The Voice of the People (VOP) initiative, launched by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, has concluded with 38 new projects aimed at addressing some of the Jewish world's most pressing challenges. The initiative, which ran in partnership with the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization, brought together 150 council members from Israel, North America, and the rest of the world to develop solutions for five major challenges: antisemitism, polarisation, Jewish identity and heritage, Israel-diaspora relations, and relations between Jews and non-Jews.
The council members, selected through an algorithm to reflect a diverse cross-section of Jewish life, were divided into 10 working groups tasked with coming up with solutions to the identified challenges. Over 18 months, the groups developed 38 initiatives, with more than 20 reaching the proof-of-concept stage and 21 receiving seed grants of up to $20,000. The projects ranged from artificial intelligence tools designed to bridge communal divisions to programmes exploring Jewish identity through meditation and movement.
Despite the success of the initiative, not all council members were able to attend the final conference in Budapest, with only 89 of the original 150 members in attendance. The conference had been postponed due to the war with Iran, and some members had dropped out or disengaged along the way. Organisers had established an ethics committee and barred those who had failed to meet their participation commitments.
The initiative's chief executive, Shirel Dagan Levy, said the aim was to cultivate "generous leadership" through "radical listening" to people with opposing views. This approach was echoed by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son was murdered in Hamas captivity, who spoke about the difficulty of engaging with people whose views are deeply upsetting. The initiative's focus on building relationships and networks was also highlighted by Aleeza Ben Shalom, who said the connections forged among council members were the initiative's greatest achievement.
One of the projects developed through the initiative is Mitzion Tetze Torah, which aims to promote social cohesion among Israeli schoolchildren. The project's educational materials, sent to 50 schools, include games introducing children to Jewish and democratic values. The project's success was attributed to the collaboration between council members, who were able to leverage their connections to secure opportunities, such as a speaking engagement at a Jewish educators' conference in Melbourne.
The initiative's impact was also felt in the development of the Jewish & Indian Alliance, which seeks to strengthen ties between Jewish communities and the vast Indian diaspora. The alliance has already organised gatherings in Los Angeles and Tel Aviv, bringing together diplomats, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to explore cooperation in business, technology, and education.
While the initiative has shown promise, some participants noted the challenges of coordinating working groups across continents and the demands of participating on a voluntary basis alongside professional commitments. Nevertheless, the initiative's outcomes have been hailed as a positive step towards addressing the complex challenges facing Jewish communities worldwide.
Key points
- The Voice of the People initiative brought together 150 council members to develop 38 new projects aimed at addressing Jewish community challenges.
- The initiative focused on building relationships and networks among council members, with a emphasis on "radical listening" to people with opposing views.
- The projects developed through the initiative have the potential to promote social cohesion, address polarisation, and strengthen ties between Jewish communities and other diaspora groups.
