Ever since Theodore Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress in 1897, the Jewish people have joined together at successive Congresses of the World Zionist Organization. In June 2006, the 35th Zionist Congress will take place in Jerusalem. Prior to the Congress, elections will be held worldwide to choose 300 delegates, representing the Diaspora, to join the Israeli delegation of nearly 200. 145 of the 300 Diaspora delegates will come from the United States. The major task of the World Zionist Congress is to determine the allocation of the $300 million annual budget of the Jewish Agency, the major source for Jewish programming in Israel.

You can make a difference in how this money is spent by registering to vote in this election. It’s easy, it’s inexpensive($7 per person) and it’s truly worth your while.

Any American Jew, age 18 or older, is permitted to participate in the election of the U.S. delegates to World Zionist Congress. To register to vote, simply go online to the website mercazusa.org, and follow the registration instructions. If you don’t use the internet, or if you prefer to register the old fashioned way, you can contact MERCAZ USA at: 155 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010 212-533-7800 x 2016 / 1-888-99-MERCAZ / fax 212-533-2601 When you receive your ballot, you will have the opportunity to vote for any number of American Zionist organizations. I urge you to vote for MERCAZ. MERCAZ is the Zionist Organization of Conservative Movement. The mission of MERCAZ is to increase the impact and influence of Conservative/Masorti Judaism on Israeli society, and act as a force for supporting religious pluralism. Your vote for MERCAZ will increase the allocation of dollars spent on programs of the Conservative Movement in Israel.

Thanks to our votes in past elections, MERCAZ representation in the WZO has brought more than $2.2 million annually to help support Masorti congregations, the Schechter Institute, TALI schools, the Conservative Yeshiva and the programs of Ramah and USY.

But remember, every World Zionist Congress “wipes the slate clean,” and provides a new allocation of funding. Therefore, now is the time to renew your support for Zionism, Conservative Judaism, and religious pluralism in Israel, by registering to vote for MERCAZ. If every member of every Conservative congregation casts his/her vote, then our movement will receive its “fair share” and will be able to continue to serve its vital role in Israeli society. Please note–you do not need to join MERCAZ in order to vote in the WZO elections. Nonetheless, I urge to become a MERCAZ member. Annual dues range from $12 for a student, to $54 for the entire houselhold. For further information, please visit mercazusa.org.

Tisha B'av, the ninth day of the month of Av, begins this year on Saturday night, August 13. Tisha B'av commemorates the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem, in addition to a number of other tragic losses during our history.

The ritual observance of Tisha B'av is unique among all the days in the Jewish year. During the services, there are times when we sit on the floor. In place of leather shoes, some wear slippers, or no shoes at all. The service includes the haunting melody of the biblical book Eikha, or Lamentations. In the morning service neither tallit nor tefillin are worn. The morning service includes a special Torah Reading, Haftarah, and chanting of kinot, or medieval dirges. At the afternoon service, the tallit and tefillin are worn, as a sign of spiritual recovery even in the wake of tragedy.