The Power of Collaboration: A Seminar for Zionist Federation Leaders in Budapest

A seminar for Zionist Federation leaders was held in Budapest from June 12th–14th, organized by the WZO’s Department for Organization and Connection with Israelis Abroad.

Presidents and representatives of 24 Zionist Federations, from the United States to Australia, South Africa, European nations, and India, gathered for the event, including representatives of World Mizrachi from the USA, Italy, Serbia, Austria, and Switzerland. The conference’s theme was “The Power of Collaboration,” centered on the need to build mutual understanding and share information as a foundation for meaningful cooperation between Federations. The theme aligned naturally with achdut – the concept of unity that stood at the heart of WZO President Rabbi Doron Perez’s remarks throughout the weekend.

The workshop was led and facilitated by Omri Gefen, a professor at Tel Aviv University and a leading expert in negotiation and mediation. Rabbi Perez, WZO Chairman Yaakov Hagoel, Department Director Yair Lootsteen, and other WZO senior staff participated actively throughout.

On Shabbat, Maya Kadosh, Israel’s Ambassador to Hungary, addressed the group, outlining the prospects for Israel-Hungary relations in light of the country’s recent change of government. Budapest was not chosen by chance – it is the birthplace of Herzl, and the city retains a strong and living Jewish character to this day.

The discussions ranged widely, identifying numerous areas of common ground for Zionist Federation action beyond the traditional focus on supporting Aliyah, effectively redefining the Federations’ role in the current era. Among the topics addressed: the approximately one million Israeli citizens living abroad and the question of the second generation; strengthening Jewish identity and Zionist education within communities, particularly among young people; hasbara and the fight against the rising tide of antisemitism worldwide; reclaiming the term “Zionism” from the distorted narrative that has taken hold in global discourse; support for small and dispersed Jewish communities; and deepening relationships between Jewish organizations in Israel and around the world.

Pictured with Rabbi Doron Perez (third from left) are several Mizrachi representatives who serve as chairs of Zionist Federations in their respective countries (left to right): Rabbi Yitzhak Asiel (Serbia), Mark Levenson (USA), Reuven Rennert (Austria), Rafael Turiel (Italy), Yonatan Bollag (Switzerland). Together, they represent the significant role that Mizrachi continues to play in strengthening the global Zionist movement.

The spirit of the gathering was well captured by Reuven Rennert, President of the Austrian Zionist Federation and Mizrachi representative: “Sitting in a room in Budapest with Jewish leaders from twenty-four different countries, you quickly realize something striking. On the surface, our communities – whether in India, Australia, or right here in Europe – face entirely different daily realities. But once the conversations begin, it becomes clear that we are all answering the same call. We share one overriding goal: keeping the connection between our communities and Israel alive, strong, and deeply rooted.

“Spending Shabbat together, and particularly the opportunity to share it with Rabbi Doron Perez, brought that shared mission into sharp focus. We live in an era when leadership is constantly debated and theorized. But to sit with someone whose vision is so authentically grounded in his own lived experience changes the atmosphere in the room. His quiet, unyielding dedication was not merely inspiring; it provided a genuine anchor for the entire weekend. It reminded us that achdut is not just a concept, but something we actively practice. We did not gather simply to exchange ideas; we drew on our shared strength to ensure that we can build real, lasting bridges to our homeland in the years ahead.”

With the relationships established over these three days, the work now turns to building a common platform to support joint initiatives and projects. In this era more than ever, unity and collaboration between Jewish organizations worldwide, and between those organizations and Israel, are the key to achieving concrete results in the four years leading up to the next Zionist Congress.

Rafael Turiel is Vice President of the Italy Zionist Federation and Mizrachi representative in Italy.