For decades, liberal movements have maintained dominance within major national and international Jewish institutions – including Keren Kayemet L’Israel (KKL), the World Zionist Organisation (WZO), and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) – not because they represent the majority of world Jewry, but because they have effectively controlled the internal mechanisms of power.
These institutions manage annual budgets exceeding £1 billion, influencing core areas such as education, community development, and public policy in Israel and abroad.
In the United Kingdom, this control was exercised with a striking lack of transparency. Elections intended to be held every five years had not taken place since 2005, when only 300 people participated. Since then, unelected individuals continued to appoint themselves to key roles, selecting the UK’s 19 delegates to the World Zionist Congress without public accountability or democratic oversight.
In Israel, Shas, the second-largest political party in the government, stands as the authentic voice of Torah-observant and Sephardi Jewry.
With ministers leading critical portfolios – including Interior, Health, Religious Services, Agriculture & Food Security, Labour, and Welfare – Shas continues to promote policies grounded in Torah values, social responsibility, and the preservation of Torat Yisrael.
Through its global arm, Shas Olami, the movement extends its mission to strengthen Jewish communities worldwide — ensuring that traditional, faith-based leadership has a voice in shaping Jewish life across the globe.
Shas Olami has established a far-reaching network of dynamic communities spanning North America, South America, Europe, and beyond, from the United States and Canada to Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine, Belgium, France, Italy, Gibraltar, and many more.
In each of these countries, local Jewish communities democratically elected Shas Olami representatives to the World Zionist Congress, ensuring that the authentic Torah-true and Sephardi voice is represented in global Jewish decision-making.
These achievements mark a turning point: restoring integrity, balance, and genuine representation to institutions that have long been influenced by movements detached from Torah values and the traditional Jewish way of life.
In the United Kingdom, Shas Olami UK led a determined campaign to restore democracy and transparency within national Jewish institutions.
After twenty years without elections, and following persistent public and legal efforts – including petitions to the Zionist Supreme Court – democratic elections were finally held in July 2025.
British Jewry responded with record participation, embracing the opportunity to elect new leadership.
The results were clear and decisive: Shas Olami UK, together with its partners in the United Torah Coalition, won an overwhelming majority of the vote, marking a historic moment for British Jewry.
Today, Shas Olami UK continues to represent the community with pride and purpose, achieving unprecedented investment and advancing vital initiatives in education, welfare, and communal development.
Guided by the timeless values of Torah and tradition, the movement stands at the forefront of Jewish leadership in the United Kingdom and throughout the Diaspora.
