Committee No. 8 -
Development of young Zionist leadership within youth movements and student organizations, and among young adults, and their inclusion amongst the decision-makers of the Zionist movement

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 1

Submitted by the New Faction

The Establishment of an Informal Education Department in the World Zionist Organization

Whereas the informal educational activity of the youth movements, students and adults is one of the basic goals of the World Zionist Organization, and

whereas education toward Zionist values can be carried out by the World Zionist Organization in the best and most efficient way, and

whereas the World Zionist Organization regards informal education as being of the utmost importance,

be it hereby resolved that it is necessary to renew the activity of informal education within the framework of the World Zionist Organization, and to transfer functions together with the relevant budget from the Jewish Agency to the World Zionist Organization.

Explanation:
According to the agreement of 'restructuring' (June, 1997) the educational departments have been united and transferred to the Jewish Agency.
And whereas we hold the view that formal education, and mainly informal education, must take place within the framework of the World Zionist Organization and be carried out by it, in our view the informal education of youth movements, magshimim, students and other frameworks must be within the framework of Zionism, while implementing its values and worldview.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 2

Submitted by World Labor Zionist Movement

1. The Zionist Congress asks the Jewish Agency to return the responsibility for youth movements to the World Zionist Organization, including all budgets and the issue of shlichim.

2. The Zionist Congress calls upon the Jewish Agency to increase the number of shlichim operating in informal education throughout the world.

3. The Zionist Congress suggests that 25% of the budget of the Education Department of the Jewish Agency be dedicated to informal education worldwide.

4. The Zionist Congress calls upon schools and other organizations of the communities throughout the world to open their doors to cooperation with youth movements.

5. The Zionist Congress calls upon the State of Israel to economically support international Zionist youth movements, to give Zionist youth movements in Israel priority and to increase the budget for the support of these movements.

6. The Zionist Congress calls upon the Jewish Agency to lower the costs of educational programs in Israel, such as Shnat Hachshara, so as to allow the leaders of those movement to come to Israel, receive proper training for Zionist work in communities throughout the world, and prepare for aliyah afterwards.

7. The Zionist Congress calls upon the Zionist Federations worldwide to integrate at least 25% young people into the Federations' leadership.

8. The Zionist Congress turns to young people throughout the world to make aliyah to Israel and to integrate themselves into the Zionist Movement.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 3

Submitted by Solly Sacks
HaMizrachi, HaPoel HaMizrachi, Meimad, Gesher

The 34th Zionist Congress welcomes the young delegates to the Zionist Congress and sees in them the future of Zionist leadership.

The Zionist Congress sees in the pioneering youth movements the central core of Zionist hagshama and instructs the Zionist Executive to cultivate the pioneering youth movements and to develop intensive activities among students, to encourage and aid student organizations and to cultivate the future generation, while integrating it into the Zionist leadership everywhere.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 4

Submitted by Hannah Melamed
World Emunah

In light of the troubling data on the blurring or loss of Jewish identity among the young generation, youth and student populations, and in light of the recognition of the significance of young leadership and youth movements as a safeguard against assimilation

the Zionist Congress will make all necessary resources available to strengthen and broaden this important activity.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 5

Submitted by the American Zionist Movement

Whereas the Zionist education of youth is of utmost importance, and

whereas Zionist youth movements lack critical funding, and

whereas the future of Zionism, more than ever, depends on the inspiration of Zionist values in Jewish youth,

be it resolved that the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and the Government of Israel continue to support shlichim for Zionist youth movements, increase subsidies for "Israel Experience" programs for Zionist youth movements and provide additional subsidies for youth movement educational programs in the Diaspora.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 6

Submitted by the American Zionist Movement

Whereas the current situation in Israel has led to a crisis on American campuses, and,
whereas the Zionist Movement must marshal all of its resources, financial as well as human, in order to educate Jewish college students about Zionism and prepare them to resist the forces of Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism,

be it therefore resolved that we call upon the Hagshama Department to work as a coordinating body, convening and assisting all Zionist and pro-Israel student groups on campuses and Zionist shlichim and other staff who work on college campuses, to work effectively together rather than in competition with each other.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 7

