ZFA welcomes Kol Ha’am – Voice of the People
President Isaac Herzog has announced a global consultation with world Jewry ahead of a landmark initiative to establish a worldwide Jewish advisory council under the Office of the President of the State of Israel.
President Isaac Herzog announced Kol Ha’am
The initiative, “Kol Ha’am—Voice of the People: The President’s Initiative for Worldwide Jewish Dialogue,” will foster open dialogue between Jewish communities and advise the President on core challenges facing the Jewish People.
Crucially, it will cultivate the next generation of committed leaders of the Jewish People and provide a high-profile platform for young Jews to make their voices heard, through a safe space for honest and strategic discussions about sensitive and vital issues. The recommendations of the council, which will meet on a recurring basis, will form the basis for concrete collaborations between Jewish communities worldwide. In this, the initiative follows President Herzog’s announcement of his vision to transform the Office of the President into a hub for dialogue within Israel’s society and extends the same principle to the global Jewish community.
Recognizing the special responsibility of the State of Israel for the future of the whole Jewish world, the President will leverage his unique position to assemble all parts of the Jewish nation and create a safe and apolitical discussion space to engage with the Jewish world’s challenges. To this end, he has brought on board the Jewish Agency for Israel and the World Zionist Organization as key partners. The President commends the generosity of the philanthropic actors who have committed to supporting this initiative, including the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, who kindly made possible the initial planning stages.
The “Voice of the People” initiative will see the establishment of a collaborative forum under the auspices of the Office of the President of the State of Israel. This presidential advisory council will advise the President on the core challenges of the Jewish People, including growing rifts between Jewish communities around the world. It will then be tasked with taking concrete action to advance collaborative projects and foster future leadership across the Jewish world, giving young Jews a voice and a platform for influencing the future of the Jewish People.
President Herzog said: “The fact is that between our Jewish communities, and between them and the State of Israel, we are growing at times more distant from one another. The gaps between us are growing wider. On some of the most essential questions, we are unable to agree. But, more concerning, often, we are unable even to discuss. That critical web of connectedness—the sense of shared purpose and destiny that has sustained our people for millennia—seems to be loosening,” the President announced. “I am convinced that there is no greater existential threat to our people than the one that comes from within: our own polarisation and alienation from one another.”
“What we need is a global Jewish beit midrash. As President of the State of Israel, with resonance throughout the Jewish world, I have personally committed myself to making this happen,” the President elaborated. “Jointly, we have developed a brand new initiative called ‘Kol Ha’am—Voice of the People: The President’s Initiative for Worldwide Jewish Dialogue.’ Its vision is to launch a first-of-its-kind global council for Jewish dialogue… It will be a place where we can engage in serious, sensitive, and strategic discussions on the most complex and pressing issues facing our people. A place where we formulate concrete proposals and action items to address them. But, most importantly, a place to cultivate the next generation of Jewish leaders. I consider this to be its most important function.”
This series of “strategic labs” will be facilitated by international consulting firm Deloitte, with the support of the Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization, over June and early July in the following locations: Israel, North America (New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Toronto), South America (Buenos Aires, São Paolo), Africa (Johannesburg), Europe (London, Paris, Budapest), and Australia (Melbourne), and virtual labs, in Hebrew and English.
The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomed Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s announcement of Kol Ha’am – the Voice of the People.
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “The Voice of the People will be a timely and important vehicle for dialogue and collaboration, not just between Israelis and the Diaspora but also between diverse communities across the Diaspora.
We welcome the initiative’s partnership with the World Zionist Organisation and the Jewish Agency for Israel, and the President’s decision to hold over a dozen consultations around the world, including in Australia. From the outset, President Herzog has set the tone. This isn’t a public relations exercise, but real dialogue. We look forward to working with the President and our partners at WZO and the Jewish Agency, and engaging fully in the process.”
ZFA CEO Ginette Searle added: “We are excited to have the opportunity to ensure that diverse perspectives from across the Australian Jewish community are included in this important global dialogue.
The proposed establishment of a worldwide Jewish advisory council, reporting to the Israeli president, is not only an important symbol of Jewish peoplehood, but a pragmatic way of bringing together thinkers and leaders, particularly among younger cohorts, to raise important issues and work on strategic solutions.”
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council has also thrown its support behind the Kol Ha’am.
AIJAC national chairman Mark Leibler and AIJAC executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein said: “This is a sensible and well-timed initiative. Australian Jewry can bring a unique perspective to this effort by the Israeli president Isaac Herzog to foster open and direct dialogue.
At the end of the day, this is about supporting the State of Israel – and AIJAC is excited about engaging in a constructive manner through Kol Ha’am.”
