The American Zionist Movement (AZM) on Monday elected international lawyer Richard D. Heideman as its new president, at the organization's Biennial Assembly in New York.

The New York-based AZM is the umbrella organization of some 20 Zionist groups in the US, and serves as the American affiliate of the World Zionist Organization.

Heideman is one of the foremost legal experts on fighting the BDS movement and pursuing legal actions on behalf of victims of terrorism in courts around the world. He also serves as the chairman of the Israel Forever Foundation and honorary president of B’nai B’rith International.

Heideman launched his tenure at AZM with an agenda to improve attitudes towards Israel and Zionism in North America.

“‘Zionism Forward’ is my vision as AZM President. It is not about redefining Zionism, it is about reenergizing Zionism,” he said in his inaugural speech. “We must return to the basics of Zionism, that which unites us all in this hall here today, and make it relevant to our families, our communities, our synagogues, our schools and beyond.”

“I call upon each of you and the organizations you lead – consisting of perhaps millions of people in the American Jewish community – in your way and through your leadership to join with me to work together, hand in hand, in the spirit of unity, solidarity and pride, to accept the task of rebuilding the good name of Israel, the good name of the Jewish people and the good name of Zionism,” he urged his audience.

Heideman also spoke about practical steps that must be taken in order to achieve this, beginning with a conference to combat those who seek to demonize Israel and Zionism.

“Our students must be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to defend Israel’s honor in the face of slander,” Heideman explained. “While Iran and its allies may fantasize over a ‘World Without Zionism’, we must strive for a ‘World With Zionism’, an ideology and cause to be celebrated.”

Heideman also discussed the United States’ upcoming decision over whether to extend funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) after its current mandate ends on June 30, 2017. He said that UNRWA “has interfered with Israel’s efforts to build a safe and peaceful country for all of the people residing within her borders and her efforts towards regional peace, development and security” and called for “presenting truth, evidence and proposing solutions.”

Heideman succeeds Rabbi Vernon Kurtz, of Chicago, Illinois and was installed into office by Seymour D. Reich, Past Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Past President of B’nai B’rith International and Past President of the American Zionist Movement.

Herbert Block was announced as AZM's new Executive Director, succeeding Karen Rubinstein, who was named Executive Director Emeritus. Block was formerly Assistant Executive Vice President of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (“JDC”) from 1999 to 2015, where he was responsible for the Government Affairs and Property Restitution portfolios for JDC.

The AZM Assembly included numerous discussions about Zionism and the State of Israel and its relevance to American Jewry, with Jewish and Zionist organizational leaders, diplomats, academics and religious leaders speaking on panels such as “Why Zionism is not a four-letter word”, “Talking about Israel: How to conduct an inclusive conversation”. “Israel: Center, partner or theme park” and “Effective Responses to Anti-Semitism, Anti-Israelism and Anti-Zionism.”

ByTamara Zieve