Submitted by the American Zionist Movement

Whereas the current situation in Israel has created a situation wherein the number of young people eligible for and choosing to participate in birthright programs has seriously declined, and

whereas all available birthright funds cannot be used according to the original guidelines for use, and

whereas there are younger individuals who are seeking the opportunity to visit Israel even in these difficult times, but who do not fit the original birthright criteria, and

whereas Aliyah is a prime objective of the Zionist Movement,

therefore be it resolved that the WZO use all means available to facilitate the use of any unallocated birthright funds, unused for their original purpose, to be redirected to fund:
i. Programs in Israel through the Zionist Youth groups and organizations which often cater to young people who have already been to Israel on organized trips;
ii. Long-term programs for college students and young adults who are considering Aliyah to Israel.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 8

Submitted by Dr. David Breakstone
Mercaz

Youth Representation in the World Zionist Organization

The 34th Zionist Congress enthusiastically welcomes the participation of the younger generation as full delegates in keeping with the constitutional changes approved at the last Zionist Congress.

Whereas the spirit of these changes is such that this generation (of the ages 18-30) should have a full and representative voice within the WZO, and

Whereas there is no legal provision assuring this representation,

be it hereby resolved that all bodies, councils, committees and Zionist Federations strive to increase the number of the younger generation among their members and leadership.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 9

Submitted by Dr. David Breakstone
Mercaz

Inclusion of Young Leadership in the World Zionist Organization

Whereas no provision exists to insure the inclusion of Young Leadership (ages 30- 45) within the various bodies of the World Zionist Organization, and

whereas the constitutional amendment requiring 25% of youth delegates (ages 18- 30) to the Zionist Congress has made it even more difficult for Young Leadership to be included in the delegations to the Congress, and

whereas many of the youth delegates to the 34th Zionist Congress will be over the age of 30 by the time the 35th Zionist Congress convenes, and

whereas continuity and the development of youth delegates as Young Leadership is vital to the vibrancy and efficiency of the World Zionist Organization,

be it resolved that the Zionist Federations and all constituent bodies of the WZO, including all factions, parties, international organizations, women's Zionist organizations and organizations with special status be hereby instructed to strive for the inclusion of some 25% of Young Leadership in all of their councils, committees, delegations and leadership.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 10

Submitted by Nadav Kidron
World Yavne

The 34th Zionist Congress regards the development of young Zionist leadership as a central component of the process of Zionist conservation and activities on the issue of Zionism, and as a central part of the future of the Zionist Movement in general.

The Zionist Congress encourages and calls to allocate resources for programs for the development of leadership, whether for students and young people from abroad who are in Israel prior to return to their countries, or for those who are abroad.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 11

Submitted by Nadav Kidron
World Yavne

The 34th Zionist Congress praises all those who have been undeterred and have arrived to identify with the State of Israel during the recent crisis, and specifically students and young people who have arrived without their parents.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 12

Submitted by Peleg Reshef
WUJS

Whereas the Zionist Movement considers it appropriate to integrate this important age group into the focuses of power in its institutions, and

whereas the age group of Jewish students and young people is highly important, and

whereas this age group has been neglected in past years, due to cut-backs in corresponding budgets and insufficient knowledge of how to attract and interest this age group in Zionist activity,

the Zionist Congress will decide upon the establishment of a committee of professionals in the field of motivating student-aged groups. The function of the committee will be to map different needs and problems, which characterize this age group, and the different Zionist student organizations in the Diaspora.

It will be the aim of the committee to better understand how and where the emphasis must be placed in order to bring members of this group closer and integrate them into the activity of Zionist Jewish leadership education.

This special committee will receive a primary budget, which will allow its current activity and the implementation of its primary conclusions.

The committee will begin its work beginning with the 34th Zionist Congress and will operate for at least six to twelve months, according to need.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 13

1. The Zionist Congress believes Zionist activity and Zionist-Jewish education among Jewish student organizations to be the tools that help Jewish students in the Diaspora maintain and strengthen their Jewish identity and their strengthened connection to the people who are living in the State of Israel.

