Note: as many of you know, we typically send this email out on Thursdays-- we apologize for the delay this week. Our email server had some issues which delayed our ability to send this to you on time. Our typical email schedule should resume normally starting tomorrow, barring any unusual complications.

The World Zionist Congress Elections: What You Need to Know

Thursday, January 30th, 2025 at 3:00pm Eastern Time 

Between March 10 and May 4, 2025, American Jews will vote for their delegates to the 39th World Zionist Congress, the “parliament of the Jewish people,” which will convene in Jerusalem in October 2025. Every vote determines how money is spent, how resources are allocated, and contributes to policies in Israeli society and in Jewish communities around the globe. New Jewish Narrative proudly co-leads the Hatikvah Slate, working towards progressive change within the Jewish community here in the U.S.

Please join us for a conversation about the elections-- we will come prepared to answer as many questions as we can, from "what is the World Zionist Congress in the first place?" to "what is the Hatikvah platform and why should my vote go there instead of somewhere else?"

In addition to our President and CEO Hadar Susskind, our panel will feature Nomi Colton-Max, co-chair of NJN and Vice President for Programming of the American Zionist Movement, and Kenneth Bob, board member of NJN and chair of Rozana USA.

Donald Trump’s Inauguration (Jan 21, 2025)

The very first day of their administration has made absolutely clear what President Trump and his team stand for and believe in. They believe in bigotry, they believe in discrimination, and they believe that they and their allies are unaccountable to anyone and anything but their own desires.

The President issued an Executive Order rescinding dozens of EOs that President Biden has issued. These include, among others, the sanctions placed on violent settlers and the organizations that support them. Removing the settler violence Order is giving a green light to the very worst elements of Israeli society and sending a clear message that the Trump administration supports their annexationist agenda and the violent means by which they pursue it.

New Year, New Congress, New Administration: What To Expect

Recording of a New Jewish Narrative webinar with NJN President and CEO Hadar Susskind, Director of Government Relations Madeleine Cereghino, and Hassan El-Tayyab of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FNCL).

We dug into what the new Congress and administration will mean for New Jewish Narrative, our community, and our work. We spoke about initial signals from incoming government officials, what projects we’re already gearing up for, and generally put together a picture of what to expect from both Congress and the incoming administration.

Can Trump Make a Deal for Middle East Peace?

By NJN Board Member, Jo-Ann Mort (Originally appeared in The Guardian on January 23, 2025)

The only thing we know for certain regarding a Trump Middle East doctrine is that the president-elect has no clear policy regarding that part of the world. Contradictions abound in his appointments and statements. Donald Trump’s first term perhaps offers clues – the signing and promoting of the Abraham accords with the Gulf states and Israel while also moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and shuttering the US consulate in Israel that catered to the Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank and Gaza, while also tossing the PLO representative out of Washington and shutting down that ambassadorial-rank office.

He allowed his US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, to encourage increased West Bank settlement, himself a patron of the hardcore ideological Jewish settlers. None of these actions made an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians easier or more near, and now, after October 7, the terrain is more fraught and confused.

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