s efforts may soon globalize the ballot. The 2025 race pits Hatikvah’s progressives against Orthodox blocs, with ripples from Tel Aviv to Teaneck. Will abstention hand liberals the reins, or does engagement risk Haredi values?

Landau’s missive sharpens a timeless rift—faith versus pragmatism, exile versus statehood. As WZO ballots drop, rabbis wield Daas Torah in a tug-of-war over Jewish destiny. Unity falters, influence teeters, and the outcome looms large.

Times of Israel contributed to this article.