2. Whereas the Jewish and Zionist student organizations in the Diaspora represent a unique alternative for Jewish-Zionist experience among Jewish students in the Diaspora, and an important and known component of building new young leadership for Jewish communities, the Zionist Congress demands the securing of an increased permanent budget for Zionist student organizations, which will be no less than the budget that existed in 1997 (the year of the previous Zionist Congress).

3. The Zionist Congress sees this arrangement as an integral part of any agreement regarding the structure of National Institutions.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 14

Submitted by Meretz World Union

Young People and Students

Whereas we can with satisfaction point out the participation of young people as 25% of the delegates to the Zionist Congress, and
whereas this integration of young people in the Zionist Congress demonstrates that the Zionist Movement is blessed with a young future generation, and
whereas we regard the activity and operations of the youth movements, Hagshama movements and students as important, and
whereas the Hagshama Department for the young generation, with its staffs in Israel and abroad has completed the tasks given to it by the previous Congress, and
whereas the young generation and students are of decisive importance in the renewal of the Zionist Movement, and
whereas the Hagshama Department for the young generation has been given the responsibility for the mission of leading Zionist activity among the young generation and students and to assist wherever possible,

we hereby resolve that:
1. Young people and the students among them will be made the first priority of the World Zionist Organization.
2. The Hagshma Department for the young generation will be the body responsible for the coordination and concentration of the Zionist activities of National Institutions among the graduates of the youth movements, student organizations, movements of hagshama, and young people in general.

And in order to fulfil articles 1 and 2, we hereby resolve that:
i. The Zionist Executive will implement those resolutions of the 33rd Zionist Congress, regarding the Hagshama Department for the young Generation, youth movements, and young people (including students).
ii. The Zionist Executive will fully support the Hagshama Department for the young generation, and provide the necessary means to operate and even expand.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 15

Submitted by Dr. Etti Serok
World Mercaz

Whereas it has been resolved to increase the number of young representatives in the institutions of the Zionist Movement, and

whereas it has been resolved to strengthen and encourage the activity of Zionist hagshama movements, and

whereas it has been resolved that 50% of the budget of the World Zionist
Organization will be dedicated to the Hagshama Department,

the Zionist Congress demands the establishment of a framework of criteria for the distribution of budgets for hagshama movements.

In order to promote their activity, deepen their Zionist work, expand their deployment to different countries and recruit into them young people who so far have not been included in their various activities, encourage them to realize the Zionist vision and to make aliyah to Israel, it is necessary to do thorough administrative as well as extensive field work, which is creative and comprehensive.

The Zionist Congress also resolves that the budget for the support of Zionist movements should include permanent budgeting, as well as an operative budget, according to the framework of criteria that will be determined.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 16

Submitted by Solly Sacks
HaMizrachi, The Movement of the Liberal Mercaz, The Zionist Youth, World Union of Meretz

The Zionist Congress congratulates and strengthens the world Zionist youth movements for their many activities for the Zionist Movement and the State of Israel, and especially commends the arrival of thousands of young people to Israel, especially during this difficult period for the State of Israel.

This activity comes as a direct result of the dedicated work done by shlichim of the world Zionist youth movements.

In order to continue to strengthen Zionist activity, the 34th Zionist Congress instructs the Executive of the World Zionist Organization that its representatives in the Jewish Agency will work toward the doubling of the budget for the shlichut map of the world Zionist youth movements.

Draft Resolution No. 8 / 17

Submitted by Danny Dannon
World Likud

Expansion of Activities of Zionist Youth Movements

The 34th Zionist Congress expresses its high regard for the exemplary activity of the youth movements throughout the world. The youth movements are the most efficient means for informal Zionist education.

The 34th Zionist Congress resolves that the budget for the shlichut map of the youth movements should not be harmed until the 35th Zionist Congress.

The 34th Zionist Congress calls upon the Executive of the Jewish Agency to determine a functional budget for the educational activity of youth movements worldwide.