This year we have the opportunity to have a hand in shaping Israel’s future. Even from half a world away, we can help chart the future of our beloved Israel. The World Zionist Congress has met regularly for over a century. It was Theodor Herzl who convened the first Congress in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland, calling for a renewed commitment to the prospect of a modern State of Israel.

Over the last many weeks we have read in the Torah about the construction of the first ever synagogue. We are told that every Israelite “whose heart is so moved” will bring an offering to help construct the special space. As the Israelites devote their shared time and resources to build the Tabernacle, so do we have a chance to build an Israel of democracy, moral clarity and justice. In my view, and the view of the thousands who protest weekly in Israel’s streets, the Holy Land could do significantly better on each of these fronts. The Prime Minister’s ruling coalition is devoted to an Israel governed not only by ultra-Orthodox forces but a country that does not allow for or support a broader understanding of Judaism or true semblance of equity. Recent decision making around the West Bank has been divisive and immoral. Policies around non-Orthodox marriages or conversions are harsh and outdated. Funding for religious institutions is skewed heavily to the Hasidic communities across Israel.

Then there is the war in Gaza. While the Prime Minister continues to deny any and all blame, Israeli and Palestinians are dying. Could October 7 have been prevented? Could the hostages have been home already? Does this gruesome war need to continue? While there is much blame to go around, it is clear that the current administration has not fully sought to ensure that any of it happens expeditiously.

The truth is that Israel is a brightly colored, diverse society. It blends religions and ethnicities. It mixes past and present. It is a place of multiple races, sexual orientations, cultures and world views. It is a series of contradictions and conventions. Herzl did not envision an Orthodox state but rather a place of haven for all Jews, a place where we could live our Judaism in freedom, through full expression.

I am urging you to VOTE in this year’s WZC and VOTE REFORM. We can help foster an Israel of inclusivity, acceptance and equality, an Israel for all of us. Please visit www.urj.org to vote before May 4.